JUNIOR PLAYERS SHINE IN WEEKEND EXHIBITION MATCHES

JUNIOR players from the Geelong Touch Association (GTA) showcased why they deserve their own touch football league after two impressive exhibition matches at the weekend.

While juniors are allowed to participate in the senior competition, limited resources mean Geelong’s only touch football club is unable to develop a junior league.

To expand, council funding is required so floodlights can be installed at the club’s King Lloyd Reserve grounds.

GTA president Rohan Greaves said floodlights would allow later match scheduling, meaning the club could host twice as many night matches.

“There is a decent junior presence in the competition … but we’re really trying to build that up in Geelong,” he said.

However, six unsuccessful funding applications to Geelong council since 2014 have left the GTA unable to afford floodlights and begin building its junior base.

Greaves said the sport’s social and efficient nature appealed to people who liked to keep active despite a busy schedule.

“Touch football is the most socially played sport in Australia ... it’s easy for families to get down there before or after dinner. It’s a very time-efficient sport,” he said.

Requiring an even gender split on field, the noncontact game is ideal for girls and boys alike.

Juniors play against adults on a weekly basis, but the two exhibition matches gave the youngsters a rare opportunity to play against kids their own age in an under-13s or under 17s category.

“We wanted to give juniors the opportunity to play other juniors,” Greaves said.