Backing for all-abilities soccer

SOCCER players with disabilities will soon be playing alongside their local Geelong region clubmates, after a proposal for an All Abilities Football League received an avalanche of support.

Eight local clubs have jumped at the chance to establish teams within their club setups after Leisure Networks and genU Karingal St Laurence put the proposal for a five-a-side all abilities league to the Geelong Region Football Committee.

Potential players turned out for a registration day on Saturday at Geelong’s Steampacket Gardens, and an All Abilities ex- hibition match helped launch the new Drysdale multi-sport precinct earlier this month. Glen Snowden, genU Participate and My Community manager, said initial support for the league had been overwhelming.

“We only expected to get a couple of clubs interested, but we ended up having eight clubs say ‘yes, we want to support that’, so that was a great result,” Snowden said.

“The idea is the all abilities teams are part of the club, it’s not a stand-alone league. “So it’s all about building more inclusive communities; having people active, involved and a part of their local community.” The eight teams will play a 10-week season kicking off in May, with officials discussing how to share the weekly fixtures around each participating club.

Players will be linked with their local club, following the registration day.

Snowden said organised sport brought many positive benefits to people with disabilities and the broader community. “It’s already opening up new networks, friendships and relationships for everyone; it’s showing the community what people with disability can contribute,” he said.