This past Saturday the CDMFA Girls Tackle Football Division kicked off their season with their first practice of the year. Girls from all over the Edmonton Area came together for a non-equipment practice, that brought all the participating clubs and teams together under one roof. The choice to begin the season with combined practices isn’t a typical football coaching method, but it has been a great approach to creating community, building relationships, and allowing the opportunity for the girls to learn from many different coaches.
In 2019 the CDMFA hosted a similar practice to open the season that saw around 22 girls come out to see what football had to offer. The second combined club practice had 18 girls out in full equipment. Building off the excitement from the practices, and some recruitment, the division ended with 40 girls participating in the season. These athletes were spread over four teams, from four separate clubs, all playing in one age division.
Approaching the second season of play, the CDMFA has seen three new clubs step up to provide yet another place for girls to play. The Edmonton Seahawks, Sherwood Park Wolverines, and Fort McKay Northern Spirits have all set their sights on fielding teams this upcoming season. This brings the total number of participating clubs up to seven from 2019’s total of four. On top of the growth in clubs, the CDMFA has also elected to add a second age group, opening the eligible ages up from 15-17 years of age, to 12-17 years of age, effectively creating a U19 highschool division, as well as a U16 junior high division. An age model very similar to the operations of both the Manitoba Girls Football League (MGFL) and Utah Girls Football League (UGFL) who are incredibly successful. The CDMFA is set to run 5 teams in each age division for the 2020 season.
Seeing just under 70 girls participate in the first practice, and expecting anywhere between 120-140 girls registered by the regular season, the CDMFA is ecstatic with the unprecedented growth of the all-girls divisions.
There will be four more combined club practices throughout February and March in order to continue growth and recruitment. Any girls interested in playing, are welcomed to come out to the final non-equipment practice February 23rd, 5-7pm and Foote Field. After that, girls must contact individual clubs in order to arrange to have equipment for the following practices on March 1st, 7th and 15th. Teams will accept new players up until the end of March. Games for the all-girls division begin the last weekend of March, with championships slated for Mother's Day weekend.
Edmonton’s all female tackle football division expands - Global News
Football for all - CTV News
For more information on the CDMFA Girls Division and Participating Clubs - click HERE.
For any questions or media enquires please contact:
Tanya Walter at cdmfatechdir@gmail.com
