Football for the girls and women of Tauranga

Women were banned from playing football for 50 years in New Zealand. The ban only lifted in 1971 when women started playing despite the ban (go rebels!). However, participation numbers still lag behind other women’s sports, and research has made it clear that women's football requires a different approach to men's football if female players are going to realise their full potential.

The Blue Rovers' is proud to join New Zealand Football and Waibop Football in supporting girls and women play "the beautiful game" by reducing the barriers to involvement by offering girls-only teams and by creating more ways to play such as girls-only summer football, development programmes and social and competitive playing options.

In 2024 we completed a full pathway for female players from Grade 8 through to Senior Women’s football. “We've had girls-only teams for years and have always participated in Women and Girls month, but we identified a gap in our pathway,” says Cath Wheeler, the Women & Girls Co-ordinator at the club. “There were no girls-only youth teams for our 14-16 year olds, so we lacked a clear progression from junior to senior levels.”

And this summer for the first time, we are offering a social and competitive summer 5-aside league for girls only (age 13-19) on Wednesdays and womens-only summer 5-aside on Mondays.

What we offer

We offer unparalleled support through a dedicated girls and womens' team that are continually talking about our player's football and their welfare. Since 2018 this team has worked to support female football to the point where we are now the third largest female club in the Bay of Plenty and have girls-only teams at every junior and youth age group. Things that are important to us include:

• Recognising players are unique. Every player will have their own goals and priorities. We work with players to try and understand and meet their needs from football to friendship to fitness.
• A partnership relationship. Like every team, everyone has their part to play. Player's come willing to learn and put in a full effort, whānau support the players to reach their goals, and we provide opportunities to play, learn and foster friendships in a fun and safe environment.
• Communication. In any relationship people don't always get it right, but we want to, and we're not afraid of the tough conversations.
• Development. Helping players unlock their potential and be the best version of themselves. This includes matching players with teams and leagues that provide the right challenge point.

No matter what you're looking for, we've got something for every female footballer or aspiring footballer. If you want to know more, check out the girls and women's section of our website: https://bluerovers.co.nz/girls-and-women or check out this article from Waibop Football: Blue Rovers FC: Building a Pathway