For some young girls, the biggest step into football isn’t learning how to kick or pass a ball. It’s simply having the confidence to turn up.

West Hamilton United Football Club is making that first step easier through its Girls in Football Holiday Programme - creating an affordable, relaxed and welcoming environment where girls can try football, build confidence and have fun.

For Club President Lee Massey, the programme is part of a bigger goal to grow opportunities for women and girls and build a sustainable pathway into the game.

“We designed the programme very much around, ‘Can we get new people playing?’” says Massey.

“…those that might have played before but were forced into mixed teams, can we show them that it’s a cool thing to do with friends in a female relaxed space?”

Supported by Sport New Zealand's Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding (delivered in the Waikato region by Sport Waikato), the programme has been able to keep costs to just $20 per day, while funding also supported coaching, field hire and equipment.

“The biggest thing is the funding has allowed us to make it affordable,” says Massey.

“That means that girls can come and give it a test.”

That low-cost, low-pressure opportunity is particularly important for girls who might be interested in football but aren’t yet ready to commit to joining a club or team.

The participants themselves spoke about the nerves that can come with trying something new.

“At first… I was nervous, but then it was really fun,” says Zoe.

Beryl felt the same.

“It was kind of scary with a lot of, like, new people, but then after you got to know everybody, it was, like, really fun.”

The programme is also creating leadership opportunities for West Hamilton United’s female players.

Players from the club’s women’s team received coaching education before helping plan and deliver the holiday programme - developing their coaching skills and leadership while also being role models for the younger girls.

Coach Gabbi says that connection can help girls see a future for themselves in football.

“I feel the young girls, they just get a lot more confident being around their peer group and learning actually from older girls that can relate to them, because they know that this is the pathway they can take when they get older if they want to continue in football.”

For coach Anna, the learning goes both ways.

“I actually learn a lot about football techniques in coaching them, so I’m learning while they’re learning as well.”

Ultimately, the programme is about giving girls a positive first experience and making whatever comes next feel achievable.

West Hamilton United is looking at how it can continue creating introductory girls-only opportunities, and connect participants with clubs closer to home. They are also looking at taking football sessions into schools to reach girls who may not otherwise consider giving the game a go.

For the coaches, success is simple.

“I really hope they just continue to play football and love it,” says Gabbi.