To celebrate All-Abilities April, we are sharing stories of clubs and experiences of participants in different programs. Today, we will tell the story of Collingwood City FC’s All-Abilities Program, which has been a pioneer in the space for nearly 15 years.
The program started as part of the Richmond SC in 2009 but later moved to Collingwood City where it currently participates in the Football Victoria All-Abiltiies League with both junior and senior teams focusing on fun, skills development, and participation.
“At the time the program started, the club had become more inclusive with the introduction of girls' teams, Collingwood City FC Inclusive Football Program Manager Annette Hall explained.
“We saw the opportunity to make the club more inclusive – we had the facilities and the support of the club’s committee to accomplish this.
“We identified a need, at the time there were only three other metropolitan clubs with All-Abilities programs."
Collingwood City’s program has a high coach-to-player ratio so all participants are properly supported, although parents can support their children on the pitch during training sessions.
The program aims to provide children with an intellectual or physical disability an opportunity to learn soccer skills in a safe and welcoming environment where the young people’s abilities and progress are valued.
“To allow this group of players the same access to a club sport as other children and young people with all the benefits to their physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development is so important to their development,” she said.
“The program also supports the families of these children by providing sporting /recreational opportunities for their children and inclusion in a community club.”
Collingwood City has three groups of players in their All-Abilities program, juniors (7-12 years); youth (13-14 years), and seniors (from 15 years) around two-thirds of players participate in games.
“Not all children with an intellectual or physical disability want to play in a competition. I think it is therefore important that clubs not only provide competitive programs but also make provision for those players who only wish to attend training,” Hall stated.
The program runs training or games every Saturday through Term 2 and 3 and this year the club is implementing the youth group for the first time.
“We felt there was a need to provide our older Junior players (13-14 years) with a stepping stone to the senior group, that also recognized the progression and maturation of their soccer skills,” Hall said.
Hall encouraged more Victorian clubs to branch out into the space, as football is a sport for all everyone.
“We started with seven junior players aged 10-14, now in our 14th year we have children and young people aged from seven to 25 years of age years and have had up to a total of 36 players across the juniors and seniors in recent years,” she said.
“Children of all ages, genders, and abilities have a right to participate in sport, the All-Abilities program fits well in a community club. The program provides other club members with greater awareness and appreciation of these young people and their abilities.
“It is enjoyable and rewarding coaching this group of players, who greatly appreciate the opportunity to play football.”
“I will never forget the words of one of our parents who had two children with a severe intellectual disability she said that she was so happy and grateful that she now had a place where she could bring her children to play Saturday morning sport,” Hall recalled.
“She had always participated in Saturday morning sport and was very happy to be able to provide that for her children. “