Aspiring female footballers have welcomed the return of the Optus Crows Cup, with the first 2021 carnival held today at Westminster School.

The Optus Crows Cup is an inter-schoolgirls football carnival aimed at encouraging participants to give football a go in a fun and safe environment.

The 9-aside carnival also promotes physical activity, is a female football pathway in South Australia and introduces positive role models.

This year, over 4,000 female students are expected to participate in 19 carnivals held across the state, including metropolitan Adelaide, Clare, Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Riverland, Barossa, Encounter Bay and the Yorke Peninsula.

Winning sides from each of the carnivals will be invited to a state final, to be held in November.

Adelaide Football Club Community Programs Officer Sam Tharaldsen said that after being unable to run the program in 2020 due to COVID, the response from schools and students has been overwhelming.

“We had a large number of schools in touch with us regularly over the last 12 months, wanting to know when they would be starting again,” Tharaldsen said.

“The interest in this program has been incredible, and we have even seen participation in some areas increase by over 500% over the last three years.

“We have seen a number of our past participants compete at one of our carnivals before moving onto club football, and we can’t wait to see an Optus Crows Cup past participant playing in Crows colours one day.”

If you are interested in registering your schools interest for the 2021/22 program, please contact Sam Tharaldsen stharaldsen@afc.com.au

The Optus Crows Cup program would not be possible without Principal Partner Optus, who proudly support grassroots footy.