Readers Blog: Participation sacrificed for elitism in ladies soccer
The U14 and U16 Gaynor Cup are the WFAI’s showpiece inter-league tournament for girl’s soccer in this country.
It takes place in the excellent facilities in the University of LImerick (UL).
Up to last year it provided an opportunity for the best young players from every league in the country to showcase their skills and test themselves against their peers.
However, this is no longer the case, as for this year’s tournament the WFAI decided to limit the number of leagues allowed participate.
Qualifying tournaments for a number of leagues are now taking place to decide which leagues will take their place in UL in June and which will not.
To witness the devastation and sorrow at a recent qualifying event for the U16 Gaynor was a testing experience.
More than 100 girls will not now get the opportunity to display their skills and participate in a great tournament.
Having been at most home matches over the last few years supporting the Irish Senior Women’s squad; it has been heartening to witness the increase in support at Tallaght Stadium recently.
This support is made up mostly of young girls from all over the country who participate in a sport they get great pleasure from.
What kind of a message are the WFAI now sending to those girls, many of whom have viewed the Gaynor Cup at UL as an experience they will never forget but given this recent decision could become for other girls an experience they may always regret?
Great work is being done in leagues all over the country to promote girls soccer by clubs and league academies to increase participation by girls in soccer.
However, this decision by the WFAI has arguably sacrificed participation for elitism and could have consequences for all the good work that has been done to date.
