Football Queensland has announced a bold new ‘100 Programs’ initiative in conjunction with the Be23Ready campaign to attract and engage more women and girls in the lead-up to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™.  

“FQ’s aim is to deliver 100 women and girls’ programs and initiatives by Tuesday, 11 April to coincide with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ ‘100 Days to Go milestone’,” Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci said.  

“100 Programs is an ambitious target and showcases Football Queensland’s commitment to reaching the national 50/50 gender parity target by 2027, providing opportunities for our growing women and girl participation base to develop their playing, coaching and refereeing abilities.” 

Football Queensland Senior Manager – Game Development, Kate Lawson, said she is especially excited to see the appointed community Be23Ready Women and Girls Ambassadors in action as they step in as key drivers to set up and run their clubs’ programs and courses. 

“Participating clubs can contribute any female-focused activation to the 100 Programs such as, come and try days, social events, Girls United introductory programs, or female-only coaching and referee courses within their community to not only create opportunities for female participation but build the excitement for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™,” Lawson said. 

“The Be23Ready campaign was implemented to equip Queensland clubs with the tools to build more welcoming and inclusive environments for female participants; the 100 Programs initiative is a great opportunity for clubs to showcase this by finding ways to broaden their product offering to accommodate new and returning women and girls to the game.” 

Clubs are encouraged to join Football Queensland in sharing their photos from successful programs and activations on social media using the hashtags #Be23Ready and #100Programs.  

All participating clubs hosting any come and try days, carnivals or similar activations should submit their club and event information via the Football Queensland Sanction Request Form. 

As an exciting bonus, any club who completes all three actions of posting event photos with the relevant hashtags, filling out the sanction request form (if required) and completing the post event 100 Women and Girls Initatives Reporting and Feedback Form, will go into the draw to win a 2018 signed Matildas jersey.