Development of the under-17 competition is under way this upcoming season, with several come and try’ practice matches to take place before A-grade fixtures for girls interested in trying out.
As it stands, the current women's pathway includes GMC's A and B-grade senior competitions, alongside a youth girls’ under-14 competition and Master Blasters.
The move for a new competition comes after observations that female participation often drops off after under-14s, with limited options for players going forward, such as mixed under-16s or jumping straight into senior cricket.
The new program looks to bridge that gap between juniors and seniors and provide more options for girls going forward, according to GMC operations manager James Stokes.
“What we've done is sit down and work out a proper pathway for female participation in the GMC,” Stokes said.
“We've probably got girls who, once they finish the under-14 bracket, only have the alternative of playing under-16 boys or open-aged senior women's cricket.
“If we're serious about female participation in the game of cricket, then we need to provide more avenues for them to be able to do that.
“Our main aim this year is to build that. What we intend to do is to have maybe three, four or five games prior to an A-grade women's game. We're going to hold a practice match, or what we call promotional game.”
The reinvigorated pathway for players will start with Master Blasters, into mixed under-12 competition, under-14 and 17 youth girls and on to senior women's cricket.
Women and girls are still being encouraged to "laugh, learn and play cricket" in the league's continued push to increase female participation.
Venues for under-17 try-outs will be announced in line with the release of the GMC fixture.
● Interest in the under-17 pathway can be registered with Kate Carlisle on 0408 415 951.
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