COFFS Football 6s has kicked off its summer competition in record-breaking fashion, with 123 teams and more than 1,000 players taking to the Coffs Coast Synthetics.
The growing popularity of the six-a-side format was clear across the park, with 24 men’s teams, 22 mixed teams, 16 women’s teams and 61 junior teams from under-8s to under-14s signing up for the competition.
CF6 competition organiser Becky Wilson said the opening week had delivered an incredible atmosphere, with players embracing the social side of the game as much as the football itself.
“It’s been an incredible first week of summer sixes, with over one thousand players enjoying the small-sided game,” Wilson said.
“Summer is always our biggest season, as many of the players who play 11-a-side participate to keep their eye in and maintain their fitness.
“But the biggest drawcard has been the social aspect.
“It’s about mates across a range of standards who want to hang out socially while doing something productive.
“This year, we have friends playing together in the men’s and women’s senior competitions, mates, work teams and partners playing in the mixed competitions, and even parents taking the opportunity to play on the same team as their kids.
“The junior competition was very popular, with every age group from boys’ and girls’ under-8s, under-10s, under-12s and under-14s filling up weeks before the competition started.”
Wilson said the record numbers highlighted the growing demand for football beyond the traditional winter season.
“It really shows there’s a big demand for football all year round, rather than just following the traditional in-season and off-season model.”
By David WIGLEY
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