Female Football Pathway

Springfield United is proud to provide a complete female football pathway for girls and women of all ages, abilities and ambitions.

Whether your daughter is kicking a ball for the first time, looking to play with friends, ready to challenge herself in a development environment, or dreaming of progressing through the Football Queensland pathway, Springfield United offers a place to start, grow and belong.

Our Female Pathway supports players from their first football experience through to MiniRoos, FQ Academy, Junior football, FQPL Women, Metro Women and Women’s Legends.

At Springfield United, female football is not just a team or a program. It is part of who we are as a club.

Springfield United’s female football journey has grown significantly since launching our first female-only team in 2018.

Since launching our first female-only team in 2018, the number of girls and women playing at Springfield United has continued to rise each year. In 2020, we had 97 female players across 5 teams. By 2025, that had grown to 283 female players across 16 teams.

In 2026, we are proud to have reached another milestone, with 307 female players across 19 teams representing Springfield United across MiniRoos, juniors, FQ Academy, senior women’s metro and FQPL football and Women’s Legends.

This growth is more than just numbers. It reflects the players who show up with passion each week, the families who support them, the coaches and volunteers who give their time, and the club community that continues to champion female football.

As our pathway continues to grow, our goal remains simple: to give every girl and woman a place to play, develop, compete, belong and stay connected to football for life.

Springfield United is committed to creating a welcoming, supportive and ambitious environment for female players.

Our pathway provides opportunities for players who want:

• To try football for the first time
• To play socially with friends
• To build confidence and develop skills
• To play in girls-only teams where numbers allow
• To challenge themselves in higher-level football
• To progress through FQ Academy and talent identification opportunities
• To continue into senior women’s football
• To stay involved in the game as players, coaches, referees, managers or volunteers

Springfield United has previously highlighted strong growth in female participation, with 212 female players across 13 female teams in 2023, ranging from U8 through to FQPL Women and Women’s Legends.

Springfield United’s Female Pathway is led by Kristy Bodel, who oversees and supports the continued growth of female football across the club.

As Female Pathway Lead, Kristy plays an important role in ensuring girls and women at Springfield United have opportunities to:

• Start football in a welcoming and supportive environment
• Progress from MiniRoos into youth girls football
• Access community, development and advanced football options
• Transition into FQ Academy Girls and senior women’s football
• Stay connected to the club through playing, coaching, managing, refereeing or volunteering

This leadership role is an important part of Springfield United’s long-term commitment to female football. 

Kristy’s leadership helps ensure the Female Pathway is more than a list of teams. It is a connected club-wide approach designed to give girls and women a place to belong, develop, compete and stay involved in football for life.

Little Springers (Ages 3 to 5)

Little Springers is the first step into football for many young players.

The program introduces children to football through fun games, movement, basic ball skills and confidence-building activities. It is a great starting point for girls who are not yet ready for MiniRoos but want to begin learning in a fun and supportive environment.

Pathway:
Little Springers → MiniRoos

MiniRoos (Under 6 to Under 12)

MiniRoos is where many girls begin their team football journey.

The focus is on participation, fun, friendships, teamwork and skill development. Players learn the basics of the game in an age-appropriate environment and begin to build confidence on and off the field.

Where numbers allow, Springfield United supports girls-only teams from MiniRoos age groups (U8+). Girls may also participate in mixed teams depending on age, registrations, team numbers and competition availability.

Pathway options:
MiniRoos → Junior Girls Football
MiniRoos → FQ Academy Girls

Youth Girls Football (Under 13 to Under 18)

Youth football is a key stage in the female pathway.

At this age, players may be looking for different experiences. Some want to play socially with friends, some want to continue developing in a community team, and others may be ready for a more advanced football environment.

Springfield United’s pathway is designed to support both community football and advanced football options, so players can choose the football experience that best suits their goals, commitment and ability.

Pathway options:

Juniors → FQ Academy Girls
Juniors → Senior Metro Women
Juniors → FQPL Women

FQ Academy Girls (U11-U17 Advanced Development Pathway)

For players who are ready to take the next step in their football journey, Springfield United’s FQ Academy Girls pathway provides a more structured and challenging development environment.

This pathway is designed for players who show strong commitment, a positive attitude and a desire to continue improving their game. Through quality coaching, regular training and competitive match opportunities, players are supported to develop their technical ability, tactical understanding, confidence and resilience.

The FQ Academy Girls pathway gives players the opportunity to challenge themselves while remaining connected to the Springfield United community. It also provides a clear link between junior football, youth football and senior women’s football, helping players see what their future in the game can look like.

As Springfield United’s female program continues to grow through 2025 and 2026, the FQ Academy Girls pathway plays an important role in supporting players who aspire to compete at a higher level and progress towards senior football opportunities, including FQPL Women.

Pathway options:

FQ Academy Girls → FQPL Women
FQ Academy Girls → Senior Metro Women

FQPL Women

Springfield United provides senior football options for women who want to continue playing beyond junior football.

Our senior women’s pathway includes competitive and community-based opportunities, allowing players to find the right level for their football journey.

Springfield United’s FQPL Women program continues into 2026, with the team competing in FQPL 3 Women and providing a clear senior pathway for emerging youth players and experienced senior players.

Pathway options:

Senior Women → Women’s Legends
Senior Women → Coaching / Refereeing / Volunteering

Senior Metro Women

Metro Women is ideal for players who want to enjoy senior football in a supportive, team-focused environment.

This option suits players who may be returning to football, new to senior football, moving up from junior football, or looking for a more social and community-based playing experience.

The focus is on enjoyment, fitness, friendship, team culture and staying connected to football.

Pathway options:

Senior Women → FQPL Women
Senior Women → Women’s Legends
Senior Women → Coaching / Refereeing / Volunteering

Women’s Legends

Women’s Legends provides an opportunity for women to continue playing football in a masters-style environment.

Springfield United’s Women’s Legends team had a successful first year in 2023, winning the Grand Final, and the program continues to offer a fun, social and competitive option for women who want to stay active and involved in the club. 

Springfield United is committed to growing female football in a sustainable, inclusive and player-focused way.

From the first female-only team in 2018, to Girls United from 2022, to the continued growth of girls teams, Academy Girls, FQPL Women, Metro Women and Women’s Legends, our focus remains the same:

To provide a genuine lifetime football pathway for girls and women in Greater Springfield

Players can choose the pathway that suits them — the fitness and friendship of community football, the challenge of advanced football, or a lifelong connection to the game through playing, coaching, refereeing or volunteering.

Whether you are registering for the season, looking for a girls team, interested in Girls United, trialling for FQ Academy Girls, joining senior women’s football or returning through Women’s Legends, Springfield United would love to welcome you.