Numbers of girls playing football has increased from 19 to 37 in the five to 11 year age bracket ahead of the fourth week of the 10-week MiniRoos kick-off for Girls program.

The program allows girls to build confidence while learning the skills of the game without the added pressure of winning or losing.

Coordinator Laurence Sparlow said it would be unfair to specify one reason for the increase in girls participating in the program.

“As a sport, football is doing quite well around this area,” he said.

“It can’t be due to any one reason, but all the girls are talking about the Matildas and since the Jets visit numbers have increased as well.

“They’re predominantly in the five to seven year age bracket.”

The program takes place at Macquarie Park every Monday afternoon from 4.30pm until 5.30pm.

“It’s mainly half an hour of skills for the girls and then another half an hour is spent playing a game at the end,” Sparlow said.

The program runs for 10 weeks.