South Yarra To Host 2021 Pride Cups

The ongoing theme of inclusivity is an important one at the South Yarra Football Netball Club, and they will be showcasing it all this Saturday as they showcase the 2021 Pride Cups.

The Yarras' will first battle it out in the women’s football against Mordialloc, before their A2 netball will play Heatherton at the SDNA, which will then finish the day off back at Leigh Park, as the Senior Mens round out the day against Clayton.

South Yarra Vice-President David Cannizzo knows how important it is for clubs to be inclusive to the LGBTQI+ community which is a focus for his beloved club.

“South Yarra has had a journey but one thing that has stayed consistent is that it has always been a super inclusive club,” Cannizzo told GameFace.

“It’s just a great local neighbourhood.”

Rainbows will be at the forefront around Leigh Park with guernseys, socks, goal post pads, goal flags to set the scene for a super coloured affair.

 


Rainbow socks to be worn by the Yarras


 

It’s important to the club to showcase the Pride Cup to continue the tradition of being a very inclusive place to be around, for a potentially vulnerable group of people.

“Studies show that those excluded from sport become much more likely to step away from the sport,” Cannizzo says.

“It is less of an issue now, but (it) has not lost it’s importance which is why it is so great for our club, and it shows with the introduction of women, with footy and netball.”

In July 2019, VicHealth commissioned researchers from the Faculty of Education, Monash University to undertake an evaluation to measure the impact of the Pride Cup program and resources.

Gay and bisexual teenage males play team sport at less than half the rate of their heterosexual peers, whilst girls who identify as lesbian are known to experience discrimination and exclusion within some sport settings. 

Transgender young people frequently report negative and exclusionary experiences when seeking to participate in sport.

The idea started at the Yarra Glen Football Netball Club in 2012 and has grown into a national movement that unites communities.

 


(L-R) women's footballer Pip Metcalfe, men's footballer Julian Belfrage and netballer Caitlin Andreoli


 

A former SFNL CEO, Canizzo was with the league for the introduction of the first Pride Cup in the SFNL 2016.

“It started out as a one-off game in 2016, then it grew to every ground having rainbow arcs with great community support (in the SFNL),” He says pleased that the round is still shown so much support.

The Pride Cup has come back at a great time with no crowds at community sporting events for the past month, meaning supporters will be hanging out to get down to Leigh Park and show their support. This makes all the difference when wanting to create a showcase event.

The Yarra’s have a Toyota Good For Footy Grant to thank for the terrific jumper designs and hope to see as many as possible at Leigh Park to see them in action.

Frankie Photography will be there to capture the festivities as well as plenty of action photography.

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