A new soccer competition is expected to enhance female players' opportunities in the sport.
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South West Victoria Football Association will launch a five-team women's league on February 16.
Warrnambool Wolves, Warrnambool Rangers, Portland and two under 16 representative teams have committed to the season which will a grand final on April 19.
Wolves president Brett Gasper hopes a successful inaugural season will encourage more teams to enter in 2021.
"There will be five teams and we're hopeful in the next 12 months we might be able to get Hamilton, Stawell, Corangamite and maybe Deakin on board as well," he said.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for all of our women to have a competitive hit-out instead of just a kick-around at training."
Gasper said it was important soccer provided its female players with an environment to improve.
"I think on the rise of the Matildas and the efforts of Sam Kerr and Caitlin Foord both making their way over in the UK at the minute, there was something that was missing (locally)," he said.
"Our junior girls play with the boys but there's effectively nothing for them after that.
"We've had a women's program in place for quite sometime and effectively their only competitive hit-outs are pre-season fixtures where teams come down here to use it as a training camp.
"So to have regular fixtures locked in is something that is really great for women and the sport locally."
Warrnambool Wolves also run a 'soccer mums' program aimed at encouraging parents to play and enjoy the same sport as their children.
A 'soccer mums' come-and-try training session is on Tuesday, February 18 at 5.30pm at the Wolves' Harris Street Reserve.