Third Intake of Play Her Way Squad Kicks Off with a Stronger Focus on Physical P
The third intake of the Play Her Way program’s Under 15s squad has officially kicked off their training, with a renewed focus on physical performance and long-term athlete development. This intake welcomes girls born in 2010 and 2011 and marks a strategic evolution in the program, introducing a comprehensive female specific strength and conditioning component.
For the first time, participants will engage in a structured weights program tailored to the unique needs of adolescent girls involved in high impact sports like rugby league. The program reflects the latest sports science research, which supports resistance training as both safe and highly beneficial for youth. Supervised strength training can improve physical performance, reduce injury risk, and support healthy development in adolescents.
Adding to the excitement, this cohort has the opportunity to train in the same elite facilities as the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL squad. Sharing a training environment with professional athletes has had a powerful impact on the girls, inspiring them to dream big and take their development seriously. It reinforces a sense of belonging in the high-performance space, something many young female athletes don’t often experience. The girls have expressed how motivating it is to be around the Rabbitohs team, soaking up the professional culture and visualising what their own futures in sport could look like.
Program Lead Erin Geddes“Strength training isn't just about building better athletes it builds better people. We’re seeing improvements not just in speed, power and injury prevention, but also in confidence, mental wellbeing, focus in school, and social connection. It’s a holistic tool that empowers young women across all areas of their lives.”
The shift toward performance-based programming is also designed to keep girls engaged in sport longer. Research shows that girls often drop out of sport during adolescence due to lack of confidence, poor body image, and limited access to quality coaching. Play Her Way addresses these challenges head-on with education, role models, and evidence-based training strategies.
As this talented group begins their journey, Play Her Way continues to set the benchmark for youth female athlete development, preparing the next generation of players to be strong, skilled, and self-assured both on and off the field.
