Nestled in the heart of the Yass Valley, the Yass Redbacks Soccer Club stands as a testament to the community spirit that lives in the small New South Wales town. The Redbacks have become a cornerstone of local sport, offering opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels to engage in the beautiful game.
As well as offering junior football, the club provides a Capital League Open Division 8 men’s team and a Capital League Women Division 6 team. The women’s team is guided by coach Katrina Kerr, who fills multiple roles at the NSW club. Kerr first became involved with the Redbacks in 2019 when she started coaching her son’s team. Since then, she has covered almost every role the club offers including player, junior coach, committee member, referee, sponsorship organiser, and now, coach of the senior women’s team.
Her journey with the senior women’s team began in 2022, when she restarted her football career after some time off. A year later however, a second ACL injury forced her into early retirement from playing, but instead of stepping away, she stepped up.
“I sort of felt a responsibility to take on that role,” Kerr explains. “We didn’t have a coach, and if I didn’t do it, the team might not have had anyone. I’ve been around football my whole life, so it made sense”
Like most grassroots clubs, Yass FC relies heavily on a small but dedicated group of volunteers to keep everything running.
“It’s often the same handful of people who keep it all going,” Kerr said. “It’s a common theme in community sport. One person ends up doing five roles because otherwise, it just doesn’t happen.”
Yass FC has been forced to cut back on the number of senior teams offered in 2025, only fielding two senior teams, a men’s and a women’s. The lack of teams is a product of the small population size and the challenges of travelling into Canberra for most matches, often up to an hour away. Last season, the club managed to field two women’s teams, but balancing game day numbers proved difficult, with players frequently backing up to play twice in one day.
“There were weekends where we had eight players doing both the 10am and 2pm games,” Kerr recalls. “It was exhausting. The load was huge, especially when you consider that many of the players are also working mums with other commitments.”
Despite the logistical hurdles of competing as an interstate team, the Redbacks are seeing the benefits of long-term investment in their junior pathways. Some of the club’s former under 18 players have now graduated into the senior ranks, a transition Kerr hopes becomes more common.
“Our goal is to build that pathway from juniors to seniors,” she says. “It’s really encouraging to see those players coming through.”
Looking to the future, Kerr is focused on the growth and sustainability for the club.
“I’d love to see the club not struggling for numbers, with strong junior and senior participation across the board,” Kerr said. “And support from Capital Football in terms of referee appointments would make a big difference. We’ve had multiple matches without referees, and I’ve had to step in and ref myself.”
Despite making the tough decision to field just one senior women’s team, the club has benefited from a more sustainable squad, with more consistent numbers each week. But for Kerr and her team, success isn’t defined by results on the scoreboard.
“Success this season is just everyone getting through uninjured, enjoying themselves, learning something new, and hopefully making a new friend,” Kerr said. “We’re not here for trophies, we’re here for the social side, to stay active, and to be part of something.”
With dedicated volunteers like Kerr, the Yass Redbacks women’s team is proving that community football is about more than just the game. It’s about connection, growth, and giving back, all values that the Redbacks proudly live every weekend.
You can find the Redbacks playing home matches at Walker Park on Sundays at 2pm or follow them on Facebook at Yass Football Club for all the latest updates.
Words: James Whybrow
