In a landmark moment for the Touch Football community in Queensland, Capricorn Coast Touch Association (CCTA) is preparing to send five junior representative teams to the Junior State Cup (JSC). This is the first time this has happened in the affiliate’s history.
This is no small feat. Just a few short years ago, Capricorn Coast was struggling to field teams for their local competition. Now, with approximately 60 junior players representing the region across five teams, Cap Coast’s debut on the state stage is a powerful symbol of the sport’s growth in regional Queensland and the broad impact of the Junior State Cup event.
Luke O’Brien, General Manager of Capricorn Coast Touch, says the excitement among players and families to put the club on the map is through the roof.
“You can expect to see teams that have a lot of heart and will never give up. We absolutely love that the comp is being held in Rockhampton as it is great exposure for our region and very convenient for us being so close to home.”
While Capricorn Coast’s junior competition has quietly been building steam attracting around 800 junior players annually, Luke attributes the club’s growth to their dedicated volunteers and ongoing development initiatives.
Jayden Benbow, Central Queensland Game Development Manager, has been closely involved in developing the sport in the Capricorn area since he joined the QTF team in 2022.
“I’ve been running sessions at local schools, multiple Q-Academy programs, as well as delivering coach developer sessions and coaching courses. It’s been incredible to work with the coaches, players and volunteers in Cap Coast,” said Jayden.
“Having a small affiliate like Cap Coast attend JSC for the first time is a great accomplishment. It shows they’re developing enough talent, structure, and interest to compete at a high level.”
Capricorn Coast’s rise highlights the importance of regional opportunities and access to major events—something the Junior State Cup’s rotation between Rockhampton and Redlands is helping to deliver.
The 2023 event marked the first time the JSC was hosted in Rockhampton, and its return continues to drive participation growth and economic impact across Central Queensland.
Jayden says the decision to take the sport’s top junior event to Rockhampton has been followed by record numbers for participants at their development carnivals.
“By hosting the JSC in our region biennially, we’re removing travel barriers and opening up more pathways for local players, coaches, and referees.”
For Capricorn Coast, this year’s JSC is about showing their players the best of the sport and laying foundations for the future.
“All the work we’ve done is for the players,” said Luke. “We want to give them the experience of playing at a high level and show them how rewarding this sport can be. We’re here, we’re ready, and we can’t wait to get on the field.”
