Back in the Game: William’s All Abilities Football Story

September 2026 – with grand final month here, one of our clients, William, is training with the WA Squad ahead of matches and the upcoming Grand Final in Melbourne. It’s a proud milestone in a footy journey that once looked like it was over.

A love of footy from the start

William loves footy. He’s been playing since he was a little kid, starting out with AusKick.

But in Year Five, he told his mum the other kids weren’t passing him the ball as much. This was when the gap in development started getting bigger, and he began to notice he couldn’t keep up with the other kids. While his team were mostly supportive, some more negative situations started to occur – and William decided to stop playing.

Finding his team with Starkick

That was until he picked up Starkick all abilities football – a place where he felt part of the team.

The Starkick team is incredibly diverse, and every kid has their own challenges to overcome. Some have physical disabilities, like wheelchair users or players with cerebral palsy, while others have cognitive disabilities or extreme anxiety. But everyone is welcome and included.

Three days a week

William also joined an integrated league with the Ellenbrook Dockers. That means he’s now playing three days a week – keeping his mum busy getting him to various places!

More than a player

William loves his team and has taken on a mentoring role, helping and encouraging the younger kids. It makes him proud when they play as a team, and whenever he or a teammate gets a good mark or goal, he celebrates the win. He was even awarded a sportsmanship award by an opposing team – clearly showing his manners on the field!

He doesn’t just love playing footy, he loves watching it too, and keeps track of everything going on in the sport – players, matches, everything.

A new chapter ahead

Will is currently training to join the WA Squad heading to Melbourne for matches and the grand final this month. Next year he turns 18 and starts a new chapter in his footy career, moving up to the adult teams. He’ll be joining the Swan Districts, also an all-abilities team, which makes a natural transition for William.

Want to build more community participation into your NDIS plan? Get in touch with our team to explore supports that help you get involved in the activities you love, and feel free to comment your encouragement for Will on our Facebook post.