SOCCER has overtaken netball as the most popular sport among girls.

The latest Roy Morgan Research analysis shows 39 per cent of girls play soccer, while 37 per cent play netball.

Overall, one in two children aged six to 13 play soccer, with the popularity of the world’s game overtaking swimming as the most common Australian kids’ sport.

In the past year, soccer has gained an extra 108,000 junior participants, taking it to 1.13 million players.

The study of 2600 children shows the next most popular sport among all children aged six to 13 is cycling, followed by athletics, basketball, dancing and cricket.

Aussie Rules comes in at No.9, with just 474,000 players.

Hugh Amoyal, deputy chief executive for Roy Morgan Research said the “Matildas effect” — the impact of the national women’s soccer team — contributed to more girls playing soccer.

“It is encouraging to see that soccer participation has increased so substantially year on year for boys and girls,” he said.

susan.obrien@news.com.au