Fun Football (for those turning 7 or 8 this year)
The Fun Football programme is a natural progression from First Kicks for those turning 7 or 8 within the calendar year. New players are still welcome at any age.
The programme runs at Monrad Park, Highbury, each Saturday morning during terms 2 and 3. The 7th grade play at 10.30am, the 8th grade at 8.45am. Each session runs for between 60 and 90 minutes. |
Teams are made up of about 7 players at the start of the season. There is no grading for these age groups and if players would like to be in teams with friends please let us know and it can be arranged.
Boys and girls play separately. This is on the insistence of Central Football based on guidelines from New Zealand Football. The reasoning is that having girls in single sex teams encourages more girls to try football and leads to an increased enjoyment level for those playing. This is based on years of research and positive results in the number of girls playing due to the change. This year more than any, with the FIFA Women's World Cup being played in New Zealand, we encourage as many girls to try football as possible.
Pods are set up for the teams to take part in 4 fun games based on general movement, football coordination and football technique. The kids play each of the 4 games for about 8 minutes before rotating to the next game.
At the end of the games rotation the teams play an arranged match of 15 minutes each half against a team from either their own or a different club. The matches are 5-a-side. There are no goalkeepers and limited rules (only to keep things safe).
The whole emphasis of Fun Football is to develop core physical skills and lay down the technical foundations for future football competency in a fun, motivational environment.
The programme has been devised by New Zealand Football as part of their "Whole of Football Plan"and is something Central Football encourage all clubs to follow.
Who runs the programme?
We have a coach associated with the club who will be running training sessions on a Tuesday evening at Monrad Park (by Marriner St car park), in addition to the Saturday programme, for those who wish to attend. These will be on a Tuesday at 3.30pm for an hour. If you cannot make these sessions the children will still be very welcome on a Saturday.
For the teams on a Saturday each team will require a parent/sibling/carer to volunteer to run a game pod and manage the team (substitutions rather then any tactical wizardry). In the past it has been more simple if the same parent acts as the match manager but different people can run the pods each week if preferred.
Boys and girls play separately. This is on the insistence of Central Football based on guidelines from New Zealand Football. The reasoning is that having girls in single sex teams encourages more girls to try football and leads to an increased enjoyment level for those playing. This is based on years of research and positive results in the number of girls playing due to the change. This year more than any, with the FIFA Women's World Cup being played in New Zealand, we encourage as many girls to try football as possible.
Pods are set up for the teams to take part in 4 fun games based on general movement, football coordination and football technique. The kids play each of the 4 games for about 8 minutes before rotating to the next game.
At the end of the games rotation the teams play an arranged match of 15 minutes each half against a team from either their own or a different club. The matches are 5-a-side. There are no goalkeepers and limited rules (only to keep things safe).
The whole emphasis of Fun Football is to develop core physical skills and lay down the technical foundations for future football competency in a fun, motivational environment.
The programme has been devised by New Zealand Football as part of their "Whole of Football Plan"and is something Central Football encourage all clubs to follow.
Who runs the programme?
We have a coach associated with the club who will be running training sessions on a Tuesday evening at Monrad Park (by Marriner St car park), in addition to the Saturday programme, for those who wish to attend. These will be on a Tuesday at 3.30pm for an hour. If you cannot make these sessions the children will still be very welcome on a Saturday.
For the teams on a Saturday each team will require a parent/sibling/carer to volunteer to run a game pod and manage the team (substitutions rather then any tactical wizardry). In the past it has been more simple if the same parent acts as the match manager but different people can run the pods each week if preferred.