Junior Football | 5 - 12 Years
Registrations are now CLOSED for the 2024 season.
If you missed the registration deadline but are still keen to play this year, please email info@wanakafootball.nz. We may consider registrations based on team availability.
An additional administration fee may be charged.
ON THIS PAGE:
- Overview
- Junior Player Pathways
- Mixed Junior Training Schedule
- Girls Only Training Schedule
- Junior Club Season Dates
- Junior Fees
- What gear does my player need?
- Volunteer Coaches
KEY DATES:
- 19 January: Registrations Open
- 27 & 28 February: Junior Pre-Season Training starts (excl. U5 & U6)
- 6 March: U5 & U6 Junior Pre-Season Training starts
- 31 March: Registrations Close
- 28 April: Junior Season starts
- 7 July: Junior Season ends
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Overview
Wānaka AFC offers both Mixed and Girls Only football for Juniors from Under 5 to Under 12.
Grading is based on the year of birth. 2024 Season:
2019 - U5 | 2018 - U6 | 2017 – U7 | 2016 – U8 | 2015 – U9 | 2014 – U10 | 2013 – U11 | 2012 – U12
If your player is planning to play up or down a grade in 2024, please register them in their true age grade and send us a message at info@wanakafootball.nz. Wānaka AFC staff will relocate them to the relevant age grade/team in the system at a later date.
Wānaka AFC will place players into teams once registrations close. Teams are not streamed, and we endeavour to make them well-balanced. Each team will be allocated a volunteer coach for the season, who will run training and manage game day with support from Wānaka AFC coaches and staff.
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Player Pathways
Club Football
Our club football pathway provides the opportunity for players to play football for the duration of the club season. Teams aren't streamed, and we endeavour to make them well-balanced. The emphasis is on fun and ensuring players have an enjoyable experience while also learning new skills. Players are required to commit to one training per week plus a game. Enthusiastic players aged U7+ who are eager for more football during this time or outside of the club season may also choose to register for our Pre-Academy or trial for The Academy. In Term 3, players will have the opportunity to play Futsal, and in Term 4, Summer 5-a-side football. At various times in the year, players will also have the opportunity to represent Wānaka AFC at various tournaments around the South Island.
Pre-Academy & The Academy
The Pre-Academy provides opportunities for enthusiastic players (girls and boys U7-U12) who have an appetite for more football and are committed to training twice per week. The Pre-Academy is open to anyone in this age group; there is no identification or trial process. It runs year-round, term by term.
The Academy at Wānaka AFC offers a year-round football programme for aspirational young players who are highly committed and motivated to develop their football.
Participation in the academy programme is by invitation only, or, players can contact us directly to trial.
Girls Football
Girls can choose to play in Mixed or Girls Only teams for the club season. They will also train in these teams. There is the option for Girls Only teams to play 'down a grade' or 'true to age' in Mixed competitions. There are currently not enough teams to make up an entire Girls Only competition. Girls Only teams will be contingent on numbers in each age. There will also be opportunities for Girls Only teams to represent Wānaka AFC at tournaments later in the year.
In addition to the Pre-Academy and The Academy, we also offer the Soccer Sisters programme for girls ages U6-U11. This programme is a great option for girls who may be new to football or prefer to build their skills and confidence in a girls-only environment. This is offered as a 'Come & Try' taster for 4 weeks in Term 1 and as a 10-week programme in Term 4.
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Mixed Junior Training Schedule
U5 & U6
Wednesday | 3.30 - 4.15pm | Kellys Flat
Begins Wednesday 6 March | Ends Wednesday 3 July
U7 & U8
Wednesday | 3.30 - 4.30pm | Kellys Flat
Begins Wednesday 28 February | Ends Wednesday 3 July
U9 & U10
Tuesday | 3.30 - 4.45pm | Kellys Flat
Begins Tuesday 27 February | Ends Tuesday 2 July
U11
Wednesday | 4.00 - 5.15pm | Te Kura o Take Kārara
Begins Wednesday 28 February | Ends Wednesday 3 July
U12
Wednesday | 4.00 - 5.15pm | Wānaka Recreation Centre
Begins Wednesday 28 February | Ends Wednesday 3 July
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Girls Only Junior Training Schedule
U5 & U6 Girls
Wednesday | 3.30 - 4.15pm | Kellys Flat
Begins Wednesday 6 March | Ends Wednesday 3 July
U7 & U8 Girls
Wednesday | 3.30 - 4.30pm | Kellys Flat
Begins Wednesday 28 February | Ends Wednesday 3 July
U9 & U10 Girls + U11 Girls who wish to play in a U10 competition
Tuesday | 3.30 - 4.45pm | Kellys Flat
Begins Tuesday 27 February | Ends Tuesday 2 July
U11 - U13 Girls
Wednesday | 4.00 - 5.15pm | Te Kura o Take Kārara
Begins Wednesday 28 February | Ends Wednesday 3 July
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Junior Club Season Dates
The Junior Club Season begins Sunday 28 April, running for 11 weeks, ending Sunday 7 July.
In 2024, Under 5 - Under 8 teams will no longer travel out of Wānaka, and their competition will now be run in-house on Sunday mornings. This was a decision made by the collective of clubs within the region, along with Southern Football for 2024. Wānaka AFC is thinking of creative ways to ensure Sunday mornings will be kept engaging, fun and interesting for U5 - U8 players throughout the season with the removal of the travel component.
Under 9 - Under 12 teams will continue to travel, playing on Sunday mornings between Wānaka, Queenstown, Cromwell and Alexandra.
Below is the proposed home/travelling schedule for Under 9 - Under 12 (please note, this is subject to change)
Week 1: Sunday 28 April - Wānaka
Week 2: Sunday 5 May - Cromwell
Week 3: Sunday 12 May - Queenstown
Week 4: Sunday 19 May - Alexandra
Week 5: Sunday 26 May - Wānaka
Week 6: Sunday 2 June - Cromwell
Week 7: Sunday 9 June - Wānaka
Week 8: Sunday 16 June - Alexandra
Week 9: Sunday 23 June - Wānaka
Week 10: Sunday 30 June - Wānaka
Week 11: Sunday 7 July - Queenstown
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Junior Fees
Under 5 & 6: $115.00
Junior and Youth: $165.00
Fees must be paid online at the time of registration with a valid credit or debit card. If this is not possible for you, please contact us at info@wanakafootball.nz to discuss other payment options. We never want cost to be a barrier to participation, and we are here to help, so please contact us if you would like to put a payment plan in place to pay membership fees in instalments or to discuss options around financial assistance.
Additional fees will differ for players participating in the Pre-Academy, The Academy or other Wānaka AFC affiliated programmes.
Sibling Discount: For families with three or more children registered to play with Wānaka AFC for the season, we offer a 50% discount on the eldest child’s membership fee.
Volunteer Coach Discount: Volunteer Coaches will receive a 50% discount on the fees of the child whose age group they coach for the club season.
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What gear does my player need?
Wānaka AFC will provide:
- 1x game day playing kit per player - Wānaka AFC shirt and shorts to be returned at the end of the season
- All gear and equipment for training and game day - balls, bibs, cones, goalkeeper gloves
Players need to have their own:
- Shin pads
- Football boots
- Plain black football socks for game day
If you need support sourcing the appropriate gear for your player, please reach out - we are happy to help!
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Volunteer Coaches
As always, we are on the lookout for volunteer coaches for 2024! With 50+ Junior and Youth teams in the club, we rely on our amazing volunteers to support our young players and make the football season run smoothly.
If you’re interested in becoming a Junior or Youth volunteer coach next season, please let us know! To show our appreciation for your time, we offer volunteer coaches a 50% membership fee discount for one of your children playing Junior football.
The club is able to offer amazing formal and informal Coach Education and support in the form of ‘Coach the Coach’ sessions, coaching manuals, full training programmes and the opportunity to gain NZF-recognised coaching accreditations.
Email us at: info@wanakafootball.nz to express your interest and let us know the age group you’re keen to coach.
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