Our youngest members are introduced to football through ‘First Kicks’ – part of New Zealand Football’s Junior Framework.
The players learn new skills in a fun and friendly environment, taking part in weekly sessions that provide wide-ranging benefits:
Social & Emotional – lots of interaction, enjoyment
Technical & Tactical – lots of touches, 1v1s, attacking & defending
Physical – develop Functional Movement Patterns, more active
Mental – lots of opportunities for success and for decision making
Saturday Mornings - 8:30am
First session: 2nd May 2026
Final session: 29th August 2026
Location: All games for this age are played in house at Ferguuson Park
No Football on the following holiday 2026 dates: 30 May, 11th and 18th July
First Kicks Grade Coordinator – Karen Sykes - firstkicks@otumoetaifootball.co.nz
Grading is strictly based on the year of birth: (2026 Season) 2021-2022 – 4-5th Grade | 2020 – 6th Grade
_____________________________________________________________________
Registrations and Teams
Registrations open early January through to 23rd March. At the close of registrations, the grade coordinator will put the teams together based on requests as indicated on the registration form (they do their best, nothing is guaranteed). If you have a few friends wanting to play together, they will all have to indicate this on their registration.
Once all registrations are sorted into teams, the coordinator will email out team details (typically mid April). Each team will require a volunteer coach, and manager. It is at the team's discretion if they want to practice during the week or not.
_____________________________________________________________________
First Kicks Programme
Saturday Mornings – 8:30am
The weekly allocation of pitches and station activities will be made available on our website and App usually at least two days in advance. Two teams will be allocated to each pitch shown on the draw. The first team listed will wear their shirts the Green side out. The second team (Away team) will wear theri shirts Black side out
Each team will need two ‘coaches’ on the pitch with their team – one to run the activitys and one to take the team in games.
TEAMS
Maximum of 8 players per team
PITCH
25m x 17m (1/16th of a pitch) with 2m x 1m goals
FORMAT
8:30am Activity 1 - Fit4Football 11+ kids (learn more about Fit4Football here)
8:38am Activity 2 - Football Technique
8:46am Activity 3 - Football Coordination
8:54am Activity 4 - Small Sided Game
9:02am Return to original Station for a drink – 2 minutes
Coaches ensure half the team has bibs on. The players wearing bibs will move clockwise to play two 13 minute games. One coach will move with the bibbed players and the other will remain with the non-bib players.
9:04am Bibbed players rotate clockwise – Game 1 kick-off
9:17am Bibbed players rotate clockwise – Game 2 Kick-off
9:30am Pack up and player of the day certificates handed out
RULES
Players are encouraged to enjoy being in possession of the ball; the focus is on having fun and participation
There are no throw-ins, goal kicks, corners, free kicks, or kickoffs
If the ball goes out of play or a goal is scored, coaches are encouraged to throw a ball back onto the pitch
Coaches should try to ensure games are relatively evenly matched. If one team has more players than the opposition then the coaches can monitor the game and balance the teams as fairly as possible by sharing players
Team coaches will be on the field to encourage players and their positive behaviours. Coaches should encourage all players to perform different skills and roles within the team
PARENTS/SUPPORTERS
All supporters should watch games from a few metres behind the outlines of the fiekld to allow space for the kids to play and provide encouragement to all players.
Admin Login