Frequently Asked Questions
Parents
What will my child do this season?
The Junior Framework
The Junior Framework (5 to 12 years old) is the programme created by New Zealand Football to ensure every child entering the game will take part in training and games that are tailored to his or her stage of football development. More information is here.
First Kicks (5 and 6 year olds)
First Kicks is our very popular introduction to football for boys and girls, aged 5 and 6 which runs on Sunday mornings at Tanera Park. Children must turn 5 or 6 during the calendar year to be able to play in this grade. Girls turning 7 in the calendar year may choose to play in this grade if they wish to.
At the weekly sessions players are formed into small groups and each group is taken through a different drill. The groups then rotate through the drills for around the first 40 minutes of each session. Following the drills, the players then play small sided games for the remaining 20 minutes.
Like all club activities we are reliant on parents to run the Sunday morning programme. Coaches will be provided with training and coaching plans but will require parents to help with organising activities and assisting with games. Like everything with children this age, the more parents contribute by encouraging and supporting the coach and players, the more the children will benefit.
Note for U7-U13 - Girls are able to play in mixed grades – either in their age grade or down a grade if they prefer – and/or they can play in the Girls Only Sunday League.
Under 7 and 8 (7 and 8 year olds)
Children turning 7 in the calendar year will play in Under 7 and children turning 8 in the calendar year in Under 8.
Ideally teams comprise of seven players - 5 playing + 2 reserves.
The playing teams are 5 a side and do not include a goalkeeper, using a size 3 ball and on a ground 30m by 20m with goals that are 2 x 1 metre
Saturday sessions follow a three week cycle of "Game Days" and "Festival Day".
The first two Saturday’s, teams will take part in “Game Days” at Tanera Park or Newtown Park and then 3 games of 10 minutes duration against other teams.
Every third Saturday, Capital Football organises a “Festival Day” where BNUJFC teams will play other clubs – this may be at other locations around Wellington.
U9-13 Team formation
The clubs will form teams based on a number of factors including squad size requirements, enthusiasm (for 1 or 2 practices per week), friend preferences, skills and coach availability. Individual preferences are taken into account and are juggled with the need for equal squad sizes in every grade.
Some teams may practice twice per week and these extra training sessions can occur an additional cost. This will be communicated as teams are formed.
We also have an Alliance with the Wellington United Junior Football club and form joint teams with them. This gives us more flexibility with team formation and enables us to offer the best experiences we can for players in each year group. It also enables us to form teams (particularly in the higher grades where squad sizes are larger) of similar enthusiasm and skills, access senior coaching support and more artificial fields for training.
Under 9 and 10 (9 and 10 year olds)
Ideally teams comprise of 9 players – 7 playing + 2 reserves. The playing teams are 7 a side (including a goalkeeper), using a size 4 ball and on a ground 50m by 30m with goals that are 4 x 2 metres. Matches are 2 x 25 minutes games.
Teams play in the Wellington zone. The top team in grade 10 may play in the more Regional League and this involves travel to areas such as the Kapiti Coast and Upper Hutt.
Each week you will be advised of the time, the venue and your opponents by your team manager.
Each team needs a coach, a manager and another person who is not the coach to referee matches.
Under 11 and 12 (11 and 12 year olds)
Ideally teams comprise of 11 players – 9 playing + 2 reserves. The playing teams are 9 a side (including a goalkeeper), using a size 4 ball and on a ground 60m by 45m with goals that are 4 x 2 metres. Matches are 2 x 25 minute halves.
Teams play in the Wellington zone. The top team in each grade may play in the more Regional competitive Premier League and this involves travel to areas such as the Kapiti Coast and Upper Hutt.
Each week you will be advised of the time, the venue and your opponents by your team manager.
Each team needs a coach, a manager and another person who is not the coach to referee matches.
Under 13 (13 year olds)
Ideally teams comprise of 13 players – 11 playing + 2 reserves. In Grade 13 the playing teams are 11 a side (including a goalkeeper), using a size 4 ball and on a full size pitch with full size goals. Matches are 2 x 30 minute halves.
The top team in each grade may play in the more Regional competitive Premier League and this involves travel to areas such as the Kapiti Coast and Upper Hutt.
Each week you will be advised of the time, the venue and your opponents by your team manager.
Each team needs a coach, a manager and another person who is not the coach to referee matches.
How can I support my child's team coach?
Coaches appreciate if your kids get to practice and games on time. Arriving late can be disruptive.
You can offer to referee, collect gear after games and practices, help to put up nets and flags or set up for festival days.
Give your coach plenty of advance notice if you plan to miss a game. Coaches can arrange to borrow players from other teams if they know they will be short of players.
How can I support my child's team?
#LetThemPlay
Parents are expected to show positive sideline behaviour. . Verbal criticism or abuse of players, officials or opposing teams is not acceptable. Comments from the sideline should be limited to words of support. A child knows when they have made a mistake and criticism from the sideline will not help.
Only the coach gives instructions to players. Directions from parents can confuse players and may be at odds with what their coach has told them. Players should not contest referee's decisions. Many children are influenced by the poor player behaviour they see on TV. Parents and coaches should act quickly to discourage player dissent.
More information on the #letthemplay initiative is available at http://www.capitalfootball.org.nz/LetThemPlay.
What is the New Zealand Football Code of Conduct?
Under the club rules, members (players, parents and guardians) agree to abide by the relevant sections of the New Zealand Football Code of Conduct, which encourages fair, ethical treatment of all persons and organisations that come under the umbrella of New Zealand Football.
Excerpt from the New Zealand Football Code of Conduct:
Parent/Guardian will:
Agree to abide by the Code of Conduct.
Remember that children participate in sport for their enjoyment, not the parents.
Encourage children to participate and not force them.
Focus on the child’s efforts and performance rather than winning or losing.
Encourage children always to compete according to the rules and to settle disagreements without resorting to hostility or violence.
Never ridicule or yell at a child for making a mistake or losing a competition.
Remember that children learn best by example.
Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from sporting activities.
Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise.
Show appreciation for coaches, officials and administrators.
What grade is my child?
Under Capital Football regulations, the year of the player’s birth determines their playing grade. Grades by birth year are shown below for the season. Girls playing on Saturdays can choose to play down a grade.
U5 First Kicks - your player has their 5th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U6 First Kicks - your player has their 6th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U7 Fun Football - your player has their 7th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U8 Fun Football - your player has their 8th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U9 Mini Football - your player has their 9th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U10 Mini Football - your player has their 10th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U11 Mini Football - your player has their 11th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U12 Mini Football - your player has their 12th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U13 Youth Football - your player has their 13th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
U15 Youth Football - your player has their 14th or 15th birthday in the current playing year (1 January to 31 December inclusive)
The club's policy is that players play in their correct grade. Parents and guardians can apply to the club for an exemption to this policy.
Email the club info@bnujfc.co.nz
What does my child wear?
Check out our Player Gear section on what they need to wear during games.
Coaches & Managers
What is the Coach’s role?
The coach has one of the most important roles in the club. You are the point of contact with kids and parents and your enthusiasm and commitment makes the season fun and enjoyable. Watching players develop under your guidance is a very fulfilling exercise and coaching enables you to connect more with your child and their friends.
Coaches and managers are expected to attend the Introduction to Coaching course run by Capital Football. This is an excellent course and the DVD provided is a valuable resource with practice plans and training exercises. The club will organise an Introduction to Coaching course at a local venue for new and returning coaches.
Coaches should give all players equal playing time, rotate positions as well as goal keeping duty.
Capital Football runs several junior coaching courses - please contact the club if you would like to find out more. The club will pay for any course you attend.
NZ Football's Junior Framework for children aged 4 to 12 explained in a 2 minute video available below.
Are there good websites about Coaching?
Become a Coach links to the Sport NZ site with useful advice and guidance for the first time coach.
Footy4kids is a fantastic site for junior football coaches. There are useful articles for the junior coach and drills organised by category (eg attacking, heading, managing parents etc). This site is well laid out and virtually ad free.
Coaching Soccer 101 is a user friendly, easily navigable site with drills organised by age group.
For older kids and adults there is Soccer Training Info and football conditioning.
Monday Morning Centreback has a great article about teaching kids how to understand positional play.
What are the facilities for training?
The club has access to the following grounds for practice sessions:
Vogelmorn Park
Tanera Park
Nairn Street Park
Te Whaea artificial and Wakefield artificial parks
The coach will set the practice venue, day and time after consulting with parents. Children have a lot of after school activities and it is a case of finding a time convenient to the coach and most players. Coaches should avoid practising in the goal mouth and centre circle to preserve these areas for game days.
The Wellington City Council reports ground closures each day click here. If WCC closes a ground, coaches must cancel their practice or find an alternative venue.
Wellington weather forecast click here.
What are the Playing Regulations?
Junior Regulations can be downloaded from the Capital Football website click here.
For a very useful one page summary of Junior Football regulations click here.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) laws of the game can be downloaded from the Capital Football website.
What is the Manager's role?
The manager serves a vital role supporting the coach. They communicate with parents and caregivers, keep team records and manage the team's gear.
The manager is responsible for:
Picking up the team gear (balls, shirts, cones, bibs, gear-bag) at the start of the season
Providing parents with a team list and contact details
Informing parents of practice time and venue
Informing parents of game times and venues and cancellations or ground transfers. Game times and venues are easily found on the Fixtures/Results page on this site.
Asking parents to read the How to support your child's team page on this site and policing behaviour at games
Preparing a duty roster for half-time oranges and refereeing
Keeping a record of player and match highlights to help determine end of season prizes
Enter the team results to CF. The process will be advised by the club at the beginning of the season
Returning the team gear at the end of the season
Grade coordinator's role
The grade coordinator supports the coaches and managers and is the communication link between the management committee and coaches and managers.
The grade coordinator is responsible for:
Supporting coaches or managers with any issues, such as replacing gear, finding back up players from other teams or answering parent questions
Bringing relevant issues from the coaches, managers and parents to the attention of the management committee
Ensuring coaches and managers are aware of club policies and events
Encouraging player participation in appropriate tournaments (both internal and external), courses and events
Encouraging participation by coaches, managers, referees and supporters in appropriate courses and events
How to enter game results?
The process will be advised by the club at the beginning of the season