Capital Football staff took great delight in seeing thousands of children from throughout the region enjoy Fun Football Festivals (U7 & U8) on the weekend. The Festivals take place at several hubs in the Wellington, Western, and Hutt Valley regions every few weeks, and each week in the Kapiti and Wairarapa regions.

Teams rotate through a series of 4 x 12-minute, 5-a-side games, playing their counterparts from throughout the region. The emphasis is completely on fun and letting the kids play the game, Federation Development Manager, Steeve Sharpe commented “this is the children’s first experience of playing the game against other clubs and it’s important that they have a positive one which they want to keep returning too. The format of the game is designed to ensure that all children get the chance to play, express themselves, and have fun without feeling any pressure. Playing 5-a-side enables the players to have the space required to enjoy the game. When surveyed, children have said this fun is the most important factor in why they play the game.”

There are an incredible number of clubs and their volunteers who make this happen on the weekends. They set up the pitches, label the fields, make everyone feel welcome, and do so much more. We are hugely grateful for everything that the volunteers throughout the Capital Football region do to ensure the Festivals are an enjoyable experience. Please take a look at a range of photos from throughout the region to see the fun in practice.

Photo credit: Capital Football

Photo credit: Lower Hutt City

Photo credit: Capital Football

Photo credit: Capital Football

Photo credit: Capital Football

More photos are available on our Facebook page.

The Fun Football Festivals will keep running for the remainder of the football season. When the Festivals are not happening on a weekend, children will be partaking in clubs' in-house programmes where they will engage with coaching sessions on a station rotation basis. We recommend New Zealand Football’s Coachmate App for a whole range of station rotation sessions.

For more information about Fun Football Festivals or junior football please contact Federation Development Officer – Community Lead, Connol Modd – connol@capitalfootball.org.nz

Article added: Thursday 13 June 2024