Get Involved
Kiwitea Coaches (U5-U8 Grades)
Parents are encouraged to have a go at taking on the role of a “Kiwitea Coach” for one hour a week on Saturday mornings. It’s fun, easy to do, and no experience is necessary. The club will provide training, support and all the resources needed to put on the activities. Please indicate on the registration form if you are interested, or get in touch with the Director of Football on dof@centralunitedfc.co.nz
GAME LEADER RESOURCES
First Kicks (U5-U6):
Activity schedule U5 - 8:30-9:30am
Activity schedule U6 -8:30-9:30am
Junior Team Coaches (U9-U12 Grades)
Most teams are led/coached by a parent or parents willing to look after a team for the season. It is a very rewarding experience and lots of fun too. Courses, assistance and resources for all coaches will be available from the club and through Northern Region Football. Please indicate on the registration form if you are interested in coaching a team or get in touch with the Director of Football on dof@centralunitedfc.co.nz
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COACHING RESOURCES
There are many quality junior-specific resources and videos designed to create experiences that increase passion for the game, fundamental movement and playing skills. These are all available free on the NZ Football website HERE.
We recommend these resources as 'must-haves' for guidance on training and game-days:
- Team Coaches Information. A summary document to get you started with coaching your team.
- Training Guidelines. This has helpful tips for running your junior training sessions.
- Matchday Guidelines for U9-U10 and U11-U12. Get organised on match day with advice on formation, warm-up, playing time, and team talks.
- Junior Football Rules for U9-U10 and U11-U12. Key rules to be aware of that are specific to junior football in New Zealand.
Training resources:
- Gamecards 2022. Five basic and fun training sessions: Dribbling, Shooting, Ball Control, 1v1 and Passing.
- CUFC U9-U12 Curriculum. Suggested training plan for those who want to take a more 'traditional' approach than the above Gamecards. This is based on the Skills Centre sessions below.
- Skills Centre Sessions. 32 training sessions focusing on the core attacking and defending skills.
- There is now an app called CoachMate, it is free and has session plans available for players 4 to 19 years old.
Matchday resources:
- Retreating Line Guide – This has information for the retreating line rule, as well as junior football rules, that are in place for all divisions for U9 to U12. There is also a video explaining it here.
- Pre-match Activities – Guidelines for pre-match warm-ups.
- Junior Football Regulations - Specific regulations for competitions run by Auckland Football Federation.
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Community Referees
All games from U9 and up require a community referee. The 11-a-side games follow the regular Laws of the Game, while the 7-a-side and 9-a-side games have adapted junior football rules, including the retreating line. All referees for junior and youth community football games are organised by teams playing on the day and therefore require a volunteer (often parents) to help. Having a qualified community referee attached to the team is a huge asset and can make the game more enjoyable for the players. Courses and resources will be available from the club and through Northern Region Football. Please indicate on the enrolment form if you are interested in being a referee.
REFEREE RESOURCES
We recommend these resources as 'must-haves' for community referees:
- Retreating Line Guide – This has information for the retreating line rule, as well as junior football rules, that are in place for all divisions for U9 to U12.
- Laws of the Game 2019-2020 - This is the official Laws from the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
- Summary of the 2020 changes - This document summarises all Law changes that came into force 1 June 2019.
- Laws of the Game Mobile App - The first-ever official mobile app! Get quick access to the Laws of the Game.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions or are keen to get involved as a coach or referee, please contact Nic Downes (Director of Football) via email - dof@centralunitedfc.co.nz