KAPONGA SOCCER JUNIORS

REGISTERING YOUR CHILD

Junior registration typically takes place in late February or early March each year. Details of registration night will be publicised on the Club’s Facebook page, and in local school newsletters. New members are always welcome.

AGE GROUPS

The Club typically has teams available for children aged 4-12.

4th-6th Grade (First Kicks) - Children aged 4-6 play in Hawera, at the Hawera Soccer Club, each weekend. They play small sided games (4-5 children per team) on small pitches against teams from other South Taranaki clubs. The morning starts with a few scheduled skills exercises, followed by 1x 20min game against a team from another club. Games are typically from 9-10am each Saturday.

7th-8th grade (Fun Football) - Children aged 7-8 play in Hawera, at the Hawera Soccer Club, each weekend. They play small sided games (5 children per team) on small pitches against teams from other South Taranaki clubs. The morning starts with a few scheduled skills exercises, followed by 2x 20min game against a team from another club. Games are typically from 9-10:15am each Saturday.

9-10th grade – Children aged 9-10 typically play other South Taranaki teams at various locations around South and Central Taranaki (this is subject to change and is dependent on the number of teams registered in any year.)

11-12th grade - Children aged 11-12 typically play other South Taranaki teams at various locations around Taranaki (this is subject to change and is dependent on the number of teams registered in any year.)

If sufficient children present themselves, we will have youth grade (13th grade and up) teams, but this is dependent on the number of children who register to play with the Club.

Your child will be allocated to a team based on their age as at 1 September of that year (ie if the child is 9 years old by 1 Sept, they will play in a 9th grade team.

SEASON DATES

The playing season typically begins in the first week of Term 2. First Kicks (4-6th grade) and Fun Football (7th-8th grade) play until the end of Term 2. The competition for other junior and youth grades typically goes until mid-late August. Exact dates will be published once known each season.

COACHING

Each team is allocated a coach (9th grade up) or team leader (4th-8th grade). Game leaders are parents of children and coaches are also usually parents of playing children. Coaches are typically experienced players, and there is no requirement to be an experienced player if you are volunteering as a game leader. At this age, children are learning ball skills and the main requirement for game leaders is enthusiasum.

If you are keen to help out as a coach or team leader on your child's team, please let the Junior Convenor (contact details on the homepage of our website) know.

PRACTICES

It is the Club's approach that all junior teams practice once per week, however, this is dependent on parent coaches making themselves available to lead practice. Practices are at Victoria Park, Kaponga. Practice dates and times are confirmed at the start of each season.

GEAR REQUIRED

The Club provides children with a Kaponga Soccer Club shirt, and children supply their own shin pads (mandatory), plain black socks and shorts (black). The shirt must be returned at the end of the season.

PRIZEGIVING

Junior prizegiving is held at the end of each season, where we gather for some fun kids vs parents games before moving to prizegiving. Each coach awards a Most Valuable Player and Most Improved Player. Other players receive certificates.

FUNDRAISING

The junior club typically has one fundraiser per annum, with all junior families invited to participate. Typically, this involves selling pies, chocolates or some other item. Funds raised go straight to the junior club, and assist us to cover the cost of prizegiving, new equipment and playing kit for the children.