Several clubs in the Auckland Football Federation have taken a big step in recent weeks to reinforce a pathway for the development of their young players.

Five AFF clubs; Three Kings United (Girls U9/10 U11/12 Mixed U9/10 U11/12), University-Mt Wellington AFC (U9/U10 - U11/U12), Bucklands Beach AFC (Mixed U10/U12), Onehunga Sports (Boys/Mixed U9, U10, U11, U12) and Fencibles United AFC (Mixed U10/U12) recently attained NZ Football Skills Centre accreditation.

Guided in each club by Junior Level 3 qualified coaches, the highest level of junior qualification in the country, the Skills Centre Programme provides a best-practice and structured training environment for players of all ability levels in the 9-12 year old age bracket to explore and develop their love of the game.

The programme focusses on five key areas for the development of our youngsters; providing training that looks like the game, maximizing time on the ball, making the game fun in an environment promoting learning, engaging players fully and providing effective player feedback.

A Skills Centre programme runs for a minimum of 16 weeks (maximum of 2 sessions per week) with a maximum cost of $10 per session.

Bucklands Beach AFC’s Director of Football Sander Waterland is hoping that the local area can benefit from quality coaching after obtaining the right requirements to run an accredited Skill Centre Programme.

“Our aim is to not only provide coaching of a standard that will keep our local footballers in our area, but also align ourselves to AFF and the New Zealand Football Framework to continue growing our club and the game” Waterland said.

“Earning an accredited NZF Skill Centre Programme enables us to deliver high quality coaching to footballers in our area.”

“By delivering such a programme, we’re able to cater to players all kinds of players locally and develop our Junior and Youth pathway to Seniors in both the male and female space.”

The Skills Centre is core requirement of the Regional Youth License programme being introduced in the Auckland Football Federation in 2020.

Clubs accredited in the delivery of the Skills Centre and the youth-focused Talent Development Programme have the opportunity to earn protected status in the new LOTTO NRFL youth competition beginning at 13^th and 14^th Grade level in 2020.

AFF CEO Steven Upfold says NZ Football’s Skills Centre programme demonstrates the shift occurring in football delivery under the Club Licensing initiative.

“Historically it has been the role of AFF to deliver additional opportunities for development of players in the junior and youth space,” Upfold said.

“But under New Zealand Football’s vision for the game, our member clubs are now being educated and empowered to take ownership of those programmes and directly deliver the experience their players need in their local environment. This approach is far more beneficial to both the players and the clubs involved.”

For more information on the NZ Football Skills Centre programme click here or contact your relevant club junior contact.

Article added: Thursday 10 October 2019