Whānau Update: AFA Season Set to Kick Off

Kia ora koutou,

American Football Auckland (AFA) is preparing for the 2025/26 season, which will officially kick off on Friday, 31 October 2025.

In August, AFA hosted a Leaders Workshop with contributions from across our community — coaches, athletes, parents, referees, and club leaders. A range of topics were discussed, and from those conversations several key decisions have now been confirmed for the season ahead.

Pre-Christmas: Club Tackle Football

All club tackle football will be completed before Christmas this year. Games will be played on Friday nights and Saturdays, providing both under-the-lights excitement and weekend community atmosphere.

Competition formats for 2025/26:

• Men’s: 11-aside

• Women’s, Colts, Juniors: 9-aside

Post-Christmas: Representative & Club Flag Football

From January 2026, AFA will deliver a regional representative tackle programme, followed by Club Flag Football competitions in February 2026. This structure ensures athletes have opportunities to compete in both formats across the season.

Key Confirmed Updates for Clubs

• Age eligibility is now aligned across both Tackle and Flag Football.

• Each club must provide two referees as a condition of entry.

• All club delegates must complete the Sport NZ Governance 101 Certification.

Looking Ahead

These confirmed changes reflect our shared commitment to building competitions that are inclusive, sustainable, and enjoyable. Other topics from the Leaders Workshop remain under consideration, but the decisions outlined above will shape the foundation of the 2025/26 season.

Stay Connected

📄 A summary of recent updates can be found here: AFA Season Updates.

For further information, feel free to contact AFA Administration at 📧 admin@nzaff.co.nz.

The 2025/26 season promises to be an exciting step forward, and AFA looks forward to working alongside clubs, athletes, referees, and whānau as we bring these plans to life.

Article added: Thursday 18 September 2025