THAMES FCFOOTBALL CLUB
THAMES FCJUNIOR FOOTBALL
Fun, development, teamwork and a love of football - a place for young players to learn the game and enjoy being part of Thames FC.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL AT THAMES
Junior football should be enjoyable first. Our aim is to give young players a positive football experience where they can build confidence, develop their skills, make friends and feel part of the club. Thames FC competes in the Thames Valley / Coromandel region and trains at Rhodes Park.
FIND YOUR AGE GROUP
Junior football is grouped by age so players can learn and play in a format suited to their stage of development.
HOW EACH GRADE PLAYS
These formats follow the New Zealand Football junior game guidelines used for each age group.
Retreating line: halfway. Offside: none. Penalties: none. Free kicks: none.
Scoring: ball must be over halfway. Goal kicks: pass or dribble. Sideline restart: pass or dribble. Kick-off: pass or dribble from halfway.
Results: no recorded results or tables. Fair play: positive coaching, no cards, and players shake hands after games.
Pitch range: 30×20m to 40×30m. Penalty area: 15×6m. Retreating line: halfway. Offside: none. Penalties: none.
Goal kicks: pass or roll with retreating line in action. Free kicks: direct or indirect, opposition 5m away. Corners: yes.
Sideline restart: pass in, opposition 5m away, four seconds to restart. Results: recorded for grading only; no table keeping.
Pitch range: 45×30m to 55×35m. Penalty area: 20×8m. Retreating line: 30% of the field from the goal line.
Offside: yes, using the retreating line. Penalties: none. Goal kicks: retreating line applies. Free kicks: direct or indirect, opposition 5m away. Corners: yes.
Sideline restart: throw-in. Kick-off: pass from halfway, opposition 5m away. Results: recorded for grading only; no table keeping.
Pitch range: 60×45m to 75×50m. Penalty area: 26×10m. Retreating line: 30% of the field from the goal line.
Offside: yes from halfway. Penalties: yes, from 8m. Goal kicks: retreating line applies. Free kicks: direct or indirect, opposition 5m away. Corners: yes.
Sideline restart: throw-in. Kick-off: pass from halfway, opposition 5m away. Results: recorded for grading only; no table keeping.
Training generally gets underway through March and April. The first games kick off on the second Saturday in May, with the junior season running through to the end of August.
Junior teams train at Rhodes Park in Thames, the home of Thames Football Club.
Our junior teams compete in the Thames Valley / Coromandel region through WaiBOP Football, our regional federation under New Zealand Football.
TEAM COMMUNICATION
Once teams are underway, Thames FC uses the CoachMate app for team communication throughout the season. Coaches and team managers use it to keep families updated with training, match information and other important team notices.
Ask about junior football