FIRST KICKS: Northern Hub - Discovery Park

5th/6th GRADE & 6th/7th GRADE - HAMILTON

​​​​​​​First Kicks is for our smallest footballers - 5 to 7 year olds. 

​​​​​​​There is no football on King's Birthday Weekend, or the middle and last weekends of the school holidays. First game day is 2nd May and last game day is 22nd August 2026.

​​​​​​​Start times: 9am & 10:15am​​​​​​​

    Each team has 6 - 8 players (recommend 8). The morning consists of 2 skill activities of 8 mins each & 3 x 8-minute games against different opposition. After the skill activities split the team in two, players with bibs rotate clockwise one field, with coloured pod. Non-bib players remain on home field (all day).

    See all the weekly activities on the NZF Coachmate app

    Skill Activities & Draws  - 13 June 2026​​​​​​​

    Activity 1: Kick Off

    Activity 2: Runaway Trucks​​​​​​​

    Activity Timeline - 5th/6th Grade

    • 09:00am – Assemble on your allocated field with your team and play Skill Activity 1 and Skill Activitiy 2.
    • 09:20am – 1st hooter, Game 1 - players with bibs rotate clockwise one field, with coloured pod. Non-bib players remain on home field (all day).
    • 09:30am – 2nd hooter, Game 2 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 09:40am – 3rd hooter, Game 3 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 09:50am – Final hooter sounds – players with bibs return to home field. Present ‘Player of the Day’ awards.


    Activity Timeline - 6th/7th Grade

    • 10:15am – Assemble on your allocated field with your team and play Skill Activity 1 and Skill Activitiy 2.
    • 10:35am – 1st hooter, Game 1 - players with bibs rotate clockwise one field, with coloured pod. Non-bib players remain on home field (all day).
    • 10:45am – 2nd hooter, Game 2 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 10:55am – 3rd hooter, Game 3 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 11:05am – Final hooter sounds – players with bibs return to home field. Present ‘Player of the Day’ awards

    Northern First Kicks - Discovery Park (Map)

    First Kicks Waikato Calendar 2026

    Key Points - First Kicks 

    • 5 - 7 years old
    • 3v3 format
    • 3 x 8-minute games
    • No goalkeepers
    • No offside rule
    • No throw-ins or corner kicks
    • Ball kicked/dribbled back into play
    • No published match results or ladders

    Northern HUB

    Gordonton School

    Northern United

    Southwell School

    Tauwhare School

    Hamilton Christian School

    Hamilton Wanderers

    Set Up and Pack Up

    ​​​​​​​Important: All teams should help with set-up and pack-up of fields. Please treat the venue you are playing at like your home ground - do not leave this just to the host club to do. Thank you!

    Skill activity rotations

    Fun Games & Activities

    The McDonalds Junior Football fun games/activities play a major part in each session. Please use them and support the development and enjoyment of our future footballers.

    Our goal is to enthuse young players so that they fall in love with the sport and stay in it for life. These activities offer volunteer coaches with a variety of fun games, each focusing on a particular technical outcome. Every activity is an opportunity for young children to take part in fun, enjoyable football games that will develop them as players and people.

    It is important to check that SMILES are evident in your sessions:

    • S - Safe
    • M - Maximum participation
    • I - Inclusive
    • L - Learning
    • E - Enjoyable
    • S - Successful

    Thank you for supporting the growth and development of football.