FIRST KICKS / U6 - HAMILTON

​​​​​​​First Kicks is for our smallest footballers - U5 & U6 year olds.
The season includes 13 Game days. There is no football on Kings Birthday, Matariki weekend, or the middle and last weekend of the school holidays.

​​​​​​​Start time: 9am​​​​​​​

    Each week, teams do 2 Skill Activities (8 mins each) followed by three 8-10 min games. 

    Teams play at a central hub or cluster, where they will play most of their games. Three times during the season we mix up the teams for Intercluster festivals, where other teams in the region are invited into Hamilton for the day. Your team may play at a different location for festivals. 

    Skill Activities & Draw: 1oth May 2025

    Activity 1: Trucks & Trailers

    Activity 2: Statues

    Draw for Northern Cluster at Grosvenor Park 

    Draw for Western Cluster at Bremworth Park 

    Draw for South-Eastern Cluster at Galloway Park 

    Activity Timeline

    09:00am – Assemble on your field with your team and play skill activity 1 and 2

    09:20am – Hooter – players with bibs rotate clockwise 1 field, within coloured pod. Non-bib players remain on home field (all day)

    09:30am – Hooter – players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing

    09:40am – Hooter – players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing

    09:50am – Final hooter – player of the day awards​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Key Points - First Kicks 

    • 4-6 years old
    • 4v4 format (recommended)
    • 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 First Kicks - Grosvenor Park (Map)

    Western First Kicks - Bremworth Park (Map)

    South Eastern First Kicks - Galloway Park (Map)

    ALL ABOUT FIRST KICKS

    First Kicks Information Booklet 2025: Click HERE 

    First Kicks National Playing Rules: Click HERE 

    Introduction to Coaching Courses: Click HERE

    Skill Activities 2025 Season: Click HERE

    ​​​​​​​Clusters 2025 HERE

    Examples of the weekly activities can be viewed on the NZF Coachmate app and/or on the website at 

    NZF McDonald's Junior Framework Coaching Manual

    First Kicks Waikato Calendar 2025

    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!

    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.