FIRST KICKS: Eastern Bay of Plenty

5th/6th GRADE & 6th/7th GRADE 

​​​​​​​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. Bay Day is 2nd May, first game day is 9th May and last game day is 15th August 2026.

​​​​​​​Start times: 9:30am & 10:30am​​​​​​​

    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  - 9th May 2026

    Activity 1: Fantails

    Activity 2: Numbers​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    Activity Timeline - 9:30am

    • 09:30am – Assemble on your allocated field with your team and play Skill Activity 1 and Skill Activitiy 2.
    • 09:50am – 1st hooter, Game 1 - players with bibs rotate clockwise one field, with coloured pod. Non-bib players remain on home field (all day).
    • 10:00am – 2nd hooter, Game 2 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 10:10am – 3rd hooter, Game 3 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 10:20am – Final hooter sounds – players with bibs return to home field. Present ‘Player of the Day’ awards.

    Activity Timeline - 10:30am​​​​​​​

    • 10.30am – Assemble on your allocated field with your team and play Skill Activity 1 and Skill Activitiy 2.
    • 10.50am – 1st hooter, Game 1 - players with bibs rotate clockwise one field, with coloured pod. Non-bib players remain on home field (all day).
    • 11.00am – 2nd hooter, Game 2 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 11.10am – 3rd hooter, Game 3 - players with bibs rotate 1 more field & begin playing.
    • 11.20am – Final hooter sounds – return to home field. Present ‘Player of the Day’ awards.

    First Kicks Eastern Bays 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

    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

    Warren Park Pitch Map

    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.