Te Aroha has a growing junior football club, nearly doubling its size in the past two years. The Waikato town at the base of the Kaimai Ranges with a population of nearly 5,000 now has 140 registered players, grown from 75  two years ago, and surpassing its pre-COVID count of just under 100.

Historically a rugby community, the football club is a subsidiary club of the College Old Boys Rugby and Sports (COBRAS), reflected in their name and logo – the Te Aroha Cobras AFC.

Ben Norman, the club president, attributes the growth of the club to getting into the community and introducing more kids to football through “School’s World Cup” tournaments.

Traditionally, the club has run a football in schools programme, with a coach going into all primary schools to deliver taster programmes with students in Term 1. Recognising that these have been very time intensive, Ben and the committee of five looked at other ways they could introduce football to kids outside the club. 

 

In March 2023 they organised with the local primary schools a ‘sporting day out’ – similar to those run by other codes, and with the Women’s World Cup on their doorstep, it was logical for it to be the "School’s World Cup”.

 

All five primary schools in the region got involved in the 5-aside tournament, with games for Years 3-4, Years 5-6, and Years 7-8.

Timing it just before the club's player muster and signup for the Winter season, many young players got to try football for the first time.

 

The result? The club’s player count jumped from 75 to 120 in 2023, and the club was able to form their first-ever all-girls team (U8).

 

Building on this success, the club introduced a Friday night 5-a-side competition for six weeks in Term 1 of 2024. Similar to the one day World Cup event but extended over a longer period, this initiative was a huge hit, attracting up to 250 kids and parents every Friday night. The warm, fun atmosphere was especially popular with intermediate-aged kids, who enjoyed a knockout format.

Thanks to these events, the club saw a record signup for the 2024 winter football season, and have been able to enter two all-girls teams in the U10 and U12 categories. 

With the influx of numbers came the need for more coaches and volunteers to run the club. Knowing that community coaching can be a lottery for the players, with some coaches having more knowledge and experience than others, Ben and the committee employed a Football Development Officer in 2023. 

Maddi Ollington, the Senior Women’s Captain at Hamilton Wanderers, holds a part-time, paid role at the club. She is on hand at training nights, working with teams, coaches, and offering one on one time to kids who are interested in learning specific skills. 

Maddi says: “In the last two years I have been involved at the club, everyone has welcomed me into a space where I have been able to share my knowledge and experience. I have enjoyed creating relationships with not only the kids but with the coaches and parents. Seeing the enjoyment on the kids faces is something that is not forgotten. Creating a space with my FDO sessions has seen a huge development in the way these kids play football but also teaching them new skills to take away and practice with their friends.”

The First kicks teams, ages 5 - 7, play in a Thames Valley comp with teams from Paeroa, Hauraki and Thames. From 8th grade up, teams play in a  WaiBOP Waikato league, consisting of games at home and away in locations like Hamilton, Cambridge, Morrinsville and Matamata. 

The club currently has teams up to Grade 12, and are actively working with the local college to ensure players have a pathway to continue their football into their teenage years.

The town doesn’t currently have a senior (adult) team, with local senior players traveling to nearby Morrinsville or Hamilton to train and play. 

This influx of new players has seen a boost in community support and sponsorship, all of which is helping make football more vibrant in Te Aroha. Ben says football is continuing to increase in popularity, and the club still has room to grow.

With three kids playing football – the youngest currently in 7th grade – president Ben sees he’ll be involved for some time to come. He continues to look to how they can deliver the best experience for their members, and ensure a healthy club in future years. They’ve been looking at ways to share the load with other volunteers, and ensure no-one is overloaded.

Some of the volunteer ideas are explored in this article.

Article added: Monday 08 July 2024