The 2024 Weir Rose Bowl is set to be another fantastic weekend of junior and youth football action. From October 5-7, over 700 young footballers from more than 50 teams will gather at St Peter’s School, Cambridge.

This year we have clubs travelling from across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Northland and Wellington for the three day tournament. It’s a chance to play teams from outside their region, who they will likely not face in regular season competitions.

The U12 Mixed and U12 Girls Only categories run as a festival event, with no results recorded or category winners, in keeping with New Zealand Football’s Junior Framework guidelines.

The U13 Mixed and U14 Girls Only age group are tournament style. Results are recorded and points awarded to determine the winner of the Weir Rose Bowl for 2024.

All teams play 9 v 9 football, with U-12s playing 50 min games, and the U-13s and U-14s playing 60 mins.

Each team is guaranteed to play at least six matches over the three-day event.

The annual event, organised and run by WaiBOP Football, has existed since the early 1950s when the Weir Rose Bowl trophy was donated by Tom Weir, a prominent member of the Auckland Junior Football Committee. The aim is to provide a structured event for players, coaches and referees in an enjoyable environment that maximises learning

The venue, St Peter’s School, provides a limited amount of onsite accommodation and meals for teams that wish to stay onsite.

Referee Development Programme

An integral part of the Weir Rose Bowl is the referee development programme.

The Weir Rose Bowl offers a unique opportunity for youth referees to gain practical experience in a supportive environment, learning not only how to manage games but also how to handle pressure and make quick decisions on the field. This programme is an integral part of the tournament, with over 20 youth referees involved each year.

WaiBOP’s CK Kawana-Waugh, who organises the Referee Development Programme, highlights the importance of this initiative: “We’re proud to offer young referees a platform to develop their skills. The feedback from participants is always overwhelmingly positive, and it’s great to see these referees gaining confidence throughout the weekend.”

#PositiveVibesOnly Campaign

Following its successful launch in 2023, the #PositiveVibesOnly campaign will return for this year’s tournament. With a message of Play Hard. Have Fun. Be Positive, this initiative aims to encourage a focus on positive sideline behaviour from parents, supporters, and coaches. The campaign is also a reminder for players to show respect to each other and referees throughout the competition.

Last year, pink-clad ambassadors handed out stickers and other giveaways to reinforce the campaign’s message, while signage around the grounds ensured that the message was front of mind for everyone involved. The result was an positive atmosphere, with many teams embracing the campaign to keep spirits high, even during tough moments on the field.

Kawana-Waugh sees this campaign as an important step in improving the culture around junior football: “It’s often a small minority of people who cause issues, but by encouraging the positive voices to speak up, we’re able to create a better environment for everyone. The feedback last year showed that teams really appreciated the focus on positivity, and we’re looking forward to seeing the campaign continue to make an impact.”

Article added: Wednesday 18 September 2024