Changes to the Junior Football structure in New Zealand were announced today by New Zealand Football, and will be rolled out across the country over 2026 and 2027. 

The Whole of Football 2.0 Framework has children playing smaller formats of the game, for longer.

Among the changes are updated game formats designed to foster a lifelong love of football and prioritise fun and skill development from an early age.

• 3v3 is being introduced as the format for the youngest children, and this will be played until Grade 7. (A player’s grade is based on the age they turn during the calendar year.)
• Children will play 5v5 at Grade 8, with 5v5, 7v7 and 9v9 each being played for two years, before moving to 11v11 at U14s. 
• Other changes include the introduction of a goalkeeper in 5v5, which will now start at U8. 
• The 5v5 format is aligned with the rules of futsal

Studies run in New Zealand and internationally show that smaller formats — like 3v3, 5v5 and 7v7 — give children more time, space and chances to play the game.

SR = Station Rotation (Players move between different activity stations in small groups, allowing for more touches on the ball, varied challenges, and targeted skill development. Coachmate has a range of suggested activities for each station)

* Small goals without goalkeepers.
** Larger goal with goalkeepers.
***Areas of low player population (girls only/regional NZ) to support competition growth.

The number one reason that our youngest kids play football is to have fun. When they are asked what that means, the responses are tied to things like scoring goals, dribbling, and passing: actions on the ball. 

The pilot programmes around the country have stories like this one, from a 3v3 pilot day in Dunedin in 2025. One child, in his second season of playing football, had never scored a goal when playing 5v5. In the morning of playing 3v3, he scored four goals. 

New Zealand Football’s study in 2024 filmed over 240 games, and analysis showed 43% more interactions with the ball - dribbles, passes, tackles and shots – when playing smaller formats.

In addition to changes to playing formats, updates have also been made to coaching and refereeing pathways.
 
The Whole of Football 2.0 changes follow successful pilots across the country earlier this year and will be fully introduced through the country in a phased rollout during 2026 and 2027. WaiBOP Football are introducing all of the changes in 2026.

New Zealand Football Technical Director Andy Boyens says “The pilot programmes that are running for the new formats have been really well received, and alongside the research we have undertaken, we are confident the changes put us in the best position to grow the game, develop talent, and inspire a lifelong love of football.”

 

The Logistics

Smaller teams means more fields, and more goals. While in many cases the amount of green space is fairly similar, as more smaller pitches will fit into the same size, a significant number of goals are needed across the country. 

In 2024,  WaiBOP Football did an audit of current goals and fields across the region and mapped out required goals and fields for the new formats, and identified we need almost 400 additional goals across the region. Almost all are for 7v7 and smaller formats.

To support the introduction of Whole of Football 2.0, McDonald’s, community football’s biggest supporter in Aotearoa New Zealand, will contribute close to $500,000 worth of new goals to clubs across the country, enabling more players to take part in the game.

WaiBOP Football is working closely with clubs to support funding for all of the goals in our region. 

The research behind the changes
 
These changes come following a three-year period of analysis that included reviewing over 250 junior and youth games, surveying of hundreds of players, and benchmarking against systems in 20 other countries. 
 
Survey data from young players in Aotearoa New Zealand revealed that 74% play football because it is fun, with having more touches on the ball and scoring more goals cited as the most enjoyable aspects of the game.
 
Research showed that playing smaller formats of the game for longer significantly increases individual involvement and touches on the ball for players, increasing enjoyment, accelerating skill development, and better preparing participants for the transition to 11 vs 11 football.
 
International studies have shown that players have 200% more touches on the ball in a 7 vs 7 match than in an 11 vs 11 game, with the number increasing to 500% in a 4 vs 4 game.
 
The ball is in play 92% of the time in a 4 vs 4 game, and 86% in a 7 vs 7 game, compared to just 66% of the time in 11 vs 11.
 
New Zealand Football’s own research, based on piloting the framework, shows that players going through the new Whole of Football 2.0 player pathway will, on average, accumulate over 3,800 more touches on the ball. 
 
Goalkeepers will also be more involved in the game, accumulating over 1,300 more goalkeeper actions.

Whole of Football 2.0 Framework 

The original, award-winning, Whole of Football plan was launched in 2011, and established a nationwide framework for how football and futsal was delivered.  

Prior to 2011, football experiences - especially for our younger players - varied widely across the country. 

In the absence of national guidelines, individual clubs and regional bodies determined competition formats.

Playing formats and playing rules varied, and this was most noticeable in junior football. In one area, 10 year olds might have been playing 8v8 on a half pitch, while in another part of the country, 10 year olds played 11v11 on a full size pitch. Pitch and goal sizes were often determined by ease of logistics, rather than the best experience and outcome for the players.
 
For more information on Whole of Football 2.0, click here
 

Article added: Thursday 31 July 2025