First Kicks Football League 2017
Information Sheet
Welcome
Welcome to the 2017 Cash Converters First Kicks Football League with Nomads United AFC. The league
is an-in house club programme which is aimed at promoting the “First Kicks” philosophy of New Zealand
Football’s Junior Framework for children aged between 4 and 6 years old born between 2011 and 2013. We
are excited to announce that Cash Converters are our proud Sponsor for our First Kicks and Fun Football
League with Nomads this year!
The “First Kicks” programme objectives are to:
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Promote the game of football at a young age;
Teach the basic skills of football including general movement, football techniques and football
coordination;
Provide a fun and enjoyable team environment for the children
Provide small sided games.
In House League
The Cash Converters First Kicks Football League with Nomads will be held at Breens Intermediate School, 85
Breens Road. The league will be run at Breens School every week this year due to Tulett Park under
refurbishment for a new state-of-the-art sand based Pitch. Notifications will be sent out via email but also
keep an eye out on our Website and Facebook page for any updates too. The First Kicks and Fun Football
league will start on Saturday 1st April. The last game date has not been confirmed yet but will be mid – late
August (usually giving 16 – 17 weeks of Football) which is dependent on cancellations or postponements
due to weather conditions. There will be no games on Saturday April 15th, Saturday April 22nd or Saturday
July 15th. A copy of the draw will be sent out via email each week to all players prior to game day along
with any other important updates that players need to be notified about. The Draw will also be uploaded to
the club’s website each week for reference as well as a printout displayed each Saturday morning.
All players will need to be at the venue at 9.20am.
At 9.30am, each team will have 25 minutes of fun activities/ drills with the team leader/coach. The activities
and drills are part the Whole of Football programme which the coach will be sent out by the First Kicks and
Fun Football Coordinator. The focus of the activities and drills is on the basic skills and is underpinned by the
players having fun and enjoying the involvement within the sport. At 10.00am each team will play another
First Kicks Nomad’s United team. The game is split into two 15 minute halves, with a 5 minute half time
interval. The primary objective of the “In House League” is to develop the basic skills of football; to this age
group, the competition nature of the game should be secondary. The First Kicks session time/game will
conclude at 10.35am.
To Bring
All children should be wearing white shorts, red socks, shin pads and football boots. Gear can be purchased
at numerous sport stores around Christchurch some including Rebel Sports, The Warehouse and at the
Bishopdale Sports shop located in the Bishopdale Mall. All children will also need to bring their own water
bottle clearly labelled with their name and a warm top to wear for the cooler days. You also may wish to
bring some energy food for your child. A mobile coffee provider Bean Buzz will also be available at the
grounds each week for purchase if you are in need of a morning coffee fix! A percentage of the providers’
takings is donated back to the club which is a great support to us! The more coffee you drink, the more the
Club benefits!
Notification of Cancellation
The decision to play will be made Friday evening based on the weather forecast for the next day. Also
check Facebook, and the website for any updates. The co-ordinator will advise all players via group email
on the Friday evening. If your child is unable to play, please advise your team leader/coach.
Team Leaders & Helpers
The team leaders/coaches and helpers assigned to the First Kicks teams have volunteered their time and
knowledge of football freely. Your assistance in getting your children on Saturday on time would be
appreciated. Each team leader /coach will be responsible for running and co-ordinating the team training
session, with specific skills to be focussed on each week, in-line with the First Kicks Framework.
Equipment Provided By The Club
Each team leader/coach has been provided with a gear bag to use for the season and a bag of balls. The
team leader will be accountable for the team balls provided. Team shirts and bibs will be allocated and
need to be collected after each Saturday and washed by each team for the following week. Team
Leaders / Coaches - please do not allocate shirts to individual players, shirts must always be together as a
set. Each field will be set up prior to the children arriving and there will be a notice board indicating which
field your team is playing on with the Weekly Draw. Each team will utilise one goal and half the playing field
for their warm up training.
Side Line Encouragement
Side line encouragement of your child and other children is welcomed. Bad language or abuse will not be
tolerated by players, team leaders/coaches or team supporters. Please alert the First Kicks and Fun Football
Coordinator immediately if there are any instances of bad language or abuse, so they can be dealt with
straight away at the park.
Basic Game Rules
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Both team leaders will be on the field to manage the two 15 minute halves and organise the
children.
The teams must operate a six-side approach and have rolling subs for the other two players.
No goalies in First Kicks - the goal must remain free of any player during general play;
No offside in First Kicks
Goals can only be scored in the oppositions half.
When the ball is kicked by an opposing team member over your goal line, a normal goal kick will be
taken, adjacent to the goal posts.
When the ball is kicked by your own team member a corner kick; for First Kicks only a normal goal
kick will be taken.
When the ball goes out over the side line, a kick in instead of a throw in is encouraged, so all
children get to kick the ball. (Not all children at this age are able to through a ball over their heads
correctly).
After a goal is scored, the game is re-started from half way.
If the game needs to be stopped for any reason, a drop ball between two players will restart the
game.
All fair play rules regarding football are followed at this level.
Encourage your children to play the ball when tackling and not the opposition player.
Complaints & Issues
If you have any complaints or issues regarding the In-House League, please bring these to our attention
immediately as it is important that they are solved quickly. Michael Thorpe is the First Kicks and Fun Football
Convener; he will be at the grounds throughout the period of the league each Saturday for discussion.
First Kicks and Fun Football Coordinator:
Find Us At:
Nomads United AFC Website:
Michael Thorpe
Phone: 021646 338
Email: [email protected]
www.nomadsafc.org
Nomads United AFC Facebook:
www.facebook.com/nomadsunitedafc