Our Junior Football grades are specially designed for both boys and girls aged between the ages of 13 and 17 yrs old. 

We have two types of pathways for our Youth.

Community:

This is for players who prefer to play a more social level of football and are not part of the Talent Programme. Our Community teams will play at social levels leagues that will deliver the best level of competition in a fun environment. These teams will typically train once a week and be coached by team volunteer coach.

Competition:

This is for players who prefer more competitive level football and are part of our Development Programme. See the Youth Competition Football tab under 'Our Teams'

This is considered the top teams for each youth grade. Players attend trials and placed into the associated teams. Players train 3 times a week and are coached by a dedicated certified, professional or qualified coach. This comes at an additional cost for players to ensure the coach has all equipment needed to assist the team achieve.

Games are played on Saturday morning at various locations across the North Shore and West Auckland. Home games are usually played at Rosedale Park. The competition is administered by our Governing Football Federation, Northern Region Federation (NRF). 

Please see their website, https://www.nrf.org.nz for the competition draws, detailed maps and ground locations.

For draws of the various leagues click on the 'Competitions' tab, and 'Youth Competitions (U13-U19)'

For detailed maps and ground locations, click on the 'Club' tab and 'Club Directory'

Games are 60 minutes long with 1 game played per playing day for grade 13; 70 minutes long with 1 game played per playing day for grade 14; 80 minutes long with 1 game played per playing day for grade 15 ; and 90 minutes long with 1 game played per playing day for grade 16 and 17. Starting at roughly 12pm noon for grade 13; 12pm noon or 1pm for grade 14 and 1pm or 2.45pm for grade 15 upwards (competition draw dependent).

Each player should be wearing an Albany club shirt, shorts and socks for their game. 

If you haven't purchased yours yet, or don’t have this from an older sibling, please click on the club shop & merchandise tab or click here.

Grades 13 upwards play 11-aside. All grades play with goalkeepers.

Fields sizes are the usual full size field with full size goals.

For all games and training, players must be wearing shin pads and boots. These can be purchased at any sporting outlet.

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What happens if it’s raining?  

If it’s light or intermittent rain – play goes on. As a winter sport in New Zealand, its expected there will be some drizzly days, it is usually more fun with a few puddles!! 

If it’s heavy/stormy rain, please check our social media (make sure you “LIKE” our Albany United Facebook page for all club news and info during the season) or click here 

We’ll also send communications via Texts to the coach/manager. From here the coaches/managers will send cascade communication to their team (parents).

We aim to communicate by 7am on a Saturday should there be a cancellation. 

This allows time for field inspections and communication with our governing Federation body.

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Should the fields be closed by our local Council, We will be notified by 7am on the Saturday morning, and communicate as above.

Skills Training ?

Check out our Skills Programmes for available Skills and Goalkeeper Training

Want to learn more about coaching?

There are courses available for coaching and refereeing.

This is a valuable way to learn more about the game and get involved with your club and your child’s sport. 

We will be running internal coaching courses at the club. Check our social media or get in touch for more information.

Have a question regarding our Youth Football?

email us youth@albanyunited.org