Petone FC
KEY DATES
Season starts 3 May.
Season ends 30 August.
No football in the middle week of school holidays.
JUNIOR FOOTBALL
Overview
Junior Football is for children born in 2016 to 2013 (i.e. turning 9 - 12 in the 2025 calendar year). Your child's 'grade' is based on their age - for example children who turn 9 in 2025 will be in grade 9. There are two different options in the junior space: our Traditional Programme and our Football Development Programme (FDP.)
Traditional Football Programme
Join our Traditional Football Programme for a classic junior football experience. Enjoy a team training session and a weekly Saturday morning game. It's all about playing with friends, making new ones, and having fun competition on the weekend.
Simply register for the season to join our traditional programme! You'll be allocated into a team before the season begins, and assigned a weekly training session day/time.
Football Development Programme
Our Football Development Programme (FDP) provides players with a fun, well coached and professional training environment to develop their football skills. The programme is team-based, so all players involved get the consistency of working with the same teammates and coaches throughout the year.
Alongside registering for the season, you'll need to sign up for our FDP Term 1 ID sessions. Go to our FDP page for more information.
Additional Information
Options for girls: junior girls have several options for playing football:
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Girls-only league: open to players from age 7 up and teams play on a Sunday morning. More information can be found here.
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Mixed football: girls play in teams with boys and girls (information on this page).
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Mixed and Girls only: girls can select both mixed and girls-only meaning they play both Saturday and Sunday.
Juniors Day: Date TBC. Come along and ask your questions about the upcoming season, register, play some fun games of football, enjoy a sausage sizzle/drinks. Football Central will be selling team gear and later the bar will be open for the Central League Men’s team game from 2.00pm.
About Saturday games
For grades 9 and 10, seven players are allowed on the field at a time (including a goalkeeper). Teams usually have 9-10 players. Teams play two 25 minute games each Saturday (one after the other at the same venue).
For grades 11 and 12, nine players are allowed on the field at a time (including a goalkeeper). Teams usually have 11-12 players. Teams play one 50 minute game each Saturday.
The time and location for each week’s game(s) is determined by a draw published by Capital Football, which can be found here.
You can find details on Wellington region ground locations here.
About team trainings
With Traditional Football, players participate in a parent led training after school once a week. In our Football Development Programme (FDP), we offer two trainings a week and additional coaching support.
Traditional football Programme (the default)
Team trainings will be led by a parent coach from each team. Turn
up to your team training and the weekly Saturday morning game. Play with your friends, meet new friends, and enjoy some fun football on the weekend.
Football Development Programme - Grades 9 & 10
Players commit to two trainings a week and a competitive game on the weekend. Trainings are led by a volunteer coach with support from Club staff.
When and where?
Key dates
Season start: Saturday 3 May
Season end: Saturday 30 August
Games: Saturday mornings (and occasionally Friday evenings) at a time and location depending on the weekly draw published by Capital Football.
Trainings: See details above.
School holiday break
Football runs on the first and last weekend of the school holidays, but we take a break for Easter weekend (if it falls during the season) and the middle weekend of the school holidays.
School Holiday and Summer Programmes
The club runs a popular school holiday programme, and summer programmes during terms 1 and 4. We would love to see your child involved! More information can be found on the "Programmes" page here.
What gear do you need?
Players need to have their own:
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Plain navy shorts.
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Navy football socks.
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Football boots.
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Shin pads.
Football boots and shin pads can be bought from most sports stores and off TradeMe. Socks and shorts can be purchased from Football Central or from most sports retailers in Wellington.
The club provides each team with the following gear at the beginning of the season (all of which must be returned at the end of the season):
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Navy Petone FC playing tops (1 per player).
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Bibs.
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A player of the day trophy and certificates.
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Balls and cones.
Coaches / managers / referees
We want to create a fun and positive environment for our players. The more support, encouragement and involvement from parents the better!
Team management
Each team needs a manager to:
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take responsibility for the team's gear, and ensure it is all returned at the end of the season;
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act as a point of contact for the team - for example, making sure players know when and where to turn up on Saturdays; and
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award the player of the day award each weekend.
Coaching
Trainings are led by parents and volunteers, so we need your input to help make the season a success. You don't need to be a football pro - you just need to be enthusiastic and willing to learn. The club provides a range of coach development trainings and resources to help keen coaches improve their coaching ability.
Refereeing
Saturday games need to be refereed by a parent or other volunteer. Refereeing courses are available to those interested in upskilling.
How to register
Step 1: Register for the winter season
Click the button below to register for the 2025 season.
Choose to pay your registration fee online (via credit card) or via a payment plan. If you'd like to pay via a payment plan, please email adminsupport@petonefootball.org.nz to arrange this. The registration fee is $170.
Please email registrations@petonefootball.org.nz with any questions.
Step 2: Grade Coordinators will put together teams
Grade Coordinators will put players into teams after registrations close, in March.
Grade Coordinators will then be in touch with you, with information on your team and the start of the season. This might not be until late March / early April.
The club will separately email you once registrations have closed with more information on the season, how things will work, key contacts, and other key details.
Step 3: The season starts!
Kick off on Saturday 3 May, 2025!