JUNIOR
FOOTBALL PROGRAMME
U10–13
OVERVIEW
Junior players are placed into teams at the start of the season. Players can choose to play competitively (in a Swifts Academy team) or socially.
Teams play games on Saturday mornings at locations throughout the Wellington region, according to a published weekly draw produced by Capital Football. Team trainings take place during the week. For social teams, these are run by a parent volunteer or players are invited to register for our Waterside Training programmes. ​
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Social teams are put together by grade coordinators, who do their best to place players with friends or kids from the same school. Players registering for social football should list two or three friends on their registration form. Social teams focus on fun, with parent-run trainings or the opportunity to register for the club-run Waterside Training programme.
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SWIFTS ACADEMY
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From U10 upwards, players can choose to register to trial for our Swifts Academy teams.
Swifts teams play against other selected teams from across the Wellington region, and therefore face tougher competition and a more advanced level of football. These teams participate in the Swifts Academy, which involves two trainings a week and a high standard of behaviour.
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Players who are not selected will be given the opportunity to join a social team.
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Swifts training fees for those selected for a Swifts Academy team are charged in addition to the winter club fees above.
​Swifts Allocation Day details can be found here.
SATURDAY GAMES
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For U10 and U11, games are 7-a-side (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 U12 and U13, games are 9-a-side (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.
Swifts and Social Waterside Karori AFC teams play in the “Wellington/Western Zone Combined Leagues” and “Wellington Premier Leagues” (for select Swifts squads).
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You can find details on ground locations here.
MID-WEEK TRAININGS
SOCIAL TRAINING
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All social teams have the option to register for our Waterside Training Programme. Waterside training is yet to be arranged for 2026
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Alternatively, teams can opt for parent-run trainings, led by a parent coach from each team (or the team can opt to engage a club coach for an additional cost). In addition, club coaching staff will be in attendance at each training to support parent coaches with session delivery.
The club coaching staff will also support parent coaches by:
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circulating useful coaching resources;
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assisting with session planning;
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providing coaching development opportunities
SWIFTS ACADEMY TRAINING
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Swifts teams participate in the Swifts Academy. Swifts is the club’s high performance programme, designed to provide high quality and challenging trainings.
Swifts players attend two trainings a week, at Terawhiti Artificial Turf, on the days and at the times published here. These trainings are delivered by club coaches. Selected teams will get the opportunity to participate in tournaments.
Please note that Swifts players are required to pay Swifts fee throughout the year, to help contribute towards (amongst other things) the cost of coaching, turf hireage, and tournament entry fees associated with the programme.
KEY DATES AND OTHER PROGRAMMES​
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Season begins: Saturday 2 May
Season finishes: Saturday 29 August
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Games: Saturday mornings (and occasionally Friday evenings) at a time and location depending on the weekly draw published by Capital Football - see here.
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Trainings: See details above.
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School holiday break: Football runs on the first and last weekend of the school holidays, but we take a break for Easter weekend and the middle weekend of the holidays.
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School Holiday and Summer Programmes: The club runs a very popular school holiday programme, and a summer programme during terms 1 and 4. We encourage players to keep up their football over the holidays and summer by getting involved in these! More information can be found on the "Programmes" page here.
GEAR
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Players need to provide their own:
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Plain black shorts.
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Black football socks.
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Football boots.
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Shin pads.
These can be purchased online. Football boots and shin pads can also be bought from most sports stores and off TradeMe.
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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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Black and white striped Waterside Karori 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.
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COACHES AND MANAGERS
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We want to create a fun and positive environment for our players. The more support, encouragement and involvement from parents the better!
Team coaches
​Each team needs a coach/manager to:
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take responsibility for the team's gear, and return it at the end of the season
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act as a point of contact for the team for parents and the club
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​Swifts trainings are run by club coaches. Game days will be led by a combination of club coaches and parent coaches.
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Trainings and games for social teams are led by parent coaches, or the team can opt to register for our Waterside Training sessions.
GET STARTED!
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Step 1: Register for the winter season
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Online registrations open on 1 January each year.
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​​​Please email support@karorifootball.co.nz with any questions.
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Step 2: Allocation Days, for those who have opted to trial for Swifts teams
These sessions are run by our Swifts coaches, see here for more information. The outcome of the trials will be confirmed shortly after.
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Swifts Allocation Week: CLOSED
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Step 3: Grade Coordinators will put together social teams
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Grade Coordinators will put players into teams after registrations close at the end of March.​ We will then be in touch with you, with information on your team and the start of the season. This will not be until early April.
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Once you are assigned to a team, we email you with more information on the season, how things will work, key contacts, and other key details.
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Step 4: The season starts!
The season kicks off on Saturday 2 May.