Delivering Junior & Youth Football in Central Otago

Junior and youth football in Central Otago is delivered in partnership with our local clubs. The aim is simple: every player has a fun, safe, and enjoyable experience that builds skill, confidence, and a lifelong love of football.


Match day structure (what to expect)

Kick-off times and venue details will vary depending on hubs, available fields, and travel logistics across the region. We aim to keep match days consistent and predictable wherever possible, while remaining flexible when field availability changes.​​​​​​​

Key Dates

Team entries open (Sporty)

Monday 2 March

Team entries close (Sporty)

Monday 30 March

Draws released (target)

Monday 20 April

Season start

Weekend of 25/26 April (Easter Weekend)

Season end

Weekend of 4/5 July (Week 11)

Hubs and Locations

Week 1 (25/26 Apr) (Anzac Weekend)

Alexandra

Week 2 (2/3 May)

Wānaka

Week 3 (9/10 May)

Queenstown

Week 4 (16/17 May)

Cromwell

Week 5 (23/24 May)

Alexandra

Week 6 (30/31 May)

Wānaka

Week 7 (6/7 Jun) (Kings Birthday Weekend)

Queenstown

Week 8 (13/14 Jun)

Cromwell

Week 9 (20/21 Jun)

Alexandra

Week 10 (27/28 Jun)

Wānaka

Week 11 (4/5 Jul)

Queenstown

Cancellations and Fixture Changes

On occasion, fixtures may need to be cancelled or changed due to weather or field conditions.

Please double-check Sporty and our official communications for any venue, field, or time changes, particularly on Saturday evening and Sunday morning when conditions are uncertain.

What's new for 2026!

NZF Whole of Football 2.0 (WOF 2.0)

New Zealand Football’s Whole of Football Plan 2.0 (WOF 2.0) guides the “right game at the right time”. In Central Otago, this means we structure football in a way that supports:

  • age-appropriate formats and learning,

  • better weekly match-ups (challenge points),

  • and a positive match day environment for tamariki and rangatahi.

Because our region is smaller and geographically spread, we apply WOF 2.0 in a practical way that fits local numbers and travel realities.

Age eligibility

Age eligibility is determined by your age as of 31 December for the current calendar year. However, there is flexibility here.

For example, if you turn 11 during 2026 (you are 11 years old by 31 December 2026), you will play in the appropriate 11-year age band for the season. Please see table below

2026 competitions and age bands

In 2026, Central Otago delivers junior and youth football through a set of flexi age bands designed to create better games and more flexible team formation across the region. The specific age bands and how they map from 2025 to 2026 are outlined in the table to the right.

Under 8 and below are administered internally by local clubs. Please contact your local club for information on First Kicks and entry-level programmes.

Age Groups

NZF / WOF 2.0 Stage

2025 grades (single/doubles bands)

2026 age bands (flexi bands)

First Kicks (club in-house)

U4-6, U7-8 (Club Run)

First Kicks (club in-house)

Fun Football

5v5

U9 Mixed

9 Mixed

U9/U10 Girls

10 Girls

Mini Football

7v7

U10 Mixed

11 Mixed

U11 Mixed

U11/U12 Girls

12 Girls

Mini Football

9v9

U12 Mixed

13 Mixed

U13 Mixed

Youth Football

9v9

U15 Mixed

15 Mixed

N/A

Youth Girls Development League*

Youth Girls Football (2026 Viability)

We are working with schools and clubs to confirm whether a Youth Girls Development League is viable for the 2026 season. There is a clear need for girls-only football in the youth space, and our goal is to start this as soon as it is sustainable.

If numbers and delivery requirements are not viable in 2026, we will aim to launch in 2027, and we will keep clubs and schools updated on the outcome.

Sporty: fixtures and submiting scores

The draws/fixtures tab with Sporty embedded is the single source of truth for Central Otago competitions. It’s where you’ll find the most up-to-date:

  • playing dates and draws

  • venues and kick-off times

  • postponements, cancellations, and fixture changes

Please check here before each game day, especially when weather is uncertain.

Scores and results (game day): Team managers/coaches submit scores through the myFootball Manager App after each fixture so results are recorded accurately and visible in the competition system.

More guidance can be found at MyFootball.co.nz

Fluid Fixtures (challenge point focused)

Junior football is focused on development and enjoyment. There are no public-facing standings or divisions in junior football.

Clubs will submit match results so we can monitor team challenge points. If it becomes clear that a scheduled fixture is no longer the right challenge for one or both teams, we may adjust future fixtures to improve match-ups and support a better experience for everyone.

Youth Football will have tables and scores displayed. However, this is subject to change depending on team entries numbers for the 2026 season.