Youngsters drawn to play football
Te Awamutu AFC started their annual Waikato Cakes 5-a-side last week, but this year with a number of changes.
Firstly the location has moved to the stadium at Armstrong Ave, the night has changed to Friday and Whippet Games Junior leagues have been introduced.
Juniors were invited to register their interest and get involved and what a response the club got with over 20 junior teams and 20 seniors included in this year’s mix.
Brandit.kiwi was able to offer another element with the addition of team uniforms with the competitive league being a must and the social teams encouraged to add them to their team.
Boss Mums Fitness owner Zoe Gibson was looking to add the extra professional look, by adding her logo to their team’s kit.
The stadium on Friday night was buzzing and you could hear it in the surrounding streets.
Children were out and about with their families having a good time.
As with all new events, there’s the sorting of teams, preparation of the fields and a lot of behind-the-scenes work but when the first whistle went, you just had to look around the pitches to see it was all worth it.
The seniors took over not long after the kids. The club set about asking those in the community who wanted to play but didn’t have a team to register and a team was found for them, bringing in those who might not usually play.
Why add the juniors? Te Awamutu AFC is coming off the back of a winter season of revival, as part of its inclusion of local businesses as well as its Tū Manawa funding this year it looked to eliminate the barriers associated with playing the sport.
The committee acknowledges that this has shown we have to look at what is the reason for participation and what are the barriers; it is going to be part of the club’s direction for the coming winter season.
What do the parents want and what do the children want? It’s a real change in mindset both internally and externally.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do as a club, we know that but you just have to look how much need there is in the town for the sport and then aim to achieve that,” said Te Awamutu AFC’s Sean “Stringy” Stringfellow.
“We have got a lot of parents who want their kid to be involved in football in the junior space. We have a lot out there who want their kid to be exposed to skills centres and we have those kids in this town, who live breathe and play football who want to do it as their career even from a young age”.
He says that 5-a-side offers the ability for two things.
“Those who love the game, to play it a little differently in alignment with a balance is a better approach but still playing the game and the second thing is it allows those who were playing a different sport in winter to give it a go and we’re not just talking Te Awamutu either here.
“Ōhaupō, Pirongia, King Country — our rural families are calling or messaging all the time, ‘what’s next?’ or ‘ can our kids do more football?”
Traditionally, athletics would take over the whole site for the summer but after some conversations, the users have worked out a plan for both to make the most of the space.
Te Awamutu AFC’s Dave O’Keeffe believes “if we can keep looking back at what we have, or haven’t done and get a sore neck. I love both the codes and if anything, the addition of 5-a-side will bring better communication with the two groups, we all have to keep moving forward”.
The club takes this Friday off, so those going away for Labour weekend don’t miss out.
It will all resume on October 28. Two days later the club will host a working bee to have a good spring clean and get its facilities in order.
Te Awamutu AFC is becoming the oldest club with the freshest ideas.
To see more of their pictures and events follow them on Facebook or their website teawamutuafc.co.nz .