Northern Region Football
Youth Football (13s - 19s)

Youth Football in our Region

Delivering Youth Football

The aim of youth football at Northern Region Football (NRF) is to provide high-quality, inclusive, and enjoyable football experiences that cater to the diverse needs and aspirations of rangatahi (youth). NRF aims to create balanced and equitable competitions that enhance player development, foster a love for the game, and ensure fair opportunities for all. Through effective communication, optimised competition structures, and accessible pathways, NRF supports young players, clubs, and communities in building a strong foundation for football participation and long-term engagement in the sport.

Competition Grades Offered

NRF provides a variety of youth football competitions tailored to different age groups and playing preferences:

Girls Only Competitions:

  • NRF Girls 13
  • NRF Girls 15
  • NRF Girls 17

Mixed Competitions:

  • NRF Mixed 13
  • NRF Mixed 14
  • NRF Mixed 15
  • NRF Mixed 17
  • NRF Mixed 19 (TBC whether played on Saturday or Sunday)

Additionally, NRF offers Sunday football competitions for mixed grades, featuring both Championship and Conference leagues.

Dynamic Grading System

Over a six week period, the NRF Composite Performance System is used to grade and group teams to ensure fair and balanced competition throughout the season. This system integrates Elo ratings (used by FIFA) and adjusted goal differences to create dynamic tiers that reflect each team's performance and capabilities. 

New for 2025!!! Streamlined Girls Age Grouping

In 2025, the NRF Community Youth Girls' Competitions will undergo changes to streamline and improve the experience for young female players. The age groups have been restructured from U13, U14, U15, U16, and U19 to Girls 13 (12yrs-14yrs), Girls 15 (14yrs-16yrs), and Girls 17 (16yrs-18yrs, with dispensation available for 19-year-olds). This change aims to provide a more balanced competition and improve the quality of match experiences. Key Changes: 

  • Simplified Age Groups: Moving to Girls 13, Girls 15, and Girls 17 will help increase the number of teams in each age group, creating deeper tiers and promoting healthy competition. 
  • Increased Competitive Balance: The new structure will ensure more appropriate challenge points, enhancing player enjoyment and development. 
  • Player-Centred Development: This new structure aligns with the development needs of female players, allowing for appropriate progression through the age groups. 
  • Growth and Gender Equity Goals: These changes align with the NRF Strategic Plan and Gender Equity Plan, targeting a growth of 10% in youth participation and aiming to have 10,000 female players registered by 2026. 
  • Future Vision: The long-term plan is to move towards single-age bands when team numbers allow.

These changes are designed to provide a sustainable, competitive, and developmentally appropriate structure for girls' football, ensuring that every girl who steps onto the pitch has a positive and enriching experience. 

Be a good supporter!

Good Sports is a culture change initiative aiming to create positive sporting experience for children by educating and supporting the key adult influencers in youth sport.

Good Sports is a well-established and highly regarded initiative that is well aligned to Balance is Better. It recognises that supporting and educating adults is crucial to ensure Kiwi kids have the best chance of having positive sporting experiences and ultimately growing a lifelong love of sport.

Practitioners and research all find that many issues in the youth sport system stem from adult involvement. These issues can include poor side-line behaviour, overuse injury, burnout and disaffection with sport.

Good Sports focuses on raising adults’ awareness about their behaviours and promoting a positive shift in that behaviour. New Zealand Football, and other regional federations are following Sport New Zealand’s lead that Good Sports is our Parent Engagement tool as part of the overall Balance is Better philosophy