Junior Girls (Grades 9 - 12)
The main emphasis for these grade levels is to cultivate the progress of our 9th to 12th-grade girls, whilst still providing opportunities for girls to play alongside friends and have fun, within a secure and enjoyable football environment.
With each passing year, our Junior Girls Program sees continuous growth, made possible by the invaluable support of our sponsor, New World Albany.
Their sponsorship enables us to provide an enriching football experience for aspiring young players.
The East Coast Bays Junior Girls Programme
We have a number of girls-only teams in the juniors grades. We bring these teams together based on a number of factors - age, size, skill, and most importantly friend groups. We find the children learn better and have an all-round better experience when they are playing the game with their friends.
Based off past experience and feedback from parents, we will continue the success of the Friday Night girls programme, Flamingos for the 9th - 12th grade teams to make football more accessible for girls at this age. This works well for parents and players, who can then make a choice of playing either mixed football or play other sports such as netball and hockey on Saturday mornings. Visit our Flamingos page for more information ECB Flamingos
This approach is unique to East Coast Bays as we have tailored our programme to suit the girls needs.
- 9th & 10th grade girls can play on Friday nights and have the option to play on Saturdays if they wish for a girls junior team or a mixed/ boys junior team (Term 2 Only).
- 11th & 12th grade girls play on Friday nights and have the option to play on Saturday mornings against other North Shore and West Auckland girls teams.
- Girls are welcome to play in a mixed team (boys and girls) on Saturday mornings at any junior age
9th - 10th Grades
Game Day
Girls that play on Friday nights also have the option to play on Saturdays if they wish for a girls junior team or a mixed/ boys junior team. Teams are coached by a volunteer coaches and have a number of training options available (see details below).
Selection
ECB's volunteer coaches and grade convenors select teams based on prior knowledge of players and team from previous years (if any), social needs, competence (via Friday Night Girls and Game Hubs, and requests to play with friends. Our coaches and convenors do their best to find the most suitable team for players.
11th - 12th Grades
Game Day
11th-12th grade teams play 9-a-side games (8 outfield players and one goalkeeper) on a field that is approx 3/4 of a full pitch.
Games are normally held on a Saturday at 10am or 11am and are played either at home or away against other North Shore and West Auckland clubs. Teams are coached by a volunteer coach and have a number of training options available (see details below).
Selection
ECB's volunteer coaches and grade convenors select teams based on prior knowledge of players and team from previous years (if any), social needs, competence (via Friday Night Girls, Game Hubs, and requests to play with friends. Our coaches and convenors do their best to find the most suitable team for players.
Junior Girls Training Options
We provide junior girls of all levels a number of training activities that they can choose to attend.
1. Junior Girls Friday Football Sessions - Flamingos
Designed with our junior female players aged 9 - 12yrs in mind, this programme is a wonderful opportunity to hang out with your mates on a Friday evening, playing football and learning new skills. Alongside Fantails, Flamingos is integral to our Friday Night Girls programme offering, allowing every girl to continue playing football throughout the year.
No matter where you are in your football journey, our coaches are equipped to provide sessions that can cater to all skill levels
More information can be found here
Flamingos Schedule
Term 1 - Starting 21st February 2025, Friday Evening, Bay City Park, Cost: $40
Term 2 - TBA Term 3 - TBA Term 4 - TBA
2. Junior Game Hubs - Girls Only (Off season)
All Junior players of all abilities are welcome to attend the Game Hub sessions which are designed to provide players with another football experience in a fun and relaxed environment pre-season. The games will be run by the players themselves with help from volunteer coaches. This is a great opportunity for new players to join in and girls to start forming their teams for the 2025 season.
More information can be found here
Game Hub Schedule
Term 1
U9/U10 Girls Game Hubs Ashley Reserve #1 20th Feb , 27th Feb, 6th Mar Time: 4.00 - 5.00pm
U11 / U12 / U13 Girls Game Hubs Ashley Reserve #1 20th Feb , 27th Feb, 6th Mar Time: 5.15 - 6.15pm
3. Junior Team Hubs - Girls Only
Players train in their teams with their volunteer coach for an hour each week. We aim to have junior teams training together at the same time and the same location so that teams and coaches can work together and the ECB coaching staff can help out when needed. This is particularly useful when some teams have low attendance, they can pair up with another team to make it a meaningful training session. It also creates a stronger connection and community feel across the club.
If a teams volunteer coach is not available to attend the team hub, then they may decide to have their team training on another night.
Team Hub Schedule
Term 1
U9/U10 Girls Game Hubs Ashley Reserve #1 Starting 13th March Time: 4.00 - 5.00pm
U11 / U12 / U13 Girls Game Hubs Ashley Reserve #1 Starting 13th March Time: 5.15 - 6.15pm
Optional Mixed Training
4. Junior Skill Hubs - Mixed
These mixed weekly sessions are designed to provide junior players of all levels a solid introduction to well-structured and quality training. Seasons are facilitiated by the ECB coaching team who follow clear training guidelines based on international best practice. More information can be found here
This 8-week programme starts on Monday 17 February 2025
Who: All junior boys and girls aged 9-12 of all abilities
Term 1 - Monday Nights 9th - 10th Grade (4.00pm - 5.00pm) 11th - 12th Grade (5.00pm - 6.00pm) Where: Ashley Reserve #1, Ashley Ave, Long Bay Cost: $80 (8 weeks)
Register here!
2025 Key Date
- Fri 24 Jan: 2025 winter season registrations OPEN
- Sun 9 Mar: 2025 winter season registrations CLOSE
- Sat 22 Mar: Northern League / Talent Development Programme Leagues season starts
- Sat 5 Apr: Community season starts (Minibays, Junior, Youth, Senior)
- Sat 30 Aug or 6 Sep: Community season ends (Minibays, Junior, Youth, Senior)
Registrations close on Sunday 9 March to allow our grade convenors time to finalise teams, coaches and team managers. To avoid any disappointment of missing out on a team, please ensure registrations are submitted on time. Northern Regional Football (NRF) have changed the season to start 3 weeks earlier than normal this season so get in quick!
Junior Grade Rules
Retreating Line
When a team's goalkeeper catches/picks up the ball or is taking a goal kick or any player taking a Free Kick, the opposition MUST drop back behind the retreating line. Only after the goalkeeper plays the ball out and one of the goalkeeper's team-mates touches the ball, can the opposition player advance over the retreating line. This is to give teams space to encourage and teach players how to play from the back and work the ball up the field.
Coaches are asked to encourage all players to play the ball as quickly as possible from the goalkeeper and not allow them to continue to roll or come to a stop.
Offside
The offside rule is applied in junior football. For 9th & 10th Grade Football, the offside law will be applied between the retreating line and goal line only. For 11th & 12th Grade Football, offside cannot be given if the player is in their own half of the field of play. A player is in an offside position if they are nearer to the opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (at the point the ball is passed to them).\
Resources
Click on the images below to access the various recources, additional information can be found on the NRF website.
