With a large range of teams across all ages and abilities we know lots of different questions come up! See some of our most Frequently Asked Questions about winter football below:

1. Why can't I login to register?
2. What grade is my child in?
3. What gear do I need?
4. How do I get my playing shirt?
5. Where and when are our games?
6. How do I find out if my training or game is cancelled?
7. What are the game rules?
8. How are teams formed?
9. What are the season dates?
10. When will my team train?
11. What is your bank account number?
12. How can we help the club?

1. Why cant I login to register?

• Winter football registrations are now closed for all age groups.
• If you are registering for one of our open products (E.g. Skill Labs) follow the link for registration guides

2. What grade is my child in?

• Players are placed into age groups for the age they are turning during the calendar year e.g. an 8-year-old turning 9 later in the year will be 9th Grade.
• Girls can choose to register for a girls-only team or a mixed team.

3. What gear do I need?

• Players will need to purchase Royal Blue shorts and socks. These can be ordered online through our club store with Paladin Sports: Blue Rovers Club Store.
• All players have playing shirts issued to them by the club to wear for games. These shirts must be returned at the end of the winter season to avoid being Red Flagged by New Zealand Football and being charged the replacement fee for that shirt.
• Shin pads and football boots are compulsory from 8th Grade.

4. How do I get my playing shirt?

• Playing shirts will be distributed by your team coach or manager at the start of the season.

5. Where and when are our games?

• 4th to 7th Grade (First Kicks) games are played at our home grounds, Pemberton Park, Greerton.
• Waibop football determines where and when games are played for 8th Grade and above. Please check the Waibop website (www.waibopfootball.co.nz) after 12pm each Friday for an updated draw.
• Home games for 8th Grade and above are played at our homes grounds of Pemberton Park, Morland Fox Park and Te Wati Park.

6. How do I find out if my training or game is cancelled?

• Always assume trainings and games are on. Trainings and games are rarely cancelled.
• Your coach or manager will notify you if a training is cancelled.
• Game cancellations are posted on the cancellations page of the Waibop website by 7.30am on a Saturdays (www.waibopfootball.co.nz).

7. What are the game rules?

• Game rules for each grade can be found on the Waibop website (https://www.waibopfootball.co.nz/COMPETITIONS/junior-youth-playing-formats-1).

8. How are teams formed?

• The Blue Rovers follow New Zealand Football's guidance on forming teams and grading. You can view our Team Formation Process here: Team Formation Policy.
• 4th Grade to 12th Grade teams are not graded (First Kicks and Junior teams) but formed based on a range of criteria with information you provide at registration.
• Youth and senior teams (13th Grade and above) are formed based on a range of criteria including player ability.
• Players, parents and coaches must meet the criteria to be considered for a development team. The criteria can be viewed here: Development Programme.

9. What are the season dates?

• Waibop football determines the exact season dates each year.
• Games typically start on the first Saturday of Term 2 and usually finish on the last weekend of August.
• Most grades do not play the middle and last Saturday of the school holidays.
• Development football begins in Term 1.

10. When will my team train?

• 4th to 7th Grade teams (First Kicks) train as part of the game programme on Saturdays.
• 8th Grade teams and upwards train once per week. The day and time changes year-to-year depending on the number of teams we have and field availability. Younger players generally train earlier in the day (from 3.30pm) with youth and seniors training later in the day.
• We prioritise teams in the same grade training together so that coaches can collaborate and work together, and to help children expand their friendship circle to other players their age.
• Players who want to train more then once a week can sign-up for one of our development programmes.
• Development teams train twice a week.

11. What is your bank account number?

• Account number: 03-0435-0459232-00

12. How can we help the club?

• We are always looking for more help! If its coaching, managing, refereeing, coordinating, helping with maintenance, we have lots of different roles available. Check out our Supporters Page or email: registrations@bluerovers.co.nz