Grade 10, 11 and 12 is where players move from in-house competition into the Northern Region Football (NRF) regional competition, playing against clubs from across the North Shore, up to Warkworth and the Hibiscus Coast in the north and Kumeu and Oratia in the west. This age group is part of NZ Football's Mini Football programme under the Whole of Football 2.0 framework, with Grade 10 and 11 playing 7v7 and Grade 12 playing 9v9. For the first time, players are part of a draw managed by NRF, with games on Saturday mornings.
Grades and eligibility
Grades in football are determined by year of birth.
- Grade 10: players born in 2016
- Grade 11: players born in 2015
- Grade 12: players born in 2014
The format
- Grade 10 and 11: 7v7 (six outfield players plus goalkeeper) on a 55m x 35m field
- Grade 12: 9v9 (eight outfield players plus goalkeeper) on a 70m x 50m field
All three grades compete in the NRF regional competition on Saturday mornings. Kick off times run on the hour from 9am through to midday. NRF manages the draw - fixture information will come through the Northern Rovers FC app and website.
Social and competitive pathways
At registration, players are asked to select a social or competitive pathway. Player ID sessions are held before the season starts (typically in March) to help form balanced, appropriate teams.
Social pathway: We encourage players and parents to put teams together themselves. A social team consists of:
- Grade 10 and 11: 10 players, a coach, and a manager (allowing for 3 substitutes)
- Grade 12: 12 players, a coach, and a manager (allowing for 3 substitutes)
If you can't get a full team together, the club will organise one for you based on school groups and player ID sessions. Teams are formed by grouping players of a similar level, with priority given to keeping friends together at this age. Social teams are typically coached by a parent volunteer.
Competitive pathway: Teams are coached by one of our qualified coaches, or a parent who has played at a high level. Players on the competitive pathway are required to be enrolled in the Rovers Skill Centre, and Skill Centre sessions are included in their programme. Competitive teams are selected by the Director of Football, without influence from parent groups.
Our Black and Yellow development teams represent the competitive pathway and are selected solely from Skill Centre participants.
How Saturday works
The home team is responsible for setting up and packing down the field.
- 9am game: home team arrives by 8am to set up
- All other kick offs: home team arrives 30 minutes before kick off
Set up: Each field requires two junior-sized goals with nets, eight spot markers for the retreating line, and cones to mark one sideline (the two bylines and the opposite sideline are marked from the full-size field markings). Corner flags are not required.
Pack down: The last team on each field returns all equipment to the equipment room downstairs in the clubhouse. Junior goals (without nets) should be stacked neatly in three piles: two at the base of the light towers along the Tristram Ave fence, and one on the concrete pad to the west of the clubhouse.
Roles
Coach: Responsible for organising and running the team's mid-week training and game day. For social teams this is typically a parent volunteer; for competitive teams, a club-qualified coach.
Manager: Handles admin during the week and will be added to the club's Coaches and Managers WhatsApp group. Coordinates parents to assist with set up and pack down, ensuring all equipment is put away correctly.
Grade Convenor: A volunteer working alongside club staff and the Director of Football to keep the grade running smoothly. Your Grade Convenor is your first point of contact for any questions or concerns during the season.
Equipment
Each team will be provided with a gear bag containing 10 bibs, 10 cones, GK gloves (where available), a whistle, POD certificates, and a bag of balls for warm-ups and mid-week training (one per player). Field space at Becroft Park is limited, but alternate allocation is available at Mairangi Bay Park on some evenings.
Uniform
All players are required to wear the official club shirt and shorts, available from our online shop or from the Lotto apparel shop on the lower floor of the McFetridge clubrooms, open on Friday nights through May. A limited supply of second-hand shirts is available.
Rovers Skill Centre
The Rovers Skill Centre is strongly recommended for all players at this age and is required for those on the competitive pathway. Sessions are run by our Skill Centre Manager alongside club-qualified coaches, with players grouped by age and team so they can train together.
For Grades 10, 11 and 12, sessions run 5.45–6.45pm. You can choose one or two sessions per week (competitive pathway players must attend both):
- Term 1: typically Monday and Friday evenings at Becroft Park (dependent on council ground allocations)
- Terms 2 and 3: Monday and Wednesday evenings at Becroft Park (dependent on council ground allocations)
- Term 4: Optional twice weekly training for players across junior grades to want to keep developing over the off-season
All participants registered for the full year will receive a free training tee, required at all Skill Centre sessions. We ask parents to watch from the clubhouse or courtyard rather than pitchside.
Coming in 2027
From 2027, Grade 12 will move to a larger 5x2m goal, and Grade 13 will return to a 9v9 format also played with the larger goals.
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