Welcome to our First Kicks information page
Our First Kicks grades are specially designed for both boys and girls aged between the ages of 5 and 8 yrs old. Experience is not important nor is the skill level, it's all about having a little bit of fun on a Saturday morning.
Games are on Saturday morning, usually at Rosedale Park. They are 15 minutes long with 3 games played per playing day and start at 8:05am, 8:25am and 8:45am. Each game lasts for 15 minutes with 5 minute changeover times between games. Each 5th & 6th grade team plays 3-aside and 7th & 8th is 5-aside, both with no goalkeepers. The fields are typically 30m x 20m.
The fields are numbered, and the draw will show which field number you are on. Sometimes you will have to move to a different field for each game.
Every week we hold our own Cluster Training on a Wednesday afternoon from 4.30pm - 5.30pm which is run by our own coaches and if for all First Kicks players, and it's free. This will be at Rosedale Park every week.
Each player should be wearing Albany shirt, shorts and socks for their game. If you have not yet purchased this, or don’t have one from last year (or handed down from a sibling), please see here. Players must also be wearing shin pads and boots for their game – these can be purchased at any sporting outlet.
What happens if it’s raining? If it’s light or intermittent rain – we still play. Football is a winter sport, so we expect there will be some drizzly days, it is usually more fun with a few puddles !! If it’s heavy/stormy rain, please check our facebook page (make sure you “LIKE” our Albany United Facebook page for all club news and info during the season)
We’ll also send our communications in this way: Club texts the coaches/managers. Coaches/Managers will text the players and we aim to do this by 7am on a Saturday. If fields will be closed by Council, you will be notified by 7am on the Saturday morning.
If any parents are keen to learn more about the courses available for coaching and refereeing, these are a valuable way to learn more about the game and get involved with our club and your child’s sport. We hope to be running coaching courses at the club before the season commences in 2021. more detail to follow. There is also a Club Based Referees course available.
Have a Question regarding our First Kicks? Or email us firstkicks@albanyunited.org
Cluster Trainings for First Kicks
Where: Rosedale Park - Field #2 - near the clubrooms
When: Wednesdays - 4.30pm - 5.30pm
Who: all 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grade players, parents, coaches, managers welcome (doesn’t need to be whole team, anyone is welcome to join in – and we particularly ask for coaches/managers/parents to join in)
Why: Supporting our coaches with technical, consistent, fun football practices illustrating good coaching ideas and practice.
Giving the players some consistency across the teams in how the trainings/skill sessions are delivered. Giving coaches some training “on the job”. Providing as many training / coaching opportunities for players to jump into as we can
Cost: FREE for enrolled Players
First Kicks Information
Rhys Burkitt - First Kicks Coordinator
Contact Rhys by email - firstkicks@albanyunited.org