Media Release from NZ Football 17 July 210
Schools Encouraged To Join In The World Cup Football Fun
New Zealand Football is hoping the excitement of the FIFA World Cup will get more young New Zealanders actively involved
in the sport. NZ Football has launched a Football Festival programme to reach young people all over New Zealand in June
and July.
“We want to grow the next generation of All Whites,” said NZ Football chair Frank van Hattum. “There’s been a huge
growth in the popularity of the game here in recent years and now’s the perfect time to capitalise on football fever by
getting even more young people and coaches into the game.”
Supported by SPARC and McDonalds, the Football Festival encourages children to get out on the field.
New Zealand Football has designed resources for primary and intermediate schools to use in their curriculum and shown
them how to run fun days with small numbers of players in each team so each child has more time with the ball.
The seven federations which run football in their own regions of New Zealand are contacting schools to help deliver the
festivals. Already the fun is underway.
The central North Island federation held a World Cup Fun Day on Queen’s Birthday weekend attended by more than 1200
children. Meanwhile, Pinehurst School on the North Shore ran a football festival this week, inviting other schools to
take part and adopt a country participating at the FIFA World Cup. More than 240 children and supporters were involved.
Mr van Hattum urged schools to get involved. Teachers could find out more about the different activities at the website:
www.allwhites.onsport.co.nz/help]us]grow]the]next]generation]of]all]whites. From today children will be able to
register to download their own participation certificate and go in a draw to win prizes. Schools will also go in a draw
for the most children playing football on one day to win a myriad of prizes for their school, including goals, balls and
player’s bibs.
Ends