The experience for the 50,000-plus Kiwi kids who take part in the beautiful game each weekend is set to become even more enjoyable after children and parents all over the country had their say in the running of McDonald’s Junior Football.

Over 200 children were interviewed to ascertain what they liked and disliked about playing football while nearly 5,000 parents completed an online survey to give their thoughts on the footballing experience for their offspring. In addition, representatives from over 150 clubs provided their feedback at consultation evenings while nearly 100 game day ‘club hubs’ were audited to see whether clubs were implementing best practice guidelines.

The findings of this extensive research have resulted in the publication of a new document in the form of the ‘McDonald’s Junior Football Review 2018: The Way Forward’ while elements based on the feedback have been incorporated into a revised ‘McDonald’s Junior Football Framework’.

The latter is essentially a bible for junior football in New Zealand and is an essential resource for anyone involved in that area of the game.

“As part of the launch of the Whole of Football Plan in 2011, New Zealand Football implemented the McDonald’s Junior Framework, providing a consistent, coordinated national approach to the engagement and development of players aged four to 12 years,” Junior Football Development Manager Owain Prosser explains.

“Last year, we conducted a review into the framework in order to ascertain how best practice guidance has been implemented throughout the country, the satisfaction levels of all involved and how we could provide support to improve the football experience,” he adds.

“The response of the football family in New Zealand was fantastic with parents, coaches, clubs, officials and, most importantly, players providing an insight into their club environments. People involved in the game have had their say and were very positive about the current level of football but are also driven to want to make it even better for the children involved.”

In all, an impressive 91 per cent of parents surveyed were satisfied with their experience of junior football and 63 per cent were either extremely satisfied or very satisfied. These statistics and many other aspects of the review indicate no need for wholesale change to the McDonald’s Junior Football Framework with the emphasis instead placed on introducing some exciting new elements.

For example, two key developments are the incorporation of both futsal and the 11+ Kids programme, both of which will help to engage more children in sport, raise the level of enjoyment and hopefully keep them physically active for longer.

“As well as being a dynamic, fun sport in its own right, futsal is key to a well-rounded development of football players,” Prosser says.

“The nature of futsal means children will be playing in reduced spaces, helping creativity, improvisation and rapid decision making to develop. It also allows players to access a different type of playing experience throughout the year, ensuring there are even more opportunities to kick a round ball.”

The introduction of the 11+ Kids programme will likewise play an important role in the development of young players.

“It provides fun activities that can be used as part of the warm-up for, or incorporated throughout, a children’s football session. It aims to help a child’s development by improving coordination and balance, therefore developing physical competence to perform basic movements that can lead to a greater level of enjoyment, involvement and performance.”

Since the introduction of the award-winning Whole of Football Plan seven years ago, participation in junior football has grown by 30 per cent and there are now 52,690 children registered to play with clubs. McDonald’s is a long-term partner of New Zealand Football and has done much to support the growth of junior football, including the distribution of 50,000 footballs and 20,000 coaching hand books over the past three years.

To view the McDonald’s Junior Football Review 2018: The Way Forward please click here

To view the revised McDonald’s Junior Football Framework please click here