Ahead of the 2021 season New Zealand Football has reduced the membership fees charged to clubs. This move aims to keep more money in community football and, where possible, reduce the overall cost to players of all ages. 

New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said:

“Football is one of the highest participation sports in Aotearoa. As the player base continues to grow we don’t want cost to be a barrier to our clubs providing quality experiences or people getting involved in the game. 

“We know that the financial impact of COVID-19 is still being felt across the country so it was important for us to look to reduce costs for community clubs and participants where possible, allowing more investment in the local game or savings passed on to players.”

For the 2021 season the NZF membership fees per player clubs will pay are:

Senior Football (players aged 20+) - $25 (38% reduction)
Youth Football (players aged 13-19) - $15 (13% reduction)
Mini Football (players aged 9-12) - $10 (14% reduction) 
Fun Football (players aged 7-8) - $10 (14% reduction)
First Kicks (players aged 4-6) - $5 (14% reduction)

The reduction in membership fees comes following the Delivery and Sustainability Project commissioned by New Zealand Football in 2020 to look into the challenges long faced by football in Aotearoa New Zealand, many of which have been exacerbated by COVID-19. Other initiatives from the Project include changing the national league structure for women’s and men’s domestic competitions to prioritise sustainability and youth development, as announced December 2020.

Article added: Tuesday 23 February 2021