New Zealand Football has unveiled Whole of Football 2.0, evolving the way football and futsal are delivered to the more than 176,000 players who take part in Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest team participation sport.

Launched in 2011, the award-winning original Whole of Football plan established a nationwide framework for how the game was delivered, creating consistent, high-quality experiences for players, coaches and referees across the country.

Following a three-year period of analysis, including reviewing over 250 junior and youth games, surveying of hundreds of players, and benchmarking against systems in 20 other countries, Whole of Football 2.0 has been introduced to further evolve how the game is delivered.

Among the changes are updated game formats designed to foster a lifelong love of football and prioritise fun and skill development from an early age.

Survey data from young players in Aotearoa New Zealand revealed that 74% play football because it is fun, with having more touches on the ball and scoring more goals cited as the most enjoyable aspects of the game.

 

Research shows that playing smaller formats of the game for longer significantly increases involvement and touches on the ball for players, increasing enjoyment, accelerating skill development, and better preparing participants for the transition to 11 vs 11 football.

International studies have shown that players have 200% more touches on the ball in a 7 vs 7 match than in an 11 vs 11 game, with the number increasing to 500% in a 4 vs 4 game. The ball is in play 92% of the time in a 4 vs 4 game, and 86% in a 7 vs 7 game, compared to just 66% of the time in 11 vs 11.

New Zealand Football’s own research, based on piloting the framework, shows that players going through the new Whole of Football 2.0 player pathway will, on average, accumulate over 3,800 more touches on the ball. Goalkeepers will also be more involved in the game, accumulating over 1,300 more goalkeeper actions.

As part of the changes, the following formats will be introduced for female and mixed teams:

• U6/U7: Station Rotation + 3 vs 3 (no goalkeeper)
• U8/U9: 5 vs 5
• U10/U11: 7 vs 7 
• U12/U13: 9 vs 9
• U14/U15: 11 vs 11 or 9 vs 9 depending on competition needs
• U16+: 11 vs 11

In addition to changes to playing formats, updates have also been made to coaching and refereeing pathways.

The Whole of Football 2.0 changes follow successful pilots across the country earlier this year and will be fully introduced through a phased rollout during 2026 and 2027.

Different clubs and federations will implement the changes when feasible, ahead of full adoption in the 2027 season.

To support the introduction of Whole of Football 2.0, McDonald’s, community football’s biggest supporter in Aotearoa New Zealand, will contribute close to $500,000 worth of new goals to clubs across the country, enabling more players to take part in the game.

New Zealand Football Technical Director Andy Boyens is excited to see the plan come to life:

“This has been a major, and incredibly valuable, piece of work, so it is exciting to finally announce it.

“As the biggest team participation sport in the country, it’s vital that we don’t stand still and must continue evolving how we deliver the game to provide the best possible experiences for our players, coaches, referees, and volunteers.  

“The pilot programmes that are running for the new formats have been really well received, and alongside the research we have undertaken, we are confident the changes put us in the best position to grow the game, develop talent, and inspire a lifelong love of football.

“There has been a significant amount of work from federations and clubs in shaping the changes, as well as fantastic support from McDonald’s, and I want to thank them all for their mahi over the last three years and the work still to come to bring it all to life.”

For more information on framework, visit the Whole of Football page.

Article added: Thursday 31 July 2025