More than 50,000 children are set to kick start their dreams this weekend when the McDonald’s Junior Football season is launched across the country.

McDonald’s are a long-time partner of New Zealand Football and provide resources for coaches and players to enjoy the game, thus playing a significant role in helping achieve the governing body’s strategic vision of making football the nation’s favourite game.

Since the introduction of the award-winning Whole of Football Plan in 2011, junior participation rates have grown by nearly 35 per cent as more and more young Kiwis continue to fall in love with the beautiful game.

The support of McDonald’s has contributed significantly to that growth with 50,000 size one footballs provided to junior footballers and 20,000 coaching handbooks distributed over the past three years.

McDonald’s and New Zealand Football have also again joined forces this season to produce a number of new videos for game leaders and coaches which show how to run a selection of McDonald’s Junior Football activities.

“McDonald’s have helped to improve the overall experience for volunteers and players through supporting initiatives such as the coaching videos,” New Zealand Football Junior Development Manager Owain Prosser says.

“This will help not only retain existing participants but also encourage new people to the game. Last year was a fantastic one for Junior Football in New Zealand with more activity than ever before and the 2018 season is sure to be just as exciting and rewarding for all involved.”

Prosser says the huge number of participants in junior football is also due to the hard work and dedication of thousands of club volunteers who make the games happen each week.

“It is wonderful to see adults of all ages and experiences stepping forward again to provide activities and encouragement for junior footballers,” he says.

Those volunteers and staff at clubs all over the country are readying themselves for another fun-filled season with the first balls set to be kicked on Saturday morning.

Former All White Aaron Clapham is now Football Development Manager at Christchurch-based club Cashmere Technical and can’t wait for the junior season to kick off.

“The players are looking forward to taking part in the fun games and activities while the parents are excited about cheering them on from the sideline,” he says.

It’s the same story up in Auckland at Three Kings United, one of the largest junior football clubs in the country, where Director of Football Paul Bateson says the excitement is at fever pitch.

“The players are raring to go and can’t wait to play,” he says. “Our volunteers have been working hard behind the scenes to give everyone the best experience possible.”

For more information on McDonald’s Junior Football and to view the coaching videos please click here