Why are things changing?
In July New Zealand Football (NZF) announced changes would be made to the Whole of Football framework that underpins how football is played in all Clubs across Aotearoa New Zealand.
The current Whole of Football framework has been in place since 2011, so a refresh is timely.
NZF has spent three years surveying and benchmarking against different approaches in over 20 countries to establish what motivates people to play football and what gives them the best experience.
From this NZF has developed Whole of Football (WoF 2.0) which Onslow Junior Football Club will be implementing for the 2026 season.
What is Whole of Football 2.0?
Whole of Football 2.0 is being 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.
What will the games look like across the grades in 2026
Players will continue to play in the grade for the year of their age at 1 Jan – e.g. a 9-year-old at 1 Jan plays in U9 for the season even if they turn 10 during the season.
For more detailed information and background info, along with implementation plans, please visit https://www.capitalfootball.org.nz/more-info/whole-of-football-2.0
