SASFC players born 2013 to 2016 are allocated a team and play against other clubs in the 2025 Mainland Junior Football competition
In SASFC Junior Football our main goal is having fun!
Junior Footballers either play and train with their friends and schoolmates in one of our Red, White or Black teams as part of our Junior Plus Training Programme, or in a Blue or Navy team with other dedicated players in their age group in our Junior Development Programme. As well as Saturday morning games against other Christchurch clubs, players train together during the week.
- Junior Plus players are selected so that players from the same school, neighbourhood or friendship group are able to play together on the same Red, White & Black team
- Junior Development players follow an enhanced training programme and compete towards the top end of the competitions as part of a Blue or Navy team
Player selections take place in February and March each year. See below for training days and times, and scroll down for more information on trying out for an SAS team.
To find out more about our approach to Junior Football, take a look at our Junior Player Pathway page
Note: for 2025, players born 2017 to 2020 take part in our First Kicks and Fun Football programme.
Club coaches run weekly training sessions throughout the year, broadly in line with the school terms
During Term 1 and Term 4 we run mid-week Junior Plus Skill Training and Junior Development Training sessions at St Albans Park for players keen to keep up their fitness and conditioning.
In Terms 2 and 3 Junior Development Training switches to Blue team training on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while Red, White & Black team training moves to a Monday afternoon, as part of your Winter Season programme fees. However we continue to offer Wednesday afternoon Junior Plus Skill Training as an optional extra in Terms 2 & 3 for those Red, White & Black team players keen to train more than once a week. Here's how it looks:
Terms 1 & 4 Summer Programme Skill Training
- Junior Plus Skill Training Wednesdays 4-5pm
- Junior Development Training Wednesdays 5-6pm
Terms 2 & 3 Winter Season Team Training
Junior Development Training – for Blue and Navy teams of all grades – takes place twice-weekly at St Albans Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5pm during the season.
Junior Plus Team Training – for Red, White & Black teams – takes place Mondays at St Albans Park at the following times:
- 9th & 10th Grade Monday 3:45 to 4:30pm
- 11th & 12th Grade Monday 4:30 to 5:15pm
Junior Plus Skill Training is an optional add-on session for Red, White & Black team players at St Albans Park on Wednesdays from 4-5pm
Players should register in the usual way for the Wednesday sessions.
SASFC are proud to have a strong presence in the Junior Girls leagues
We welcome all enquiries from female Juniors who would like to join an all-girls team. The Mainland Junior Football Winter Season has leagues for 10th and 12th Grade Girls teams. Girls born 2016 or earlier in 2025 generally play 10th Grade Girls, while 2014-and-older players are entered into 12th Grade Girls leagues.
Girls are able to play in mixed teams (boys and girls) from 9th Grade if they prefer, and are encouraged to attend pre-season Open Training grading sessions, whichever their preference.
Check out our Girls Football page for further details
All Saturday games are managed and refereed by parents and volunteers
For all Junior teams, a volunteer team coach and manager are required from amongst the players' parents, to coordinate players on match days and assist with communications etc. All training & support is provided, and a NZF Junior Level 2 Course and a monthly coaches forum are available. There is a parent coach and referee introductory evening in the run-up to the start of the season – watch out for the email, or contact us for details.
Match day football needs parent help to keep it running smoothly
Please, if you go to a Saturday morning game, do step up and help out with goal nets, corner flags, and any other help the coach or manager might need. Every little helps! Even if you are unable to attend match day games, there are lots of other ways to help out. Thank you for your support!
Winter Season Registration information
You need to register early to be sure of a place on a SASFC Junior Football Winter Season team. If you are registering after 21 March 2025, you should contact us at the email address below to check available places.
Open Training trials take place place over two sessions at the end of February and early March and are invitation-only. If you played for us last season, or have already registered for the first time this season, you will automatically receive an invitation for 2025 trials.
Open Training is free and there is no obligation to sign up for the season
If you are not a returning player and would like to attend Open Training, please email your player's full name and date of birth to office@sasfootball.club with 'Open Training' in the subject line and we'll get an invitation out to you.
Players wishing to play for a 'Blue' team must attend both Open Training grading sessions, or contact us if you are unable to attend. For our 'Red', 'White' and 'Black' teams it's not essential that you attend both Open Training sessions, nor wait to hear back from us in order to sign up: once you have attended one Open Training, just go ahead and register for the Winter Season before 21 March to be sure of a place on a team.
An official playing shirt, available from the merchandise store, is the only piece of kit you must obtain via the club shop
Players provide their own playing kit. Returning players should use the kit they retained from last season. We stock a full range of quality playing gear, but players are welcome to source their shorts and socks elsewhere online, or from high street stores, as long as they closely conform to the colour and style displayed in the club shop. No stripes or additional colours, please!
New members, or returning players looking to replace their kit, will find all they need on the SAS Club Shop at Football Unlimited.
