Please be advised that there will be some changes to playing nights along with other adjustments for Futsal from Term 1, 2025. 

2024 has once again seen growth across our grades in the community leagues which resulted in matches playing until 10pm at night in some cases. This has also put strain on our ability to cover all matches with officials with 81 games played per night. Hitting absolute capacity in a venue such as Pettigrew Green Arena with 9 courts available to us, wasn’t anticipated to happen this quickly. It is a good problem to have but playing this late in the evenings is not sustainable based on the feedback received. 

This has led Central Football to looking into ways to increase our capacity to limit teams missing, avoid sides kicking off at 9:20pm and assist with match official coverage.

With the above in mind please note the following for Term 1 Futsal, 2025 in Hawke’s Bay:

• Futsal will take place on Friday & Monday at Pettigrew Green Arena
• The latest a match will start will be 8:40pm
• Grading games to take place in first two weeks with all sides put in competitions following

We are now going to introduce grading into our competitions. This will be done after weeks 1 & 2 which will lead to providing a better level of challenge across the remaining fixtures. This gives us the best chance of working towards matches that remain competitive and engaging for all participants.

 Whilst looking at the issues noted above, a review of our ages / grades was also completed and there will be changes here from Term 1, 2025:

• Grades will move back to single birth years e.g 5th Grade (2020) as opposed to Year 1/2
• Players will be able to play up one grade without requesting dispensation e.g. 5th Grade age can play in 6th Grade 
• Any players needing to play down will require dispensation
• If there are Girls only sides who need to play down a grade to get to the right level, this can be accommodated 

Previously bio-banded (two) school years were used for grades e.g. Year 1/2 as numbers of participants were lower and it was harder to form sides of the same age. This change not only aligns with football grading systems but will also enable players to experience better challenge points, more competitive games, and, ultimately, an enhanced overall experience.

Ability to play up / down grades without dispensation:

• All females can play down one year without dispensation in Mixed Grades (e.g 8th Grade age can enter 7th Grade)
• All males can play up one year without dispensation (e.g 9th Grade age can enter 10th Grade)
• Any dispensation required outside of above (e.g male needing to play down one year) would need to be requested in writing to danah@centralfootball.co.nz

Registrations are now open:

For full details on Term 1 Futsal 2025 including grades, playing days and how to register, please head to the Futsal page on our website here:

https://www.sporty.co.nz/centralfootball/futsal-5/hawkes-bay

Any questions relating to Term 1 Futsal Leagues in Hawke’s Bay should be emailed to Dana Herbison – Competitions Manager East in the first instance danah@centralfotball.co.nz

Article added: Wednesday 20 November 2024