U6 Football

 

U6 football is a perfect introduction to both the Beautiful Game and our family-orientated club. 

We’ve pulled together a few FAQs to give you a better idea of what to expect as part of both the registration and team formation process, as well as an outline of the season ahead.

Our Junior Registrar Emma is also our U6 Age Coordinator and is always happy to answer any questions you may have, but hopefully the below covers most things.

We look forward to seeing you down at The Bay!

U6 orientation session on Sunday 18 February from 9 – 11 am:

This is for all boys and girls turning 5 or 6 in 2024 to come down and form a team with their friends - new or old.

We will have a parent orientation talk, and the kids will be grouped into teams of 5 or 6 (minimum 4) and will play mini games. For most kids this will be their first ever game of football and it’s a lot of fun!

We will have all-girl teams and mixed teams which can be all-boy or boys and girls together.

Our registration desk will also be open for ID sightings (proof of age and address), however we encourage you to register your kids online before coming down and email any documents to our junior registrar ahead of time as the queue can get rather long on U6 day!

 

What time do I need to arrive?

Please arrive by 8:45am as we will kick off at 9:00 am sharp.

 

What should my child wear?

All kids will play a few short games, so shin-pads and boots are to be worn. Sneakers are okay if you don’t have boots yet. Kids should also bring water.

 

What if it rains, it’s really smoky or hot on the day?

We will be paying very close attention to the weather and air quality. If it is very hot, smoky, or raining, please keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for updates closer to time.

 

My child wants to form a team with his/her friends, how can we make sure this happens?

We group younger kids (U6-U7s) in teams with their mates. U6s play 4-a-side so 4 is the minimum number of players and we have a maximum of 6 players per team.

We will have team sheets for you to fill in with names of players you would like to be grouped with on the day. If you already have a team ready to go, or a few kids that would like to play together, please email their names to Emma: junior.registrar@grfc.com.au.

We will allocate a bib colour to all pre-formed teams to make it easier to find each other on the day and will also ask that one parent or guardian act as a main point of contact.

If your child doesn’t know of any friends playing with us, they may run into someone they know on the day, or we’ll place them in a team with new friends!

 

We can’t make it. What should I do?

Please ask any friends coming down to add your name to a team sheet. Otherwise you can email junior.registrar@grfc.com.au with a request to be in a specific team. If you didn’t have a team in mind, or know any other kids signing up, we can place your child with kids from the same school.

 

Do I need to register online first?

Yes please. Please register as soon as you can via playfootball.com.au. It helps us manage teams if you register beforehand. Online registration is also the only way you can register.

Don't forget to apply for your 2024 $50 Active Kids voucher if you child is at school this year. You can apply here.

NB: If you have already registered without applying the voucher code, we can reimburse you $50 if you send the voucher plus your child’s date of birth to Melissa registrar@grfc.com.au

 

What documentation do I need?

For new players we need to see:

  1. Proof of age: Birth certificate or passport
  2. Proof of address: A parent or guardian’s driver’s licence, recent council rates notice, government letter or bank statement (just the top of the letter is fine, showing logo, date, name and address).

NB: We can only accept Sutherland Shire residents by order of the SSFA. You can bring copies on the day or save lining up on the day by emailing them in advance to our junior registrar.

 

When can I buy a uniform?

We provide all kids with a playing shirt for the season, but kids will need to buy their own GRFC socks and shorts. These will be available on registration night (30 January, 5-7pm) and U6 Day. You can also pre-order via our online store.

We accept cash or card.

 

Do I need to upload a photo when I register?

No - Kids do not need ID photos until they reach the U10s.

 

My child is only four, is he/she old enough to play?

Any child turning five by 31 December 2024 can play in our U6 competition.

Most U6 players are in kindergarten. We usually have a few preschool-age teams who tend to be placed into lower grades. If your child is in preschool but raring to go, sign them up!

We encourage younger kids to take part in our Tiger Cubs program for 3-5-year-olds. Please click here for more information on our next intake.

 

I don’t know the rules!

Here is a great resource for learning about the Mini Roo format: Click here

 

What time is training?

Once your child is placed in a team a coach and manager will be appointed, usually parents will raise their hand. They will lead the discussion amongst the parents to decide the best time and day to train.

The team manager and U6 Age Coordinator will share key information throughout the season, but we recommend you check grfc.com.au to keep updated and follow our Facebook page for timely updates.

 

Who will coach and manage our team?

Once your child is placed in a team, we encourage parents to raise their hand to either coach or manage. Managers are heavily supported by Deb our Head Manager, with coaches given guidance and tips from our Head Coach Alex.

We as a club also sponsor coaches to attend training courses, but for U6s it is as much about fun as it is about building skills, so no coaching experience is required!

NB: Both coach and manager will need to complete a free Working with Children Check via Services NSW.

 

When do U6s play?

U6s play on Saturdays, usually between 8-10:30 am, however games could be as late as 1-2pm. The season starts on Saturday 06 April, but we have trial games the weekend before Easter.

Games are a mix of home (Oyster Bay Oval) and away, which could be any ground in Sutherland Shire. Games are played during school holidays, but not on the Easter long weekend.

You can check all 2024 season dates here.

 

Still have questions?

Please get in touch with Emma (junior.registrar@grfc.com.au) who can help you out or put you in the right direction.

 

Welcome to the Tigers!