Mainland Football Federation

New Zealand Football’s Talent Development Programme is designed to aid player development at club level.

The programme, for players aged 13 to 17, is run by clubs around the country, aligned with New Zealand Football, and has three core objectives:

Produce better footballers in Aotearoa New Zealand by increasing the number and quality of training opportunities.
Provide clear training guidelines based on international best practice for youth footballers who are showing potential to play at a higher level.
Create a clear aspiration pathway for youth footballers in Aotearoa New Zealand.

CLICK HERE for further information from New Zealand Football.

In 2024 the following clubs achieved the minimum operating criteria for a talent development program and therefore in 2025 will be fully licensed Talent Development Programmes:

Cashmere Technical, Christchurch United, Nomads United, Otakaro FC, Selwyn United, Waimak United.

The following club has applied for an Aspirational club license in 2025:

FC Twenty 11

FC Twenty 11 has presented to the Mainland Football technical team with detailed information around the clubs plan to become a sustainable Talent Development Programme in the long term, these plans include the role of a qualified full time Director of Football, Qualified coaches within the club, Junior and youth players of enough quality and number consistently between the ages of 9-12 and a willingness to invest as a club to provide a strong Talent Development Programme environment. Therefore FC Twenty 11 will be granted an Aspirational License in 2025 to operate across U13 & U14 grades. The teams will start in the Canterbury Development League (CDL) but Mainland Football will have discretion to move the team based on sporting criteria during the season. As an aspirational license holder FC Twenty 11 will also be Audited to a higher level to ensure complete compliance to all licensing criteria. In order to have a complete pathway at the club FC Twenty 11 will enter in 2026 U13-U15 and in 2027 U13-U17.

The initial club make-up of the 2025 CDL leagues will be:

U13 – Cashmere Technical, Christchurch United, FC Twenty 11, Nomads United, Otakaro FC, Selwyn United, Waimak United.

U14 – Cashmere Technical, Christchurch United, FC Twenty 11, Nomads United, Otakaro FC, Selwyn United, Waimak United.

U15 – Cashmere Technical, Christchurch United, Nomads United, Otakaro FC, Selwyn United, Waimak United.

U17 – Cashmere Technical, Christchurch United, Nomads United, Otakaro FC, Selwyn United, Waimak United.

For further background information:

Initial Canterbury Development Leagues Paper

Outcome Canterbury Development Leagues 2022 and Beyond

McDonald’s Skills Centre’s are available to all junior players who wish to access additional training and further develop their ability.

Based at a registered Whole of Football Clubs, Federation or Hub, McDonald’s Skills Centre’s offer additional sessions within a familiar environment. The quality of provision will increase the opportunity for skill development.

The sessions will focus on learning in an enjoyable environment and will require enthusiasm and focus from players involved.