Welcome!

Welcome to the 27 May update from Christchurch Football Club, keeping you connected with everything happening in and around the club.

Firstly to Lucy and the Events team for putting on another Beats By Bingo function and to everyone that attended we thank you!

As previously mentioned in an earlier newsletter the club has new Audio and Visual System and on the 19th of May it was used by the team from Temporary Traffic Management Industry Steering Group and their feedback is as follows:

“Kia ora John, 

 We had a Board meeting today and there was nothing but glowing feedback! It was mentioned the parking was great, the AV was incredible and so easy to use (this is our 9th show and we've had some interesting equipment at the rugby clubs haha) so the new equipment was warmly welcomed and appreciated! 

The food was outstanding and the venue management onsite was friendly and very professional, including Storylight - so I'm glad it went well with his equipment in the big crowd 🙂 Thank you again for a seamless and professional event, we are glad we saved this region to record. We took a number of photos as well so if you would like a few of the room layout for any club promotion, I'm sure there will be a few in there once I get access. 

 Ngā mihi,

Shan”

Given everything was done via email I am super proud of the team on putting on an outstanding event 😊

 Photographs were taken that show what food is being provided by Edward at Rollicious and the set up of the event with a combination of trestle table, chairs, bar leaners, and stools – my thanks to Morné for his assistance in setting up the room.

 Please consider using or recommending the Christchurch Football Club as a venue to hold an event/function.

This weekend sees no rugby being played due to it being Kings Birthday weekend however we are busy preparing for our Junior Club Day to be held on the 6th of June that also sees 4 of the senior teams playing at home in the afternoon. There will be food trucks, coffee cart, bouncy castle, and sausage sizzle here so please support this awesome day!!

Subscriptions 2026

 To everyone who has been paying their subscriptions thank you so very much and to all those that have advised us that they have paid even though we sent an invoice/statement thank you for your patience & understanding

 Again if have any questions please contact accounts@christchurchpark.co.nz in the first instance

 Senior Div. 1-6 & Women’s                 $240.00

Colts and any Under 21 player           $160.00

General                                                 $50.00

Social                                                     $20.00

Junior Family Member –

1 player (first child in the family) $115* includes team photo payment

2 or more players (same family) payment $230* includes team photo payment

3 or more players (same family) $300* includes team photo payment *includes a Family Membership of $60

 As mentioned all Coaches & Managers of all teams will be following up to ensure all subscriptions are paid by either the end of May (Senior) or the end of June (Juniors).

I personally want to thank all our club sponsors for their trust in me to ensure we can continue to grow in a positive manner both on and off the field at the Christchurch Football Club. 

To everyone that attended our sponsors breakfast on Wednesday morning at The Elmwood I hope you enjoyed meeting each other, getting to know each other and I hope some business opportunities will come as a result of it!

To Marty, Sam & your team at The Elmwood thank you for an awesome breakfast and we appreciate the great coffees that were also served.

 To Mark, thank you for organising the breakfast in conjunction with Marty and to Budgie & Will thank you for a great Q&A session. Will, on behalf of the club we wish you well with your recovery and rehab & look forward to seeing you back at the club before you depart to Japan!!

Regards

Shu

Firstly, I need to start this week with an apology. On Saturday morning, I missed setting up two junior fields. I take full responsibility for that and appreciate everyone’s patience while it was sorted. Mistakes happen, but the important thing is learning from them and making sure they don’t happen again moving forward.

As we reach the halfway point of the senior season, it’s a good opportunity for everyone involved in the club to reflect and review. How have we started the season? What are we doing well? What areas need more discussion, attention, or improvement?

Reviewing honestly is an important part of growth, whether that’s for players, coaches, volunteers, or me in this role. I have now been in the position for 12 months and, while it has certainly been a rollercoaster at times, I have genuinely enjoyed the journey so far. Every week presents new challenges and opportunities to learn. I believe the day we stop learning is probably the day we should step away.

A big thank you must go to Hunter and Muir, who have spent time giving the gear sheds a much-needed clean out and removing broken and damaged equipment. Their effort behind the scenes is hugely appreciated. I would also ask all coaches and managers using the sheds to please return gear neatly and respectfully after trainings and games. Looking after our resources helps everyone and makes life easier for the next team coming through.

It was fantastic to see our junior teams back out training on Wednesday night. The laughter, energy, and enthusiasm around the grounds is one of the best parts of our club. After a long day, seeing kids enjoying rugby and being active is a great reminder of why community sport is so important.

From observations across trainings recently, there are also a few small adjustments that could help improve player engagement, learning, and overall activity levels during sessions:

• Use ball-based warm-ups connected to the theme of the session, with clear expectations and outcomes.

• Reduce group sizes and use multiple stations to keep more players active at the same time.

• Keep instructions short and simple, then allow players to learn through repetition and activity.

• Rotate regularly between groups and provide brief individual feedback where needed.

• Demonstrate skills at a controlled speed and intensity to maintain both clarity and safety.

Sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. With the limited time we have each week, the goal should always be to maximize player involvement and repetitions. The more quality reps’ players get, the more confidence and improvement we will see. Planning sessions well and understanding what your players need at their stage of development is one of the biggest keys to helping them improve and enjoy the game.

Cheers

Budgie

Three Games Down. Big Things Ahead

The first three grading games of the season are now complete — and what a start it has been. We hope the players, whānau, and supporters have enjoyed getting back out on the field and into the red and black.

Before we head into what promises to be a big season, we have a well-earned break over King’s Birthday Weekend. Rest up, enjoy the long weekend, and come back fired up — because things are about to get exciting.

Junior Club Day — Saturday 6 June

We’re kicking the season back into gear in style! Junior Club Day on 6 June is shaping up to be one of the highlights of the year, and we want as many players, families, and supporters there as possible.

Here’s what’s in store on the day:

• Food Trucks — A great selection of food and drinks on-site to keep the whole family fueled up throughout the day.

• Bouncy Castle — Something to keep the younger ones (and maybe a few adults) entertained between games.

• Canterbury Rugby On-Site — We’re thrilled to have Canterbury Rugby joining us on the day. A fantastic opportunity for our junior players to connect with the wider rugby community and see what the game looks like at the top level.

• Extra Goodies — We’re keeping a few surprises up our sleeve, so make sure you come along and find out what else we have planned!

Mark it in your calendars and spread the word to fellow club families. The more the merrier — this is a day for the whole community to come together and celebrate what’s great about junior rugby.

We Want to Hear From You

We have sent out a Google survey to get your thoughts on how the season has gone so far. Whether it’s something we’re doing well or something you think we could do differently, we genuinely welcome all feedback — it helps us make the club better for everyone.

Check your inbox and please take a few minutes to fill it in when it arrives. If you would like to be contacted afterward to email us on cfcjuniors@christchurchpark.co.nz

Under 5’s Skills

Friday we are running skill sessions designed for kids under 5. These are great to introduce the wonderful game of rugby to young players and set them up for their first season the following year. Theses start back up next Friday 5th June 4pm at CFC.

Enjoy the long weekend and we’ll see you back in the red and black on the 6th!

Brockie & Lana