NZ Secondary Schools Girls Premier Football Tournament -2023

The winter tournament week is the highlight of the season for most school football teams and nearly 320 are taking part across 15 tournaments (seven for girls and eight for boys) as each battles for the right to be crowned national champions.

The tournaments are all run by New Zealand Secondary Schools Football and CEO Garry Carnachan is relishing the beautiful game being celebrated and enjoyed by young Kiwis in a competitive environment all over the country...Taupos Crown Park will be hosting the NZSS Girls Premier tournament.

“With more than 24,000 students pulling on a jersey and representing their school each year, schools football is a big part of the sporting landscape in New Zealand,” says Carnachan, who is also an Executive Committee member of New Zealand Football.

“Tournament week provides the pinnacle event for many of these students and, with a range of options on offer, it is an important development opportunity for players of all ability levels. There is a lot of pride in playing for your school in any sport and that will be on display all week.”

Heather Hepburn, Chairperson of New Zealand Secondary Schools Girls Football, says the range of talent on show is one of the most appealing aspects of a week in which lifelong bonds will be forged.

“These tournaments cater for over 2,000 school girl players of many different abilities, ranging from new to the sport to New Zealand representative,” she says.

“Playing a sport they enjoy for a week, the highs and lows of winning or losing, the comradeship and representing their school – these aspects of tournament week always leave lasting memories of their time at secondary school.”

“This is always one of the most exciting weeks on the football calendar and it’s great to see so many young Kiwis both enjoying their football and getting the chance to take on their counterparts from other parts of the country,” says New Zealand Football Interim CEO Andrew Pragnell.

“Secondary schools football has an important role to play in both of our key strategic goals – which are more New Zealanders playing and loving football and our elite teams winning on the world stage. Most players fall in love with the game during their schooling years and many schools are doing an excellent job of providing opportunities to their players and assisting greatly in their development.”

Football has a strong presence in both primary and secondary schools all over the country with many children being introduced to the game at primary school through New Zealand Football’s 5+ A Day Football in Schools programme, which aims to encourage physical activity and healthy eating.