Event Details

Dates

Monday 7 – Friday 11 September 2026

Venue

Gordon Spratt Reserve, Papamoa

Entry Fee

NZ$960.00 per team

An additional fee of NZ$1,000 applies if a referee is not provided by the school.

Entries Open

Online registrations open on Friday 20 March 2026 at 9:00 AM

Entries Close

Online registrations close on Wednesday 3 June 2026 at 7:59 PM

All registrations must be submitted online by each school’s designated Zespri AIMS Games Coordinator using their unique login code.

CONTACT

Email: info@nzaimsgames.co.nz

PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATES

PLANNING INFORMATION

Entry Fees

• NZ$960.00 per team (non-refundable)
• An additional fee of NZ$1,000 applies if a referee is not provided by the school.
• Team withdrawals received after 3 June 2026 will result in loss of the entry fee and a two‑year exclusion from future Zespri AIMS Games.
• Payment is due within 7 days of invoice receipt
• Invoices will be issued to school accounts managers after entries close

Eligibility

Students must be aged over 10 and under 13 years as of 31 December 2025. For the 2026 Games, eligible birth years are 2013, 2014, and 2015. Birthdates must be provided during registration.

Competition Divisions

Football Boys Division

• Maximum of 14 players per team
• Minimum of 12 players per team
• Each school may register a maximum of one Boys’ Football team.
• Teams may be made up of any mix of Year 7 and Year 8 students. There are no restrictions on year group ratios — for example, a Football team may consist entirely of Year 7 students, entirely of Year 8 students, or a combination of both.

Football Girls Division

• Maximum of 14 players per team
• Minimum of 12 players per team
• Each school may register a maximum of one Girls’ Football team

• Teams may be made up of any mix of Year 7 and Year 8 students. There are no restrictions on year group ratios — for example, a Football team may consist entirely of Year 7 students, entirely of Year 8 students, or a combination of both.

Oversubscription

• If entries are oversubscribed, teams will be accepted in the following order of preference:

1. The top 55 placed teams from 2025 will receive automatic entry.
2. Remaining places will be allocated via random ballot.

• Schools will be notified as soon as possible, and no later than 10 June 2026, if their team has not been accepted.
• In the event of oversubscription, participation will be at the discretion of the Executive Committee. No further correspondence will be entered into. If a team is unsuccessful, the registration fee will be refunded.

Seeding

• Teams will be allocated into pools using a combination of 2025 seedings and geographic distribution.
• Final seedings will be determined at the discretion of the tournament organisers.
• No further correspondence will be entered into regarding seedings.

Referee Requirements

1. Appointment of Referees
   The organising committee will assign referees to matches. Referees will not officiate their own team.
2. Availability
   School‑appointed referees must be available to officiate whenever scheduled.
3. Minimum Qualification
   Each participating team is required to provide a referee with at least Level 1 (L1) Referee accreditation.
4. Paid Referee Option
   Schools that require a referee to be provided will incur an additional fee of NZ$1,000 for the week. This request must be indicated at the time of registration.
5. Non‑Submission of Referee Details
   Schools that do not supply referee details will automatically be invoiced NZ$1,000 and a referee will be appointed.
6. Late Requests
   Any school contacting the Zespri AIMS Games team to request a referee after 3 June 2026 will be charged a 50% late referee registration fee.

Multi-Code Participation

• Students may enter more than one sporting code, provided they meet permitted code crossover eligibility.
• Students participating in the 2026 Zespri AIMS Games may enter only one team sport. Those registered in Football are not eligible to compete in 3x3 Basketball, 5-Aside Basketball, Futsal, Hockey, Netball, Rip Rugby, Rugby Sevens, or Water Polo.

Please note: No timetable adjustments will be made to accommodate scheduling conflicts between sporting codes. It is the responsibility of each school and the parents/caregivers to ensure that students’ chosen events do not overlap.​​​​​​​

PROGRAMME

RULES

1. All games will be a maximum of 20-minute halves during pool play, quarter finals, semi-finals, and finals.
2. Teams to provide their own first aid kit.
3. Teams to provide their own-coloured bibs.
4. All players’ shirts MUST be clearly numbered on the back. The number on the player’s shirt MUST match the number allocated to them in the match programme.
5. Shin pads must be worn on the field at all times.
6. NZF Junior Framework 9 v 9 playing format, this includes the retreating line.
7. 9 a-side - maximum of 14 registered players per team. Girls may play as a part of a Boys team, only if a school does not have enough players to field a Girls team. In this instance, a maximum of two girls is permitted.
8. Rolling substitutions apply.
9. Offside rule applies, as per NZF Junior Framework 9 v 9 playing format.
10. A No. 4 match ball will be provided for all matches.
11. Games will be kept to time by the Referee – no stoppage time.
12. Maximum field size 70m x 50m.
13. Goal size ¾ size.
14. Coaches/managers are responsible for signing the score card at the end of the match, confirming the correct score.
15. All head coaches are required to have attended an NZF Youth Level 1 course. A course will be held within your local federation, and in Tauranga one week before (venue and times are to be confirmed).
16. All team managers are required to have their team’s medical forms with them throughout the week.
17. All teams will be placed into pools based on a combination of 2024 seedings and a geographic spread. Seedings will be at the tournament organiser’s discretion.
18. If two teams are tied on points at the end of pool play the following criteria will apply in order between the two teams:
    1. Goal difference
    2. Most goals scored for
    3. Least goals scored against
    4. Result of the game between the two teams
    5. Flip of a coin
19. If three or more teams are tied on points at the end of pool play, the same criteria as above will apply in the same order between all the teams in the pool. This will be calculated manually, and the system may need to be adjusted.

MEDAL PRESENTATION

The top three placed teams in the Championship Division (boys and girls) will receive medals.

The top three placed teams in the Plate and Bowl Divisions (boys and girls) will receive certificates.

All presentations will take place at prizegiving following the finals on Friday 11 September 2026.