Event Details

Dates

Saturday 5 – Wednesday 9 September 2026

Venues

Haumaru Sport and Recreation Centre, 483 Cameron Road, Tauranga

Mercury Baypark Arena, 81 Truman Lane, Mount Maunganui

Entry Fee

NZ$800.00 per team 

RegistrATION TimeliNe

Entries Open

Friday 20 March 2026 at 9:00 AM

Entries Close

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

PLANNING INFORMATION

Entry Fees

• NZ$800.00 per team (non-refundable)
• 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

Futsal Boys Division

• Maximum of 10 players per team
• Minimum of 8 players per team
• Each school may register a maximum of one Boys’ Futsal 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 Futsal team may consist entirely of Year 7 students, entirely of Year 8 students, or a combination of both.

Futsal Girls Division

• Maximum of 10 players per team
• Minimum of 8 players per team
• Each school may register a maximum of one Girls’ Futsall 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 Futsal team may consist entirely of Year 7 students, entirely of Year 8 students, or a combination of both.

Oversubscription

Each division is capped at a maximum of 64 teams.

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

1. The top 48 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.

Referees

• Match Officials
  The organising committee will appoint referees for all matches.
• Court Managers
  Each team must provide a competent court manager for their game.
• Responsibilities
  ​​​​​​​A full description of court manager duties will be shared by the organising committee in communications prior to the event.

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 Futsal are not eligible to compete in 3x3 Basketball, 5-Aside Basketball, Football, 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

Futsal teams wishing to attend the Zespri AIMS Games Opening Ceremony are recommended to book tickets for Show 2 (7:00 PM).

RULES​​​​​​​

1. All games will be 12-minute halves during pool play, quarter finals, semi-finals and finals.
2. Halftime is a 2-minute interval.
3. No time outs.
4. All players’ shirts MUST be clearly numbered while on court at all times.
5. Follow NZF Zespri AIMS Games Futsal Regulations.
6. 5 a-side (one of whom is the goalkeeper).
7. Maximum of 10 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. Futsal match ball will be provided for all matches. A Size 4 Futsal ball will be used.
10. Games will be kept to time by the Referee – no stoppage time.
11. Court size – length 22 – 32 metres and width 14 – 20 metres.
12. Goal size – 3 x 2 metres.
13. Teams to provide their own first aid kit.
14. All players are required to wear shin guards.
15. Strictly no jewellery or piercings on court.

MEDAL PRESENTATIONS

The top three placed teams in the Championship Division (boys and girls) will receive their medals at prizegiving following the finals.