FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I am looking for a team to play for, what do I do?
Simply fill out the form at the bottom of this page and let us know what grade you are wanting to play. We can then get back to you with all the details of that grade.
All of the teams within each grade, train together in order to maximize coaching and equipment, so its easy to get involved. New players are always welcome and allocated into one of our already established teams.
All of the teams within each grade, train together in order to maximize coaching and equipment, so its easy to get involved. New players are always welcome and allocated into one of our already established teams.
What grades do you have?
AFC offers both full contact football and non-contact flag football in the following grades:
Senior Contact Football - Our full contact Senior competition is played during the spring, between August and December. Players need to be 18 years old to be eligible. Players under 18 can "Red-shirt" if they would like to, which means they can't play, however it allows them to join in for limited parts of practice in preparation for playing in the future. Click here for more details.
Senior Flag Football - Our Senior flag football competition is played between January and March and is open to men and women aged 15+. During the spring, before Christmas, AFC also run pick up flag games at other times of the year, which are open to anyone, and usually take place on Saturday afternoons. Click here for more details.
Youth American Football - The Youth programme includes both a flag football competition and a full contact competition. This grade is open to players aged 14-17 years old and the programme runs from September to December each year. Click here for more details.
Junior Flag Football - Juniors is for players aged 10-14. The Juniors play a non-contact flag football competition between January and March. Click here for more details.
Senior Contact Football - Our full contact Senior competition is played during the spring, between August and December. Players need to be 18 years old to be eligible. Players under 18 can "Red-shirt" if they would like to, which means they can't play, however it allows them to join in for limited parts of practice in preparation for playing in the future. Click here for more details.
Senior Flag Football - Our Senior flag football competition is played between January and March and is open to men and women aged 15+. During the spring, before Christmas, AFC also run pick up flag games at other times of the year, which are open to anyone, and usually take place on Saturday afternoons. Click here for more details.
Youth American Football - The Youth programme includes both a flag football competition and a full contact competition. This grade is open to players aged 14-17 years old and the programme runs from September to December each year. Click here for more details.
Junior Flag Football - Juniors is for players aged 10-14. The Juniors play a non-contact flag football competition between January and March. Click here for more details.
WHERE Do YOU PLAY?
AFC plays and trains at various venues across Christchurch:
Senior Contact Football - Thomson Park, New Brighton, Christchurch.
Senior Flag Football - North Hagley Park, near the cnr Harper Ave and Park Ave, Christchurch.
Junior and Youth Football - Marshland Domain, Prestons Rd, Marshland, Christchurch. Also, some Youth contact training takes place at Thomson Park, New Brighton.
Senior Contact Football - Thomson Park, New Brighton, Christchurch.
Senior Flag Football - North Hagley Park, near the cnr Harper Ave and Park Ave, Christchurch.
Junior and Youth Football - Marshland Domain, Prestons Rd, Marshland, Christchurch. Also, some Youth contact training takes place at Thomson Park, New Brighton.
IS IT EXPENSIVE?
Subs for Senior and Youth contact football are comparable to senior rugby prices. The equipment is expensive if you want to buy your own. However, AFC can loan pads, helmets and uniforms, meaning the only items you will need to purchase are a mouthguard and boots in order to play.
Subs for flag football are comparable to touch rugby fees. Equipment (such as flag belts) is all provided by AFC.
Subs for flag football are comparable to touch rugby fees. Equipment (such as flag belts) is all provided by AFC.
If I play, will it interfere with Rugby/League/Soccer?
The timing of our season is specifically designed to have minimum impact on winter sporting codes. Our contact season for both Seniors and Youth begins at the end of August/start of September. The season ends prior to the Christmas period, which means that you will have time for a break between seasons and it shouldn't interfere with preseason training for your other sports.
Our Junior and Senior flag competitions run from January to March to again minimise the crossover with winter sports.
Our Junior and Senior flag competitions run from January to March to again minimise the crossover with winter sports.
IS IT DANGEROUS?
Although players wear helmets and pads, American Football is a full contact sport, so there is always the chance of injury. Recent statistics showed that the injury rate for American Football in New Zealand was slightly lower to that of rugby on a per game basis.
Is it hard to learn?
Like most sports when you start out, there is always a lot to learn. However, we have a dedicated group of passionate coaches and senior players, who are able to teach you the basics and introduce you to the finer points of the sport. As American Football can be a very complex sport, AFC's specifically designed approach of playing modified versions of the game (Seniors play 8-a-side, Youth play 5-a-side), not only provides an exciting spectacle, but also makes it easier to learn the fundamentals of the game for those starting out.
WHAT PATHWAYS ARE AVAILABLE?
For flag football, AFC select both a Youth and an Open Mens Canterbury flag team to attend the National Championship tournament each year. Open Mens players also have the opportunity to be selected for the New Zealand flag football High Performance Unit and from there, the national side - the New Zealand Mako. This can lead to playing in overseas tournaments, such as the Flag Football World Championship and potentially the Olympics.
It's not just for the men either, New Zealand also has a women's flag team - the Aotearoa Flag Ferns (which also features a High Performance Unit) for female players to aspire to.
For those serious about playing American Football at a high level overseas, there are organisations within New Zealand that can boost your profile and connect you with scouts and coaches overseas. And while overseas teams are showing more and more interest in athletes from Australia and New Zealand, it is still extremely difficult to secure a college scholarship or a professional contract. That's not to say it's impossible though, as AFC have had players playing in the States collegiately and semi-professionally in Australia and Europe.
For Youth aged players, the NFL have opened the Asia/Pacific NFL Academy. Located in Australia's Gold Coast, the NFL Academy is designed to identify and recruit promising athletes from the Asia/Pacific region and provide them with an education and topflight American Football coaching. Recruitment camps for the NFL Academy are held across New Zealand and Australia annually and are open to 12-18 year olds. For more info click here.
It's not just for the men either, New Zealand also has a women's flag team - the Aotearoa Flag Ferns (which also features a High Performance Unit) for female players to aspire to.
For those serious about playing American Football at a high level overseas, there are organisations within New Zealand that can boost your profile and connect you with scouts and coaches overseas. And while overseas teams are showing more and more interest in athletes from Australia and New Zealand, it is still extremely difficult to secure a college scholarship or a professional contract. That's not to say it's impossible though, as AFC have had players playing in the States collegiately and semi-professionally in Australia and Europe.
For Youth aged players, the NFL have opened the Asia/Pacific NFL Academy. Located in Australia's Gold Coast, the NFL Academy is designed to identify and recruit promising athletes from the Asia/Pacific region and provide them with an education and topflight American Football coaching. Recruitment camps for the NFL Academy are held across New Zealand and Australia annually and are open to 12-18 year olds. For more info click here.
