HWC Junior/Youth Touch

Kia ora koutou,

Not too far away now until JYT kicks off! 🙌🏽

For anyone interested in refereeing this season, here are some important dates to keep in mind.

🔺 The first 4 workshops are for anyone who is new to refereeing and wants to learn the basics.

🔺 The final training on 14 & 15 October is COMPULSORY for EVERYONE — whether you’re new or have refereed with us before.

If you’re keen to get involved, or come along to give it a go and see if it interests you, make sure you save the dates! 🏉

Be sure to register here so we can add you into our comms - https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/520004

Ngā mihi, HWCJYT

HWC JUNIOR/YOUTH TOUCH | LEADERSHIP & REFEREE PROGRAMME 💛💚

We’re looking for rangatahi to join our Leadership & Referee Programme this year!

Whether you’re keen to develop your leadership skills, learn how to referee, or get more involved in our Touch whānau and community we’d love to have you! Open to ages 12 years and up.

REGISTER HERE:
https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/520004

Or get in touch with:

Sha — 021 274 2226 | [email protected]
Waikohu — [email protected]

Nau mai, hoki mai to another season of Highbury Whānau Centre Junior & Youth Touch!

Team registrations for the 2026 season are now officially open.

If you're planning on entering a team this season, please make sure you complete your registration by Friday, 2 October 2026, as registrations will close on this date.

Register your team here:
https://www.sporty.co.nz/hwc_jytouch/Registration-Information/registrations

Detailed module information can be found in our handbook which is located on our website home page -https://www.sporty.co.nz/hwc_jytouch/Home)

We're looking forward to another awesome season and can't wait to see everyone back on the fields!

👚Positive Vibes Only - Showing Coach Appreciation 👚

Did you know that the majority of our youth sport coaches are whānau or friends of the participants?

Coaches are there to support, guide and grow our young people. A key role of the coach is to really get to know their players/athletes and create a fun and safe learning environment that grows their love of being involved with sport.

Supporters are there to cheer, encourage and back them - even on the tricky days.
Here’s how you can help create a positive sporting environment:

🏆 Cheer effort, not just outcomes
🗣 Keep feedback positive (and let coaches do the coaching)
👏 Thank coaches for the time, care and energy they give

Youth sport is about learning, confidence and fun - and the adults on the sidelines play a big role in shaping that experience. When kids feel supported, they stay involved longer and enjoy sport more.

Let’s keep the vibes positive - we’re all on the same team 🩷

❤️ Sport Waikato

At Sport Manawatū, we’re proud to champion Positive Vibes Only - a campaign all about creating positive, supportive environments on and off the sports field for our tamariki, rangatahi, and everyone who supports them.

Here’s a story we love that brings this to life:

A daughter once corrected her mum on every step of making scrambled eggs - how to crack them, when to turn them, what temperature to use, and how much salt to add. Eventually the mum turned to her daughter and said, "Do you think I don’t know how to scramble eggs?”

The daughter replied calmly: “I just wanted to show you what it feels like when I’m trying to play...”

Our young people already have enough to think about when they’re playing sport. They have coaches to guide them and teammates to rely on. What they need most from the sidelines is encouragement, patience, and positive vibes only.

So let’s keep sport fun.
Support. Encourage. Cheer them on.
And most of all - let them enjoy the game.

❤️ Sport Waikato

Meri Kirihimete ki te katoa.
Kia haumaru, kia hari ngā rangi whakatā.

Nā te whānau, HWC/IUV 🤍🖤❤🎄

Huge mihi to our amazing HWC JYT Referees! 🙌🏽
These rangatahi trained hard, showed up consistently, and play a massive role in enabling our older grades to play each week.

Week after week they displayed our 5 pou in action:
Mātauranga – growing their knowledge of the game and applying it under pressure.
Manaakitanga – caring for our players, coaches and community on and off the field.
Rangatiratanga – stepping into leadership with confidence and integrity.
Whanaungatanga – building strong connections with each other and the teams they support.
Tikanga – upholding our values, rules and the wairua of our kaupapa.

We’re incredibly proud of the standard they’ve set, the attitude they bring, and the example they show to others in our space. Their commitment keeps our programme running smoothly and safely, and we couldn’t do it without them.

Ngā mihi nui to each of you and of course our Referee Co-Ordinator - Sha Bannister-Plumridge❤️🤍🖤

Another HWC JYT season done (31 years now) Monrad Park was full of life — the atmosphere, the competition, and the wairua were next level.

One of the highlights this year was the sprint races across every grade. I’ve never seen faster kids in my life! Watching them fly down the field was something special, and the hype from the sidelines was unreal. It’s moments like those that remind us how much talent our rangatahi carry.

Massive mihi to HWC, our kaimahi, the referees who give so much of their time, and everyone who works hard to keep this space thriving.

A huge thank you also goes out to all our sponsors, whānau, kaiako, kaiarahi, kaiawhina, and kura for backing our rangatahi and supporting them throughout the season.

To all our U14 teams — ka mau te wehi! The finals were so tight they nearly headed into drop-offs, showing just how much skill, heart, and determination was out there on the field.

Ngā toa 2025:
U14 GIRLS – PNINS 1 (Runner up - Ross Cyclones)
U14 BOYS – Lil Souljahz Boyz (Runner up - Lil Souljahz Mixed)
U14 MIXED – CSNS Black (Runner up - Ashhurst Blades)

Kia ora koutou,

As we head into the final week of our 2025 HWC Touch Module, we want to acknowledge what an awesome season it has been — it’s definitely gone by quick!

Please see link for final round draw - https://www.sporty.co.nz/hwc_jytouch/Draw-Map-Results/Draw?em=1

Touch Games – Final Week
• All grades will play their final touch game in Round 1 — see the draw attached. Please note that any grades with a bye this week will play a team from another grade.
• In Round 2, everyone is invited to gather at Field 1 for our sprint races.

Note: The sprints are optional and are simply a fun way to wrap up the season.
Each team is encouraged to select four runners, with at least two girls included (unless you’re in an all-boys grade).

​2025 Sprint Relay Poster.png​
​
U14s:
The U14s will be playing their FINALS — all the best to all teams!

A massive thank you to everyone who has supported this module throughout the season.
We appreciate the time, effort and energy you all bring — and thank you for keeping the positive vibes only throughout!

We are grateful to be able to offer the JYT in our hāpori each year, and we appreciate you all for being part of it.