Do Dribbling and Breakfast Really Go Together?
The excitement of the Football World Cup may have passed, but every week grassroots sporting groups continue the real work: finding meaningful ways to inspire young players and spark their imagination. With so many indoor and digital distractions competing for children’s attention, the question remains: how do we encourage tamariki to be more active?
For Coastal Spirit FC and partner clubs Burwood AFC, Western AFC, and Parklands United FC, the answer has been to work together. Based in Eastern Christchurch, the clubs have combined their thinking, resources, and passion for the game to create the Eastern Junior Football Hub, a programme that places children at the centre of football development.
Coastal Spirit FC has also drawn on its established Spirit Schools Programme to help more children access sport through schools. Through the KickStart Breakfast Programme, four local schools have added morning football sessions alongside breakfast, helping tamariki get moving before class and start the day well fed.
The concept is simple: a fun, skills-based football session before school, followed by a nutritious breakfast. Behind the scenes, it takes planning, energy, and resources to deliver well. Led by qualified community coaches during Terms 2 and 3, the programme is now in its first year — and children are already saying the sessions help them feel more energised, more focused, and more connected with their classmates.
Each school runs its session on a different morning to align with KickStart Breakfast. Training starts at 8:00am and finishes by 8:40am, so students are ready for the school day. Some schools can use indoor gym spaces during colder Christchurch mornings, giving tamariki room to move, learn, and enjoy the game without worrying about the weather.
Participants continue training with their school teams during the week, then come together on Saturday mornings through the Eastern Junior Football Hub. Teams play against other schools and Hub teams, with extra skills work followed by organised games. There is no cost to families - the focus is on removing barriers and creating opportunities for tamariki to stay active, connected, and confident.
As the Hub explains: “The combination of the Eastern Football Hub and our work in schools gives us the perfect opportunity to support our tamariki by introducing them to football and helping them build a healthy relationship with fitness and activity. By delivering training at their own school - a familiar environment where they feel safe and confident - we remove barriers that might otherwise prevent participation. This allows children to express themselves freely and get the very best out of each session.”
*Illustrative image generated with the help of AI
Ben McNabb from South New Brighton School says the partnership has been a win for students: “South New Brighton School is proud of the links we have with KickStart Breakfast and our local football club, Coastal Spirit. By combining the two we have been able to provide breakfast and football - two of the necessities of life 😀 - to our students at no cost. We know that keeping active both inside and outside the classroom is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and thank both KickStart Breakfast and Coastal Spirit for their collective efforts in encouraging this in our tamariki.”
Congratulations to all four clubs for working together to create such a meaningful programme, and a special thank-you to Coastal Spirit FC for leading the morning initiative. It is helping children arrive at school ready to learn -and giving screen time a well-deserved red card.
So, back to the original question: do dribbling and breakfast really go together? Absolutely - especially when the game plan is this strong. Happy dribbling, everyone!