Have a kid who’s soccer mad? Us too.
Soccer is HUGE at the moment. With the Mariners taking out the A-League championships for the 2nd year in a row, it feels like every local Coastie kid wants to be the next Ronaldo. AND, guess what? We’ve found a program that can help that happen: The Football Grounds.
The Football Grounds runs term-time soccer classes and school holiday soccer clinics for kids in primary and high school, and they’ve just opened their books for these spring holidays and term 4 enrolments!
There are so many reasons why we rate their programs, and why we know you’ll love them too:
- They have experienced coaches who offer the right mix of fun and up-skilling.
- Their school holiday camps in Erina are SUPER flexible, so they’re great for busy parents. And they’re held indoors, so they can go ahead in rain, hail or scorching heat!
- Their term-time classes are held at Pluim Park Lisarow on FIFA-approved synthetic pitches, so unless there’s a thunderstorm, your kids still get to play. Hallelujah! The number of games and training sessions missed this soccer season due to rain and sodden grass fields was pretty frustrating, right!
- They’re offering Playing in Puddles readers 10% off! Happy days!
Scroll down to learn all about their fab classes, holiday clinics and what makes them great or click here to visit The Football Grounds website.
Want to enter our competition to win a one-day school holiday soccer camp for your child and their friend? Scroll down to enter.
The Football Grounds’ Spring school holiday camps, Erina
Every school holiday, The Football Grounds Academy runs full-day soccer camps for kids aged 5-15.
The camps are held indoors at the Central Coast Adventist School’s sports facility in Erina, so they’re able to go ahead without impact from rain, wind or scorching heat. And let’s be honest, a day of soccer in the freezing wet ain’t much fun for anyone – no matter how much you love the sport.
This spring they’re running camps across six days. Here’s why we love the classes and we know you’ll love them too:
- You can do 1 day, 2 days, 3 days… heck, you can do all 6 days if you want to. And they offer a multi-day discount, so the more days you do, the cheaper it is!
- You can choose the exact dates you want to do. If you want to do three days, you can select any three days – you’re not limited to a set three days! We did a happy dance when we heard this, as this kind of flexibility is so awesomely helpful for parents trying to manage the school holiday juggle of activities!
- The camps run for the full day – 9am-3pm! Yippeee! Perfect for working parents.
- The children are separated into suitable age/ability groups (and they keep friends together).
- The focus here is on ensuring kids have fun while also honing their skills. Throughout the day they’ll do team-bonding games, agility games/courses and drills that improve their soccer skills. It’s learning in an environment that’s encouraging and fun: there ain’t no drill sergeants.
Want 10% off?
Enter Code “PIP10” to receive 10% off their 1-day spring school holiday camps. If you’re booking for 2 or more days, use the TFG discount codes on the registration page, as that way you’ll get an even bigger discount: 2 Days is $15 off, 3 days is $35 off, etc.
Get a FREE trial plus 10% off term-time classes with The Football Grounds!
The Football Grounds run soccer classes across the school term for kids and teens aged 5-17. The classes aim to develop each child’s skills and techniques to make them more competitive on the soccer field and enable them to advance to a higher grade within Club Football.
The classes are held at Pluim Park, a facility with FIFA-approved, state-of-the-art pitches. The 3 five-a-side pitches have a full synthetic surface, so classes can continue to run even after a week of showers and during light rain. Hallelujah! How many days has your kid missed this soccer season due to sodden grass fields!
Classes are not only divided by ages, but skill levels too, so your child has the opportunity to make friends and enhance their skills – no matter their starting level. The Football Grounds is great in that it continues to assess your child’s skill levels and moves them up accordingly. If you have a kid with ambition, they’ll love this. All enrolments undertake a trial first class to determine which class they’re best suited to join.
Here’s their pathway for class progression:
And as if all that weren’t enough, here are a few more reasons you and your kids will love it:
- You can do a free trial!
- Enrollments are encouraged and available at any time of the term – with pro-rata rates.
- They accept active kids vouchers.
- They’re happy to offer a payment plan.
- Enter code PIP10 to receive 10% off term time fees.
Term 4 enrolments are now open, and you can still join for the remainder of term 3.
Want 10% off? Enter Code “PIP10” to receive 10% off their term-time classes.
The Football Grounds coaches
We know that so much of what makes a fabulous class is the fabulous person who runs it. Having a coach who not only has the skills but also the enthusiasm and keenness to see our kids improve, is super important. So we were happy to hear about the excellent coaching team The Football Grounds employ.
The Football Grounds’ senior coaches are Myah, Matej and Lucas. Myah plays for Gosford Women’s Division 1 after playing in the Women’s Premier League for Kariong and Terrigal Football Clubs since the age of 15. Lucas is captain of the Central Coast Mariners U23s squad. Matej plays for Marconi Football Club U23s and was a previous member of the Central Coast Mariners Football Club.
Assistant Coaches Agieg and Jordan both play for the Central Coast Mariners U23s. In addition, the team includes Jye, Cassius, Laurence, Kirby and Cooper, who all play for the Mariners 16s to 20s squads.
The coaches have all been picked for their skills, passion for football, and importantly, their ability to get the best out of each of the kids they coach. They keep the classes and holiday clinics high energy and fun; their ultimate goal is to make their students the best footballers they can be.
The History of The Football Grounds
The Football Grounds has been running soccer development pathway programs since 2017.
The Football Grounds was founded by Nick Montgomery, the 2023 Championship-winning Central Coast Mariners Head Coach and a former Premier League and A-League player. Nick moved to Scotland in 2023, but the academy he developed continues here with the amazing coaches and training program he first established. The programs were first run in an indoor centre in Erina, but after being closed twice during the Covid lockdowns, the decision was made to move the programs to an outdoor venue and from January 2022 The Football Grounds officially moved to Pluim Park in Lisarow.
Pluim Park is now the home of football on the Central Coast, with three five-a-side synthetic pitches, male and female change facilities and an on-site cafe.
WIN a The Football Grounds soccer school holiday camp for 2 kids these school holidays!
Want to win a one-day The Football Grounds school holiday camp for 2 kids these spring school holidays? It can be two siblings, or your child and their friend. Have a kid already enrolled? You can even gift it to two friends.
PLUS, the camps are running across 6 days and you get to choose what date the kids attend. Awesome right! Dates available are listed below.
To be in with a chance to win, simply subscribe to our free newsletter by entering your details below*. Already a subscriber? Just add your details below so we know you want to enter this comp.
*COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS
PRIZE: We are giving away a one-day The Football Grounds school holiday camp for 2 kids these spring school holidays.
COMPETITION OPENS: 2 September 2024.
COMPETITION CLOSES: 23 September 2024.
Dates available for the soccer camp: Mon 30 Sep, Tue 1 Oct, Wed 2 Oct, Wed 9 Oct, Thu 10 Oct, Fri 11 Oct 2024.
ENTRY TERMS: By entering, we’ll email future issues of Playing in Puddles’ weekly newsletter free to your inbox (you may unsubscribe at any time). Entry email addresses will not be shared with anyone outside Playing in Puddles. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
PRIZE TERMS: This prize is valid for a one-day camp. Both children must attend on the same day. If only one child can attend the second placement is forfeited. The dates available are Mon 30 Sep, Tue 1 Oct, Wed 2 Oct, Wed 9 Oct, Thu 10 Oct, Fri 11 Oct 2024. The winner will be notified by email. The Winner has 5 days to reply to redeem their prize. If the winner does not reply in that time, Playing in Puddles reserves the right to choose another winner. Prize is not redeemable for cash and not transferable. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram or Facebook. Click here for extended terms.
The Football Grounds
Special deal: Enter Code PIP10 to receive 10% off term time classes and 1-day school holiday camps.
Tip: If you’re booking a school holiday camp for 2 or more days, use the TFG discount codes on the registration page, as that way you’ll get an even bigger discount: 2 Days is $15 off, 3 days is $35 off, etc.
Address: 1 Tuggerah Street, Lisarow (Pluim Park – term classes), Central Coast Adventist School Erina (School Holiday Clinics)
Phone: 0481 002 524
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefootballgrounds/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefootballgroundsacademy
Website: https://www.thefootballgrounds.com.au/
Want to advertise YOUR school holiday class or term-time class on Playing in Puddles? Check out our advertising page here.
Header image ©The Football Grounds.
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
WIN a Family Pass to see “Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies” in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney these school holidays!
