Kids Team Sport Guide
We’ve created this guide to help parents and carers, all over Lake Macquarie understand what team sporting options are available for kids.
Let’s be honest, as Mum’s ourselves, we were confused, and we guessed you would be too!
Team sport is fitness and fun rolled into one. Meet new people, improve skills, and form friendships that will last a lifetime. It’s a great way to keep the kids active and encourage good sportsmanship while having fun.
This guide will keep evolving and we’ll endeavor to update it each year with new programs and sport for the kids right here in Lake Mac. Want to list your club and be included?
Click through here to learn more about advertising with Lake Mac Family Life Business Directory.
Soccer
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Oztag
Netball
Cricket
AFL
Water Polo
Softball
Basketball
Soccer
Northern NSW Football is the governing body across our region. They are passionate about bringing our community together and making sure the game is for everyone. With strong support for female football, they want to keep building a legacy for inclusion.
Northern NSW Football
Game On
- 49417200
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- MiniRoos Kick Off: 4 years – 9 years (introductory program)
- MiniRoos Club Football: 5 years – 11 years
- Youth Club Football: 12 years – 18 years
- Fast FIVE5 Football: 5 years – 11 years
- Kick-On FIVE5 Football: Women 16 years+
- Summer Football: 5 years+ (depending on the club)
- Teams can be mixed, girls or boys.
Season dates for weekend football
Registrations open in January/February (depending on the club)
Training starts in March (day & time will be allocated by the coach once teams are finalised)
Competitions run from late April – early August
Finals (12 years +) are then run from mid-August to early September
Register your child as a player, and if you don’t have a team to add to their registration, the club will help you find one. They usually hold a registration night during March. Find a club close to you here: Macquarie Football
Season dates for summer football
Summer Football provides players and clubs the opportunity to continue playing during the off-season.
Registrations open in August/September
Games run on weekdays and for younger age groups on Saturday mornings
Competitions run from September through the summer months. Finish dates will vary in each club. Some finish in December, others in February.
Register your child directly through the club you want to play at.
NOTE: Summer football at Speers Point is played on their Fast FIVE5 pitches.
Fast FIVE5 & Kick-On FIVE5 football
Fast FIVE5 at Speers Point is an action-packed, modified game of football where players make quick decisions. Matches take place on Football FIVE5 dedicated all-weather synthetic pitches. These include rebound boards and netting to ensure the ball remains in play for the duration of the match.
Adult competitions are played throughout the year, however, Youth & MiniRoos only play during summer. Learn more here: FOOTBALL FIVE5
RUGBY UNION
Hunter Junior Rugby Union Association is the local governing body for Lake Macquarie. For them, rugby is a global game for people of all ages, genders, sizes, and abilities which is played in various formats. Something for everyone!
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- Two-Hand Touch Introductory Rugby: 4 years – 7 years
- Get into Rugby: All ages (introductory program)
- XVs Rugby: 5 years – 99 years (traditional)
- Girls Rugby: 11 years to 16 years (traditional)
- Summer 7s: 12 year – 17years (fast, furious & fun)
Both boys & girls can play rugby in their own teams. Introductory programs can be mixed.
To register, select the rugby mode/competition you want to play in, e.g. Winter XVs (15 a side), and the club you want to play with. Then the club will put you in a team after a skills assessment. Clubs have open days at the beginning of the season for new players. Clubs also offer a training-only registration. This is where you pay the insurance and can train and do contact to see if you want to fully register to play etc.
Find a local club here: Rugby Registration/Club
*There is a comprehensive dispensation procedure based on size and player safety. That permits a u13s side for example to have both u12s players weighing up or u14s players weighing down.
- Two-Hand Touch Introductory Rugby: 4 years – 7 years
- Get into Rugby: All ages (introductory program)
- XVs Rugby: 5 years – 99 years (traditional)
- Girls Rugby: 11 years to 16 years (traditional)
- Summer 7s: 12 year – 17years (fast, furious & fun)
Both boys & girls can play rugby in their own teams. Introductory programs can be mixed.
To register, select the rugby mode/competition you want to play in, e.g. Winter XVs (15 a side), and the club you want to play with. Then the club will put you in a team after a skills assessment. Clubs have open days at the beginning of the season for new players. Clubs also offer a training-only registration. This is where you pay the insurance and can train and do contact to see if you want to fully register to play etc.
Find a local club here: Rugby Registration/Club
*There is a comprehensive dispensation procedure based on size and player safety. That permits a u13s side for example to have both u12s players weighing up or u14s players weighing down.
Season date for weekend & introductory rugby
Registrations open in February
Training usually starts in February
Competitions run from March/April – September
Season dates for Summer 7s
Registrations open in August
Training starts September
Games run on Friday nights
Competitions run from October – November
RUGBY LEAGUE
NSW Rugby League offers competitions and formats to suit all ages and all levels of skill. Club Hub has been set up to provide everything you need to know about Community Rugby League. Ensuring kids are active in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.
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- Club Rugby League is from 5 years – 17 years
- Mixed competitions: U5-U12s
- Female only: U13, U15, U17
- Male only: U13-U17
- League Stars: School-aged kids (Before & after school)
- Seniors League: 18 years+
- Junior Touch Football: 6 years+
Find a Rugby League Club here: My sideline club finder
Find a Touch Football competition here: Touch Football Clubs
- Club Rugby League is from 5 years – 17 years
- Mixed competitions: U5-U12s
- Female only: U13, U15, U17
- Male only: U13-U17
- League Stars: School-aged kids (Before & after school)
- Seniors League: 18 years+
- Junior Touch Football: 6 years+
Find a Rugby League Club here: My sideline club finder
Find a Touch Football competition here: Touch Football Clubs
Season dates for weekend rugby league
Registrations open in December through until June
Training starts in February/March depending on age groups
Competitions run from April – August
Season dates for touch football
Registrations open in August
Games run during the week
Competitions run from October – December
League Stars Program
If you’re looking for an introductory program, then League Stars is it. It’s all play, no contact, appealing to the true nature of kids, in all their messy, high-energy, love of fun and play. Run before or after school for primary school-aged children over 4-8 weeks, it’s the perfect introduction to rugby league. It’s suitable for all abilities too!
Learn more here: LEAGUE STARS
OZTAG
Oztag is a non-tackling version of rugby league. It’s the latest craze in recreational sports that has competitions running in Lake Mac.
Players wear special shorts with a Velcro patch on the sides. A strip of cloth is attached to the Velcro, this is called a ‘tag’. Just like league, the object of the game is to score tries. However, the difference is that defenders prevent this by removing the tag from the shorts.
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- Junior Summer Competition: 5 years to under 16 years
- Seniors Summer Competition: 15 years+
- Oztag is played at Speers Point, Morisset & Gateshead. Click here to find out more about registering a team or player: Oztag Lake Macquarie
- Junior Summer Competition: 5 years to under 16 years
- Seniors Summer Competition: 15 years+
- Oztag is played at Speers Point, Morisset & Gateshead. Click here to find out more about registering a team or player: Oztag Lake Macquarie
Registrations open in August
Games run during the week
Competitions run from October – to December
NETBALL
Netball NSW is the governing body for our local comps. Lake Macquarie has three local netball associations where players, teams, and clubs come together to have fun, make friends, and be active. Netball is a game you can play for life, and many people build life-long friendships through their involvement in netball. It’s Gotta Be Netball!
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- NetSetGo player: 5 years – 10 years (starter program)
- Junior player: 11 years -17 years
- Senior player: 18+ years
- Twilight Social Comp
- Pre-Season Twilight Comp
Netball is for everyone! Girls and boys, women and men, younger and older. Registration for netball will depend on the age of the player.
You can select your closest netball association below and they’ll help you choose a club/team that best suits your family:
- NetSetGo player: 5 years – 10 years (starter program)
- Junior player: 11 years -17 years
- Senior player: 18+ years
- Twilight Social Comp
- Pre-Season Twilight Comp
Netball is for everyone! Girls and boys, women and men, younger and older. Registration for netball will depend on the age of the player.
You can select your closest netball association below and they’ll help you choose a club/team that best suits your family:
Season dates for Saturday netball (winter)
Registrations open in January
Training starts in February/March (depending on the team/coach)
Competitions run from March – September (then 3 weeks of finals)
Season dates for twilight netball (spring)
Check with your local association if they are running a twilight comp.
Registrations open in August
Competitions run from October – November (8 weeks)
Season dates for pre-season twilight netball (summer)
Check with your local association if they are running a twilight comp.
Registrations open in January
Competitions run from February – March (6 weeks)
NetSetGo Program
NetSetGO is netball’s official starter program for kids aged five to ten. This program gives kids basic game skills and helps them gain confidence, get active and make friends in a safe and inclusive environment. There’s no skill level required to get started.
Learn more here: NetSetGo
Cricket
Cricket NSW is the state sporting organisation responsible for both supporting clubs and associations that deliver cricket across Lake Macquarie and the wider region, as well as providing various cricket programs within schools and across the community.
Newcastle Junior Cricket Association (Inc) is the local volunteer-led association facilitating junior cricket competitions through their 16 affiliated clubs (with 6 located within the Lake Macquarie LGA).
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- Woolworths Cricket Blast: 5 – 10 years
- Junior Club Cricket: 7 years – 17 years
- Daughters & Dads: 7 years – 12 years
- Summer Smash (Term 1): 7-10 years
To find a local club near you search here: Play Cricket Program Finder
You can also search here for a list of clubs from the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association
- Woolworths Cricket Blast: 5 – 10 years
- Junior Club Cricket: 7 years – 17 years
- Daughters & Dads: 7 years – 12 years
- Summer Smash (Term 1): 7-10 years
To find a local club near you search here: Play Cricket Program Finder
You can also search here for a list of clubs from the Newcastle Junior Cricket Association
Season dates for Junior Competition
Registrations open July – September
Training starts on various dates across the 6 Lake Macquarie Clubs, starting in September.
Competitions run from October to March, with a 6-week break across the summer school holidays.
Summer Smash
A small-sided competition run in Term 1 designed for children new to cricket or graduating from Cricket Blast. Participants wear full equipment (helmet, gloves, and pads) for the first time, and games are only 14 overs, 7 players per team with a small 14m pitch and 20m-30 boundary. It is not for participants already playing junior cricket. Lake Mac games start February – March.
Season dates for Woolworths Cricket Blast
Registrations July for Term 4.
Programs from October with most running until early December.
Season dates for Daughters & Dads Cricket
Registrations open August.
Program from October – to December.
To find out more go to – Daughters & Dads Cricket
Woolworths Cricket Blast
Experience the fun of backyard cricket in a more structured way. It’s a combination of cricket-based game-based activities. Kids (and parents) will gain the necessary skills and knowledge to progress through the program to junior cricket and beyond! No equipment is necessary, and all participants choose from one of three participant packs that include a Cricket Blast shirt in your child’s favourite W/BBL team colours.
Learn more about the program: Woolworths Cricket Blast
AFL
AFL Hunter Central Coast is the governing body for Lake Macquarie competitions. Australian Football is the game for everyone. So if you’re new to the game, want to volunteer, play socially, or become the next AFL star, you can find a version of footy that’s right for you!
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- AusKick: (5 years – 12 years)
- Junior Football: (8 years – 12 years)
- Youth Football: (13 years – 18 years)
- AFLX: All age options (tackle free-touch footy)
- Choose a club for our local competitions at Play AFL – Club Finder
- AusKick: (5 years – 12 years)
- Junior Football: (8 years – 12 years)
- Youth Football: (13 years – 18 years)
- AFLX: All age options (tackle free-touch footy)
- Choose a club for our local competitions at Play AFL – Club Finder
More details coming soon…
WATER POLO
Our local water polo competition is played throughout the Hunter Region from October to March, with teams ranging from U12s to u18s. We have 1 local club for Lake Mac called the Lake Macquarie Dolphins. Games are played at the following pools – Speers Point, Charlestown, and Swansea.
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SOFtBALL
Newcastle & District Softball Association is the governing body for softball across our region, including Lake Macquarie. The Junior comps play with modified softball rules to encourage equality among players. All Junior teams have mixed players.
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Benny ball starts from 4yrs
Tee-Ball starts from 6yrs
Junior Mixed Competitions:
- U10 T20
- U11 Zooka
- U13 Modball
- U15
- U18
Register your interest with the Newcastle District Softball Association. We have a Club in Belmont you can join.
Benny ball starts from 4yrs
Tee-Ball starts from 6yrs
Junior Mixed Competitions:
- U10 T20
- U11 Zooka
- U13 Modball
- U15
- U18
Register your interest with the Newcastle District Softball Association. We have a Club in Belmont you can join.
Season runs in the summer months each year from October until March, with a break over the Christmas and New Year period.
All softball competition games are held at the same time and place each week (Softball Complex, Stevenson Park, Mayfield West). Training, however, is at Belmont.
Basketball
Basketball NSW is dedicated to promoting the game, developing talent, and building a strong basketball culture across the state. Although Lake Macquarie doesn’t have its own competition, we do have a basketball club called The Lakers, who participate in the Newcastle competition.
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- Mini Hoops 3-5yrs
- Aussie Hoops 5-12yrs
- Under 8s
- Under 10s
- T1 League (Under 11 transition)
- Junior Club Comp
To register your child for basketball click here: Join Lakers
- Mini Hoops 3-5yrs
- Aussie Hoops 5-12yrs
- Under 8s
- Under 10s
- T1 League (Under 11 transition)
- Junior Club Comp
To register your child for basketball click here: Join Lakers
Season dates mini hoops to under 10s
All programs and comps are played during each school term at the Newcastle Basketball Stadium in Broadmeadow.
Season dates for T1
This is a transition program for those players who will be joining the winter competition. It’s only held in term 1 and only at Broadmeadow.
Season dates for junior competition
The junior comp is played over the winter months during term 2 & 3 each year. 1 game per week is played on either a Wednesday or Friday night at one of 3 locations. These include Newcastle Basketball Stadium in Broadmeadow, Hunter Sports High at Gateshead, or Macquarie College in Wallsend.
