Futsal is the five-a-side version of football and the world’s fastest growing indoor sport. It combines fun, creativity, speed, technique, teamwork and quick thinking. It is an all-encompassing game, with opportunities to get involved as a player, coach, or referee.

In Term 1 of 2022, HBHS had 12 junior teams participating in the Waikato Junior High School Futsal League. We also had 7 teams in the Waikato Senior High School League and our top two Premier teams competed in the Waikato Men’s League. All of our teams represented the school with pride and managed good results in their respective divisions.

Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, our yearly NZSS Futsal Championship competition was cancelled and our Junior Premier team was unable to defend their 2021 NZSS Champions title. Regardless, many of our students still achieved in Futsal. A number of our students were selected to represent Waikato at the Youth National Championship to be held in Wellington during the December holidays.

Under 15 Waikato Rapids:

Josh Barrymore-Uden, Kane Gordon, Noah Harrison Old, Usman Kamran, Jan Oback, Liam West, and Wyatt Wink.

Under 17 Waikato Rapids:

Isaac Bates, Thomas Cave, Connor Cloete, George Dixon, Corbin Fell, David Hungwe, and Rahim Nabizada.

Under 19 Waikato Rapids:

Conor Jamieson, Caeden Rogers, and Cooper Wink.

Under 19 Bay of Plenty Surge:

Keenan Howard.

The following students were selected for the Men’s Premier teams to represent the Waikato Rapids and Bay of Plenty Surge respectively. We congratulate them on their efforts and commitment to the game. They will feature in the New Zealand Ford Futsal SuperLeague. This competition was originally scheduled to start in February but was postponed because of COVID-19. It will now be played from 12 to 20 November in Auckland.

Waikato Rapids Men's team:

Connor Cloete, Conor Jamieson, Caeden Rogers, and Cooper Wink.

Bay of Plenty Surge Men's team:

Keenan Howard.

The Futsal Draft League is about creating a competitive competition for Senior Futsal players in the NRF and WaiBOP regions. The following HBHS students were selected to compete in the Futsal Draft League during September and October: Connor Cloete, George Dixon, Corbin Fell, Keenan Howard, Conor Jamieson, and Cooper Wink.

We also have to congratulate Old Boys Patrick Steele, Casey Sharplin and Logan Wisnewski who were selected for the Futsal Whites, on winning the OFC Championships in Fiji this year to secure Aotearoa New Zealand’s first ever Oceania Futsal title.

Even though COVID-19 had disrupted the start of the year, enthusiasm for the code in the school remains high, with 151 students from 17 teams getting back on the court in Term 4.

A special thanks to our dedicated premier coaches, Max Erickson and Patrick Steele, for their continued commitment to HBHS Futsal. These fine young men foster a love for the game and put in a huge amount of effort to ensure that our Junior and Senior Premier sides compete at the highest level.

I also thank all teachers, parent and student helpers, and managers for ensuring that Futsal remains a successful and smooth running sport.

We look forward to the 2023 New Zealand Secondary Schools tournament where our Premier teams will represent HBHS with pride.