National camp sets attendance records with more than 300 taking part

A record number of players attended the 2024 national camps hosted by the RH3 Football Academy, with more than 300 boys and girls participating.

“The event has become so popular, we’ve had to split the camps into two this year,” academy founder Ricki Herbert says.

Both camps were staged at St Paul’s Collegiate, Hamilton, in January 2024.

The first camp for four days, catering for boys aged U-9 to U-12, and girls aged U-10 to U-16.

The second camp, also over four days, was for boys aged U-13 to U-16.

Twelve academy staff oversaw the programme which encouraged players to learn football skills on the pitch, and to benefit from social development on and off the grass.

“The experience of being among like-minded young people, all with a common passion, is really valuable for them,” Herbert says.

“Being away from home is part of the learning, and the camps give the players a chance to bond with old friends, and make new friends.”

The 2024 intake included significantly more players from the lower North Island with players from Wellington’s Miramar Rangers, Palmerston North and Havelock North attending.

“As usual, we have players travelling from all over the country but our partnerships with clubs in the lower North Island has certainly made a difference.”