This weekend Tauranga City United AFC is launching its new Infinity Football Academy, which is designed to offer development pathways for young local football players.

As part of the launch at Mount Maunganui's Links Ave Reserve, the club is running an introduction session for U12 players today, plus trials for Infinity's Under-14 and Under-16 training squads today and Sunday.

Club president Paul Bates says at the heart of Infinity, the academy aims to provide players with a programme that will inspire them to develop into the best player they can be, and to provide a clear pathway from junior and youth football to senior football and beyond.

'When I became president the academy was at the top of my wish list, so I'm extremely excited for this weekend and for the whole project; it's something that'll be completely different for football in the area.

'We want players to fall in love with the game, have fun, and build habits for infinite development –such as hard work, commitment, pursuit of excellence and enjoyment.”

Starting in April, Infinity will offer a full year programme that will include up to three training sessions per week and a weekend game, seminars and extra learning opportunities, plus additional academy fixtures and events against other leading clubs and academies throughout New Zealand.

'Each training will be coached to the Infinity development philosophy and playing system. The system will be consistent across all age groups at the academy, and extends to both senior first and reserve teams at Tauranga City United.”

In each age group there'll be two squads – a Blue squad, which will trainings three times per week, and a White Squad, which trains once per week with players given the opportunity at the end of each term to seek promotion to the blue squad.

This weekend's selection days will be an opportunity for the coaching team to introduce both themselves, Infinity and the 2017 programme – and for players to demonstrate their footballing ability and growth mindset.

The selectors will be looking for three key qualities from players, says Paul.

'Game proficiency like movement, athleticism, first touch, passing/dribbling/shooting technique and game understanding; work-rate and a strong desire to win; and humility in terms of being helpful, listening and respect for coaches and teammates.”

To coincide with the launch the club is also hosting a quadrilateral tournament involving Tauranga City United Senior 1st team and Northern Region Football League teams Melville, Forest Hill Milford and East Coast Bays.

On Saturday, TCU versus Melville and FHM versus ECB at 12.30pm, followed by TCU vs FHM, and Melville versus ECB at 5.30pm. On Sunday, TCU take on ECB and Melville go head-to-head against FHM at 11am.

'The games will be played after the academy trials and we would like to encourage people to get along and watch,” says Paul.

Trials for the Infinity Football Academy are Saturday and Sunday, March 11-12, at Links Avenue Reserve, Mount Maunganui, at the following times – Under-16s: 9am-10am and Under-14s: 10am-11am.

The introduction session for U12s is troday from 11am-12pm.

For more information, visit: infinityfootball.co.nz