The four-day session of the Ricki Herbert Football Academy has attracted 76 children and 60 families to Queenstown from all over the country.
Much of yesterday's training was taken by the national coach.
"It's great. They're having the time of their lives," said Herbert, who was impressed by the talent he saw.
Herbert tries to make it to as many academy sessions as he can and hopes it can give New Zealand children the chance to make the most of their footballing careers.
"There's plenty of opportunities offshore.
"It's just exciting for the kids, and parents enjoy seeing the opportunities for the children, too," he said of his academy, which started last year. Already, about 1200 young players have taken part.
Some of this year's participants had attended the first academy sessions held last January and April.
Counted among them was a team which was taken to the Mediterranean International Cup in Costa Brava, Spain.
"They were 14 years of age and went and played football at the highest level. They played against some potential international superstars," Herbert said.
"They acquitted themselves well," football academy director and general manager Chris Boon said.
"There's just an unbelievable skill level that they've gained through this. I think that it's great they can rub shoulders with Ricki as well as [head coach] Richard Johnson [a former English Premier League player]."
When Herbert eventually retired from coaching, the academy would become his focus, Boon said.
"He just loves it."
"I think what's also important is that there's so many parents who want to get behind their kids and get them to reach the highest level, and to find a programme that can take them right through is great."
Herbert indicated that expansion of the academy in Queenstown was a possibility due to the "first-class facilities" in the resort, but the focus for now was taking the academy to the rest of the country.
Another session is expected to be held in Queenstown in April and, in the meantime, 20 coaches from the academy will be travelling around New Zealand teaching youngsters and school coaches alike.
Herbert said youth football was in great condition thanks to the All Whites' heroic unbeaten efforts at the World Cup last year, which had given many of the children in the academy a clear goal.
"I think it's gone outside of football and into the general public, and people are a lot more aware of the national team and what it's about, so that's great for the kids. It makes a massive difference in that they've got World Cup heroes to look up to and we haven't had them in a long time."
