It's all about the team, New Zealand's Junior Football Coach of the Year Sue Tilby believes.

The Papamoa Football Club stalwart has become the second Bay of Plenty winner in the three years of the competition's existence, following Katikati's Nic Millichip in 2016.

As a result of the win she and husband Phil will be flying out to the United Arab Emirates in December to experience the FIFA Club World Cup. There they will have the opportunity to watch European football royalty Real Madrid in action, along with New Zealand's Team Wellington and other FIFA confederation club champions at the event.

Following nominations from her Papamoa Ospreys under 12 girls' team she was declared the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation regional winner, and has now gone on to take out the national award.

'It's really overwhelming and a privilege to be acknowledged like this,” she says.

It's her team, however, who deserve the recognition, Sue believes.

'The winning is not important to me.

'If I see improvement in every game then I'm happy with that and all I ask from them is for 100 per cent effort and energy. If they can go out there and say they've given it 100 per cent and tried their best then there's nothing more they can do. You just want them to have confidence when they go out onto the field and believe in themselves.”

Sue, who is the club's Female Football Co-ordinator and will be running the Cavius Junior Girls' Tournament at Gordon Spratt Reserve on Sunday in addition to coaching the Ospreys, received glowing praise in her nominations for the award.

'Amazing planning and communication with the kids and parents, along with dedication to girls' soccer,” one of the nominations said. 'She runs the team and the skills centre for Papamoa. She is constantly wanting the best for girls' soccer and is well respected by her team.”

Three deserving volunteer coaches were selected as finalists in each of New Zealand's seven federations, and were recognised for their efforts with a coaching pack consisting of footballs, cones, bibs and a football bag.

Each of the seven regional winners were also given a T-shirt, shorts, socks, rain jacket, writer board/tactics board and trophy.

Nominations were encouraged for positive behaviour both on and off the pitch, including supporting players positively from the touch line, introducing new players to the game and helping out in the local community.

The McDonald's Junior Football Coach of the Year competition is a joint initiative from McDonald's NZ and New Zealand Football and will be back for its fourth year in 2019.