FAQs

This information applies to anyone participating in the Junior Champions League.

WHO CAN ENTER THE JCL?

The JCL is open for clubs, academies, schools and teams to participate in the. It is exclusively for Kangaroo level teams only.

JCL FORMAT FOR 2025

Unlike last year's, there will be no qualifiers this year. Instead teams will be in groups of 8 per region mirroring the new format seen in Europe.

WHERE WILL THE GAMES BE PLAYED?

The games will be played at different venues in each respective zone. Keep an eye on the fixtures to find out more detail

HOW OFTEN ARE THE GAMES?

Matches will played once a month in each respective zone. The games will be played midweek, either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday depending on the host club's availability.

WHAT IS REQUIRED BY TEAM MANAGER OR REP TO DO BEFORE THE EVENT?

✓ Register the team online and provide all details required
✓ Accept the terms & conditions
✓ Ensure you have sent the player registration link to your player's parent/guardians and that they have completed it.
✓ Collect 100-point ID check for all your players and bring digital or physical copies to the tournament (refer to Proof of Age Policy). This will be required to be shown by request only.
✓ Download the official tournament app for IOS and Android "Junior Champions League"
✓ Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram to stay updated

WHAT IS THE PROOF OF AGE POLICY?

Each coach/team manager will be required to collect 100 points of ID for every one of their participating players and have copies of these documents at the tournament. If you are asked to provide proof of a player’s age you must do so with appropriate documentation that can be in the form of any of the following:

Passport (100 points)
Driving licence or Learner’s Permit (100 points)
Birth certificate (50 points) plus any of the following:
> Student card with photo ID issued by the school (50 points)
> A recent school photograph with the name clearly shown (50 points)
> Current library card with a photo (50 points)

Team Managers are entitled to submit ID checks for individual players on opposition teams. Any requests must be done with Event Staff and not directly with the opposition team. Please try to notify event staff before kick-off where possible.

The procedure for ID Checks that must be followed is:

1. The Team Manager is to approach the nearest event staff member and notify them that you would like to formally request an ID Check on a particular player(s).

2. An official ID Check form will need to be completed. A $50 admin fee will be charged

3. Once the payment has been made, the Team Manager shows the receipt to the staff member. Event staff will conduct the ID check with the team in question.

4. If the player in question provides all necessary documentation, and is found to be of the correct age, the $50 will not be refunded and proceeds will be donated to charity.

5. Should the player in question not provide the necessary documentation, or is found to be overage, the $50 will be refunded and that player will either not be allowed to play if the game has not started, or your team will be provided with the points if it is deemed as a forfeit.

Digital or printed copies of the required documents will be accepted provided they are in colour, clear and legible. Please ensure a team official has this available at each match if requested by tournament staff.

Any teams that are found to be providing incorrect documentation or purposely playing older players to gain an unfair advantage will receive a 0-3 loss for any games the older players participated in. The ineligible players will also be disqualified from the tournament and offending teams may be disqualified from the tournament and other affiliated events. These actions may also jeopardise the participation of other teams from the same club at future affiliated events at the discretion of Tournament Management.

ARE TEAMS ALLOWED TO REGISTER OVERAGE PLAYERS?

Generally, overage players are not permitted in the JCL, however, players who provide written authorisation from their local federation may be offered dispensation to play in a younger age group. Should the local federation not be able to provide written confirmation, a letter from the club president can be considered.

Repeated offending teams will be disqualified and affect the participation of their other club’s teams at future events at the discretion of tournament management.

All requests must be completed online via the Cup Manager Portal when registering the player and any supportive documentation must be submitted by email to info@sportsgroup.melbourne

Girls are allowed to play in boys’ age groups one year younger than the age cut-off without dispensation. The application will still need to be completed online however will be approved.

Any age dispensation requests need to be submitted at least 10 days before the tournament once all players in the team are registered. Overage players cannot play until they have been officially approved in the Cup Manager portal. Tournament Management reserves the right to apply any conditions it deems reasonable.

Team managers and coaches must ensure all players are registered and are the correct age for their age group and have the necessary documentation in case they are required to provide it to prove a player’s age.

Girls teams are eligible to play in a younger boys’ age group at the discretion of Tournament Management. For example, an U14 girls team can play in an U13 boys’ age group, where a suitable girls competition is not available. If the next available age group in the boys’ competition is not offered, the team may be placed in an alternative category in order to provide the most appropriate level of competition to the teams involved.

DOES THE TOURNAMENT HAVE THE NECESSARY INSURANCE FOR PLAYERS IF INJURED?

The tournament does not offer player accident insurance cover to any participant.

Players, parents and coaches choose to participant in the tournament at their own risk and will be liable for the costs that arise from suffering an injury whilst participating in the event. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure participants are adequately insured including ambulance coverage.

We do however have Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.

WILL MY TEAM GET A REFUND IF WE NEED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COMPETITION?

Before the event

As a general rule, we don’t provide refunds for teams who withdraw from the competition unless a replacement team is confirmed. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact us as soon as possible so we can try to work out a solution. Please note an admin fee may apply.

During or after the event

Refunds will not be provided for matters concerning referee's decisions or any other similar matters. Refunds will not be provided to teams that are expelled from the competition due to a breach of the code of conduct.

During or after the event

Refunds will not be provided.

If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact us as soon as possible so we can try to work out a solution.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE TOURNAMENT IS POSTPONED OR CANCELLED. WILL OUR TEAM GET A REFUND?

Under these circumstances, the tournament organisers reserve the right to either retain the registration fee for the revised dates or to refund the registration fee after deducting an administration fee for costs already incurred for the organisation of the tournament which could not be recovered from third parties.

Should this occur teams will be contacted directly and provided with options.

***The tournament organisers are in no way responsible for injury or economic loss which may arise in the case of acts of terror, war, warlike events, civil war, revolution, pandemic, disease outbreaks or civil disturbances or because of the actions of the authorities, strikes, lockouts, blockades or similar events.**

CANCELLATION OF THE TOURNAMENT DUE TO FORCE MAJEURE*

In the event that the tournament can’t be held or is postponed due to events beyond the control of the tournament organisers (force majeure*) or due to events that are not attributable to wrongful intent or gross negligence or the tournament organisers, the tournament organisers cannot be held liable by the delegations for any damages, costs or losses incurred, such as transportation costs, accommodation costs, costs for additional orders, financial losses etc. Under these circumstances, the tournament organisers reserve the right to either retain the entire registration fee for the revised dates or to reimburse the delegations after deducting costs already incurred for the organisation of the tournament and which could not be recovered from third parties.

**The tournament organisers are in no way responsible for injury or economic loss which may arise in the case of acts of terror, war, warlike events, civil war, revolution, pandemic, disease outbreaks or civil disturbances or because of the actions of the authorities, strikes, lockouts, blockades or similar events.**