1. General Information

a) The competition will feature four groups, each containing four teams.

b) The tournament format will follow a round-robin structure within each group, with all teams advancing to a finals series.

c) The top two teams from each group will progress to the Cup Quarter Finals, while the bottom two teams from each group will enter the Plate Quarter Finals.

d) The winners of each Quarter Final will progress to the respective Semi Finals, with the Semi Final winners progressing to the Grand Final.

e) Group rankings will be based on the total number of points accumulated during the round-robin matches.

f) If teams are level on points at the conclusion of the group stage, the following tiebreakers will be applied in order:

I. Superior goal difference across all group matches
II. Head-to-head result between the tied teams
III. Greater number of goals scored during group matches
IV. Fewer goals conceded across group matches

g) Every team is guaranteed a minimum of four (4) matches over the two-day tournament.

h) These rules apply to both the Boys and Girls Macron Cup competitions unless otherwise specified and fall under the authority of the Tournament Manager.

i) In the event of severe weather or any unexpected disruption to the schedule, the Tournament Manager will determine the appropriate course of action, which may include alterations to match duration, kick-off times, or drink breaks.

j) Any issue not specifically addressed within these regulations will be resolved at the sole discretion of the Tournament Manager, whose decision is final.

2. Player Eligibility & Registration Requirements

a) All players must be registered with the club they are representing for the 2027 season.

b) Each team may list up to a maximum of 14 players for JDL age groups and 18 players for Youth age groups.

c) Players may ONLY participate in the age group in which they are officially registered with Macron Cup administration at the start of the tournament.

d) Players can only play for one age group in the tournament, regardless of whether they are age eligible to play up or down.

e) For Boys JDL age groups, each club must submit two separate teams, identified as the Blue Team and White Team. The Blue and White Teams will be treated as separate squads and separate competition entries throughout the tournament.

f) Boys JDL players must be primarily allocated to either the Blue Team or White Team prior to the commencement of the tournament.

g) From the club's combined Boys JDL squad within each age group, a maximum of five (5) players may be nominated as Shared Players. These players will be eligible to participate for both the Blue and White Teams within that age group.

h) Shared Players may participate for both the Blue and White Teams on the same day, including in consecutive or back-to-back matches where required.

i) All Boys JDL players who are not nominated as Shared Players may ONLY participate for the Blue or White Team to which they were originally allocated.

j) The five (5) Shared Players must be nominated prior to the commencement of the tournament and cannot be changed once the tournament has commenced, except where otherwise approved by the Tournament Manager in exceptional circumstances.

k) While the selection and use of Shared Players remains at the club's discretion, the Macron Cup promotes the principles of fair play and sporting integrity. In the spirit of the competition, Shared Players should not be used for the purpose of deliberately strengthening either the Blue or White Team to gain a competitive advantage.

l) Official team lists must be submitted to the Competition Organiser one week prior to the commencement of the tournament.

3. PLAY FOOTBALL TEAM IDs

a) A printed copy of your team's Play Football player list must be available and on hand at all times throughout the tournament.

b) For Boys JDL age groups, all players listed across the Blue Team, White Team and Shared Player lists must be appropriately registered with the club they are representing.

4. TEAM SHEETS

a) All teams are required to fill in and provide their team lists on the official MACRON CUP team sheet template seven (7) days prior to the commencement of the competition.

b) The submitted MACRON CUP team sheet will serve as the official roster for the entire event and does not need to be resubmitted.

c) For Boys JDL age groups, separate team sheets must be submitted for the Blue Team and White Team. Each team sheet will include five (5) designated positions for the nominated Shared Players.

d) The same five (5) Shared Players must be identified on both the Blue and White Team Sheets.

e) Each player must retain the same shirt number throughout the tournament, matching the number listed on the team sheet.

f) For Boys JDL age groups, each player must have a unique shirt number across the combined Blue and White squads. Shared Players must retain the same shirt number regardless of whether they are representing the Blue or White Team.

g) Any alteration to a player's shirt number must be reported to the Venue Manager before the match.

Tournament Rules 2027 Macron Cup

6a. UNDER 10–13s GIRLS + 9–12s BOYS

For the Under 10–13 Girls and Under 9–12 Boys age groups, the standard FNSW JDL rules will apply unless otherwise specified within these Macron Cup regulations.

6b. UNDER 14–18s GIRLS + BOYS YOUTH 13–18s

For the Under 14–18 Girls and Boys Youth 13–18 age groups, the standard FNSW and FIFA Laws of the Game will apply unless otherwise specified within these Macron Cup regulations.

b) The referee will be responsible for keeping and managing all official match time.

c) The half-time interval will be five (5) minutes, measured from whistle to whistle.

d) No additional time will be added for stoppages or injuries in any fixture.

e) Finals Format

I. In the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Grand Finals, if scores remain level at the end of regular time, the match will proceed to extra time under a "Golden Goal" format, consisting of ONE period of five (5) minutes.

II. If neither team scores during extra time, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout where each team will have three (3) shooters only, followed by Sudden Death if required.

8. Playing Strip

ALL TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING BOTH THEIR HOME AND AWAY KIT

a) All teams are to wear their designated Home Kit

If the Referee determines that the team colours clash, the away team will be required to change into an alternate strip.

b) All players must wear numbered jerseys, with each number used only once per team.

c) For Boys JDL age groups, shirt numbers must be unique across the combined Blue and White squads. Shared Players must retain the same shirt number when representing either team.

d) The home team will be the first team listed in the official draw.

9. Disciplinary Regulations

a) A player who accumulates three (3) yellow cards during the tournament will be suspended for their team’s next scheduled match. Yellow cards DO NOT reset for the finals.

b) A player shown a red card will be removed from the match immediately and will serve an automatic suspension for their team’s next scheduled match.

c) For Boys JDL Shared Players, all yellow cards, red cards and suspensions are attached to the player and carry across both the Blue and White competitions.

d) For Boys JDL Shared Players, where a player receives a suspension, they will be ineligible to participate in any remaining Blue or White fixture in the current round, as well as all Blue and White fixtures in the following round. For example, if a player is sent off in a Blue Team Round 1 match, they cannot participate in any remaining Round 1 fixture and will be suspended from both the Blue and White Team fixtures in Round 2.

e) Once a player has served their applicable suspension, they will be eligible to participate in their next scheduled match, unless further sanctions have been imposed by the Tournament Manager.

f) The Tournament Manager will review the referee's report and may impose further sanctions if deemed appropriate. One-match suspensions cannot be appealed.

10. Conduct on the Bench and Technical Area

a) Team staff are responsible for ensuring that all individuals within the bench and technical area behave in an appropriate and professional manner.

b) Only registered Coaches, Technical Directors, Managers, and Physiotherapists may occupy the technical area.

c) Coaching instructions and positive encouragement are permitted, but comments directed at referees, opposing players, or officials are strictly prohibited.

d) Abusive, offensive, or derogatory language or behaviour will not be tolerated. Match Officials or the Tournament Manager may remove offenders from the area.

e) Any team official removed from a match will receive an automatic one-match suspension.

f) Only named substitutes and registered team officials (up to four team officials) are allowed inside the technical area.

11. Protests

a) Any protest must be submitted through the team's club and received by the Tournament Manager no later than 45 minutes after the conclusion of the match in question.

b) Protests will only be considered when they relate to a clear breach of the Laws of the Game or these Tournament Regulations that had a direct and significant impact on the match outcome.

c) Decisions involving disciplinary actions by Match Officials or factual judgments made during play are not eligible for protest.

12. Results

a) The Venue Official is responsible for collecting the official match sheet following the completion of each game.

b) The Venue Official must take a photo and send the match sheet to the Competition Organiser.

13. Replacements and Interchange of Players

a) Unlimited interchange is permitted.

b) Each team is permitted to make unlimited interchanges at ONE interval per half.

c) Each team CAN also make interchanges at the time that the opponent uses their interchange, allowing a maximum of two (2) interchange opportunities per half, plus half-time.

d) No interchanges can be made in the last five (5) minutes, regardless of whether teams have remaining interchanges.

e) Should a goalkeeper be injured, a replacement Goalkeeper/Player can substitute the injured Goalkeeper regardless of whether the team has already used their two interchange opportunities.

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Macron Cup Golden Boot Award

The Macron Cup Golden Boot recognises the leading goal scorer in each age group throughout the tournament.

One Golden Boot will be awarded per age group, celebrating individual attacking excellence across all levels of competition.

All goals scored during the tournament count towards the Golden Boot, including: Group stage matches, Cup Finals, Plate Finals.

Goals will be recorded and verified across all matches, with the player who scores the highest number of goals in their age group being awarded the Golden Boot at the conclusion of the tournament.

In the event of a tie, the Golden Boot winner will be determined in accordance with tournament regulations.

The Macron Cup Golden Boot is designed to reward consistency, performance, and impact across the entire tournament.