JUNIOR ACADEMY LEAGUE PRE-SEASON 2026
After our biggest ever Junior Academy League competitions in 2026 , the journey continues into 2026 with the Junior Academy League Pre-Season – a high-level tournament designed exclusively for academies to start the year with silverware and strong performances.
Competition Dates
- Week 1 – Sunday 8 February
- Week 2 – Sunday 15 February
- Week 3 - Sunday 22 February
- Week 4 (Finals) - Sunday 1 March
Venue
Venues to be confirmed
Tournament Format
- Open exclusively to academy teams only
- At least two matches per day
- Games played as 2x13 minute halves
- High-tempo scheduling & fast-paced action
Age Groups
- Under 7 NEW 5v5 Format - Non-Competitive
- Under 8
- Under 9
- Under 10
- Under 10 Girls
- Under 11
- Under 12 Girls
- Under 13
To enhance the player experience and support development at all levels, we will continue with divisions to the competition.
- JAL1 (Kangaroos) – For high-performance and experienced academy teams
- JAL2 (Wallabies & Joeys) – For new, developing, or community-based academy teams
PLEASE NOTE - Age groups having JAL1 and JAL2 is subject to numbers and may not be possible in every age group
Entry Fees
- 5v5 (U7) - $290 (Max. 9 players)
- 7v7 (U8 + U9) – $840 (Max. 12 players)
- 9v9 (U10-U13) – $950 (Max. 14 players)
Why Enter the JAL Pre-Season?
- Start your academy year with elite-level football
- Strictly academy-only for a consistent, high-quality standard
- Centralised venue
- Professionally managed by the Sports Group Melbourne team
- Accredited referees, real-time results, and smooth scheduling
- Great team and parent atmosphere to celebrate the season
- Trophies & medals for winners
IMPORTANT - Fixture requests can be submitted through the registration form. Requests must be submitted by Wednesday January 28th prior to fixture release. Once fixtures are released, changes cannot be accommodated