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 elite football.

Competition Dates

• Week 1  – Sunday 8 February
• Week 2  – Sunday 15 February
• Week 3 - Sunday 22 February 
• Week 4 (Finals) - Sunday 1 March

Venues

• Week 1 - City Vista Recreation Reserve + Springside West Secondary College
• Week 2 - Waratah Reserve (Doveton)
• Week 3 - City Vista Recreation Reserve + Springside West Secondary College
• Week 4 (Finals) - Waratah Reserve (Doveton)

Tournament Format

• Open exclusively to Academy teams
• 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 11
• Under 12
• Under 13
• Under 10 Girls
• Under 12 Girls

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) -  (Max. 9 players)
• 7v7 (U8 + U9) – (Max. 12 players)
• 9v9 (U10-U13)  – (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
• Professionaly 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