First Year Girls 7-a-Side Football Tournament

Welcome to the First Year Girls 7-a-Side Football Tournament 2026. A one-day football festival created specifically for First Year students.

This tournament gives First Year schools a competitive and enjoyable football experience. Every team has four group matches, with the top four in each group progressing to a trophy final.

The tournament is proudly hosted and managed through the Football Friendlies platform, allowing schools to access fixtures, results and live league tables in one place.

Tournament Information

Date: Tuesday, 13 October 2026

Venue: Seanchoill Sports Complex

Address: Corbally Road, Parteen, Co. Clare, V94 NX51

Category: First Year Girls

Tournament Capacity: 16 Teams

Format: 7-a-Side Football

Squad Size: Minimum 7 players / Maximum 10 players

Entry Fee: € 95 per team

Guaranteed Matches: Minimum of 4 matches per team

Schools may register more than one team, subject to tournament availability.

What's Included in the €95 Team Entry

Each registered team receives a complete tournament experience, including:

⚽ A minimum of 4 guaranteed matches for every team.

🏆 Four trophy pathways, with the top four teams in each group progressing to a trophy final.

🏆 A trophy for the winning team in each of the four tournament pathways.

🥇 Winner's medals for players on each trophy-winning team.

🥈 Runner-up medals for the teams reaching each final.

📅 Professionally organised fixtures and match scheduling.

📍 Allocated match times and pitch numbers so schools know where and when they are playing.

📊 Live league tables throughout the tournament.

⚡ Live results and tournament progression.

📱 Online tournament access, allowing teachers, students, staff and parents to follow their school's progress remotely.

🏅 A full tournament journey, from the group stage through to the Champions, Premier, Challenge or Development Trophy pathway.

The aim is to provide considerably more than a series of matches. Each school receives a structured, competitive and digitally supported tournament experience from registration through to the final presentations.

Tournament Schedule

Tuesday, 13 October 2026. All times are Irish local time. The later start allows schools additional travel time.

Arrival and registration: 10:00–10:20am

Teachers’ briefing: 10:20am; teams then warm up and prepare.

Boys’ group rounds: 10:45am, 11:25am and 12:05pm, pitches 1–4.

Girls’ group rounds: 11:05am, 11:25am, 11:45am, 12:05pm and 12:25pm, pitches 5–8. Each team has one round without a match.

Group matches last 15 minutes. Some boys’ and girls’ rounds run simultaneously. Teams should check their individual fixtures for their playing and rest rounds.

Shared lunch break: 12:40–1:00pm. No matches during this break. Lunch is not provided; players must bring their own lunch and water.

1:00–1:20pm: Boys’ Development final, pitch 1; Girls’ Development final, pitch 2.

1:25–1:45pm: Boys’ Premier final, pitch 1; Boys’ Challenge final, pitch 2.

1:50–2:10pm: Girls’ Premier final, pitch 1; Girls’ Challenge final, pitch 2.

2:15–2:35pm: Boys’ Champions Trophy final, pitch 1.

2:40–3:00pm: Girls’ Champions Trophy final, pitch 1.

All finals last 20 minutes. Five minutes between final slots allows changeover and prompt penalty shoot-outs if required. Any delays will be communicated by the organisers.

3:00–3:10pm: Allowance for delays and gathering for presentations.

3:10–3:30pm: Trophy and medal presentations; close by 3:30pm.

Teachers must supervise their pupils throughout, including breaks and while watching other matches, as this is a public venue.

Competition Format

Ten girls’ teams play in two groups of five. Each team plays the other four teams in its group once: four group matches and one resting round. A bye/resting round is not an additional match.

The final group standings determine qualification. First place in each group goes to the Champions Trophy final; second place to the Premier Trophy final; third place to the Challenge Trophy final; fourth place to the Development Trophy final.

The two fifth-placed teams finish their playing programme after their four group matches. There are no girls’ semi-finals. Every girls’ team plays at least four matches; the eight finalists play five.

There are three points for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. Teams level on points are separated using the tournament tie-break rules, which will be confirmed before play.

Each trophy winner receives gold winners’ medals and a trophy. Each runner-up receives silver runners-up medals. Trophies are to be returned; a school wishing to keep its trophy can pay the trophy fee and have it engraved.

Playing Rules

Matches are 7-a-side, including the goalkeeper, with up to three substitutes (7–10 players per squad). Group games last 15 minutes and finals last 20 minutes.

Roll-on, roll-off substitutions are allowed during play: the outgoing player must leave before the replacement enters. Goalkeepers must distribute the ball from their hands by rolling it; no overarm throws, punts or drop-kicks.

Yellow and red cards apply. Referees’ decisions are final. Drawn finals go straight to penalties, without extra time.

Players should bring suitable footwear, shin guards, water, their own lunch and clothing for the weather. Teachers remain responsible for supervising their players throughout the day.

Fixtures, Results & Live League Tables:

All tournament administration will be managed digitally through Football Friendlies. Approximately one week before the tournament, registered schools will receive access to:

Group allocations.

Full fixture schedule.

Match kick-off times.

Pitch allocations.

Tournament progression.

Knockout pathways.

During the tournament, results will be entered live by tournament organisers and league tables will update automatically after every match. This allows schools to follow their progress in real time throughout the day.

Follow Your School Live:

One of the unique features of this tournament is the live tournament experience. Teachers will be able to share the tournament page with colleagues, students and parents, allowing those who cannot attend to follow the competition online.

Supporters will be able to view:

Live fixtures.

Live results.

Live league tables.

Knockout progression.

Trophy finalists.

Final winners.

Follow your school at https://www.footballfriendlies.com/all-fixtures. Expand the tournament using its arrow, then select Standings, Fixtures or Teams. Share this link with teachers, students and parents who wish to follow from elsewhere.

Registration:

Entry Fee: €95 per team

Maximum Teams: 16

Category: First Year Girls

Format: 7-a-Side

Minimum of 4 guaranteed matches per team

Trophies and medals included

Schools may register multiple teams (subject to availability).

Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis through the Football Friendlies registration system. Once registration closes, fixtures will be generated automatically and published approximately one week before the tournament. We look forward to welcoming schools for an exciting day of football, where every team plays, every result matters, and every school can follow the action through to the presentations.