St. Pius X Parents’ Association
Heather Cup 27th May 2024 to 30th May 2024
Seven –A – Side Soccer Tournament (held at Terenure College)
The Heather Cup has been running for over 50 years, it is ran by a group of parents, with the support of the St. Pius X Parents Association. Team selection and management is led by the 6th class boys and girls – it is their opportunity to take ownership of picking teams and on the day choosing positions and timing of sub rotations. We ask that each team has two assigned ‘managers’ i.e. parents/guardians to assist the 6th class team captains.
The tournament is refereed by the Terenure College Transition Year boys.
Each pitch is supervised by at least one ‘pitch supervisor’ which is a parent from 5th class (if possible). There are also tournament organisers at each pitch each night to oversee the young captains and referees. Please contact Greg on 087 909 2555 if you can volunteer as a pitch supervisor.
While this is a fun inclusive tournament, and we are extremely greatly for Terenure College for hosting us each year, we are limited with space and time therefore team numbers. We have capacity for maximum 16 boy’s and 16 girl’s teams. Therefore, it may be the case that all boys and girls looking to be on a team may not this year, but anyone looking to be on a team will see the boys and girls from 6th class on yard with their entry forms and should let it be known to them that they would like to play. To secure their place they give their name,
parents/guardians mobile number, teachers name and a €5 entry fee, to their 6 th class team captain.
Team Rules
- 9 players maximum per squad – 7 playing at any one time.
- Maximum 2 players from 6th class.
- 5th class & 6th class combined a maximum of four players.
- Minimum of two 3rd class players.
- A team must have 5 players from 3rd class & 4th class combined.
- For verification purposes the organisers/pitch supervisor will take a roll call and team photo before the games begin.
- There is a limited number of teams in the competition, so forms are taken on a first come first served basis.
Heather Cup Rules
- The Heather Cup is a 7 a side football tournament and a separate competition is staged for boys and girls. Players must attend St Pius X School.
- Maximum of 9 players must be entered for each team (seven to play at any one time) and both substitutes must play in each match, otherwise the team may be disqualified from the competition. Late entry of players will not be allowed except in extreme circumstances and only at the discretion of the organisers.
- The maximum number of players from 6th class is two, and from 5th & 6th classes combined is four. At least five team members must come from 4th and 3rd classes combined, with a minimum of two from 3rd class. Under no circumstances will players from 1st or 2nd class be allowed to play.
- No team will be permitted to fulfil any of its fixtures with fewer than five registered players in attendance.
- A Supervising Parent/Adult must be nominated by each team to be in attendance each night of the tournament. The Heather Cup committee/St Pius X Parents Association accepts no responsibility for the supervision of teams.
- Any player sent off may be disqualified from any further games in the tournament.
- No re-arrangement of fixtures is permitted.
- No responsibility for injuries to players or spectators, or loss /damage to property will be accepted by Terenure College or St. Pius X Parents Association.
- Please note that there is a limit to the number of teams that can be accommodated in the competition and allocation is on a first come first served basis. Early application is strongly advised to avoid disappointment.
10. Playing Rules: Play soccer following the following simple rules
- 2 X 10 minute halves – 5 minutes for half tim
- No offside
Goal Keeper Rules:
- The ball cannot be kicked from the goal keepers hands
- The ball cannot be ‘drop kicked’ by the goal keeper
- The goal keeper cannot score directly from a kick out
- The goal keeper cannot pick up the ball from a backpass
Pitches are small and it is important that the ball is passed around and the whole team, in particular the younger classmates are passed the ball and participate fully in each match.
11. In the event of penalties (during the knockout match’s)
Please respect the players and the tournament organisers by staying off the pitch
5 Players are selected by each team if there is no clear winner after 5 penalties it continues by sudden death until all 7 players have taken their go in rotation. If both teams have 9 players, all 9 may take a penalty if they wish (there is no obligation on any of the players to take a penalty). But for example – If 1 team has 7 penalty takers and 1 team 8 or 9 then after the 7th player rotation commences again.
The same order does not need to be followed on the second rotation.
Each team chooses a goalkeeper at the outset of the penalty shootout. This does not need to be the player who has played in goal for the tournament. The goalkeeper, once chosen for the penalties should remain in goal for all penalties – however a change of keeper may be allowed at the discretion of the tournament organisers/referee.
- Team captains are selecting teams from May 02nd with a deadline of May 10th to submit their entry form and team entrance fee of €45. Entry form and Entrance Fee of €5 per player, (€45 per team) should be enclosed in an envelope marked “Heather Cup” and returned by the team captain to:- The Secretary, in your own school.
- Once the tournament organisers have set the fixtures, the team captains will let their team know their team colour, the game kick off time and what time to meet – it is important that all teams due to play arrive at least 15 minutes before kick-off times to ensure that there are no delays for each game.
Games will kick off on time. The kick off times are @ 6.30pm, 7pm, 7.30pm and 8pm
14. Should any team be unable to fulfil a fixture the result will be deemed a 3 nil defeat for that team
15. The fixtures will be available on www.fixturelist.com. The tables will be updated each evening. Links for each will be issued to the Managers by email once the fixtures have been created.
16. The decision of the tournament organisers is final.
Please remember this is a tournament ran by Volunteers, the referees are Transition Year boys, the players are all young children – this is not the World Cup
We hope that everyone enjoys this year’s competition and has a great Heather Cup experience.
Heather Cup Committee 2024
Contact at: heathercupinfo@gmail.com
St Pius X Parents Association 