Wanderers Cup Information

2024 Wanderer's Cup

Upcoming Event: Sunday 28th April 2024

The Wanderer's Cup is the biggest pre-season tournament in Canberra and the best way to fine-tune your team before the season starts.

Scheduled to run as a single-day annual event in two divisions (Cup and Shield), the tournament is open to boys and girls U10 - U13 (U14 Girls) of all skill levels and abilities. Make sure to register early to guarantee your team a spot in your division of preference.

Over the last seven years, West Canberra Wanderers have grown the Wanderers Cup to be the largest and most successful tournament in the South of Canberra for U10 - U14-year-olds, with over 100 teams participating in our last event!

Field Allocations

Melrose - Marr St, Pearce

Waramanga - Badimara St, Waramanga

Teams are to report to the Operations Manager of their venue on arrival. Arrival needs to be an hour before their first match. The concluding ceremony will begin immediately after the conclusion of finals (subject to change).

Game Format

Boys U10s-U13s, Girls U10s-U14s

9v9 on an adapted-sized pitch for the age group. 20-minute halves with a short half-time break.

Maximum 14 players in a team, to be captured on the match card.

Competition Rules

The tournament is played under the current official laws of the game as approved by FIFA and adopted and circulated by FFA.
The halves will be 20 minutes long with a half-time break.
Each player should wear the same shirt number in every match.
Match cards are available from the Registration Desk near the canteen. Referees will complete cards at the end of the match. These are to be signed by both sides' match officials.
The referees will return the Match cards to the Registration Desk at the end of each game.
Teams must assemble at the correct field five minutes before the scheduled start time of their match.
Cards and in-game decisions will match the Referee's final decision.
Any player who receives a red card will be ineligible to play the next scheduled game.
Players who receive three yellow cards (across multiple games) will be ineligible to play the next scheduled game.
The offside rule is inapplicable for U12s and below. However, offside should be discouraged by Coaches and Referees. Referees will deem goal square loitering unacceptable and could disallow goals for blatant offside (especially when the goal scorer was not involved in the build-up).
The offside rule applies for U13s and U14s.
The size of the Pitch is determined as per Capital Football recommendations for each age group. All pitch sizes are approximate.
Unlimited interchange when the ball is out of play, and the Referee is notified. Note: The Referee has complete discretion to control interchange.
Match Points – win 3, draw 1, loss/forfeit 0.
Teams must be ready to play within 10 minutes of the nominated kick-off time to forfeit the match (3-0 win to the opposition).
Points. Teams are ranked in order of the match points awarded.
Goal difference. If two or more teams are equal on points at the end of pool games, the pool winner shall be determined by calculating goal differences (i.e. subtracting the number of goals conceded from the total of goals scored). The team with the highest resulting figure shall be deemed the best goal difference and declared the pool winner.
Highest number of goals. If two or more teams are equal in goal differences, the team that scores the highest number of goals shall be declared the pool winner.
Head-to-Head. The head-to-head result will be the fourth tiebreaker. If three or more teams are tied for first, the head-to-head results will still be used to determine a winner.
Coin Toss. The provisions of (1), then (2), then (3) then (4) shall apply to rank pool winners. Should this prove insufficient to choose a winner, tossing a coin would be followed.

Play Off Matches

In the event of a draw during the play-off games, extra time of five minutes each way shall be played. After a period of extra time, if the game is a draw, penalty shootouts shall take place, using the players on the field at this time.

Other Incidents and Circumstances Beyond These Rules

Tournament Officials will have the final say and decision on such matters. Please remember that this is a community-led tournament, not the World Cup. At times, pragmatic decisions must be made for the most appropriate outcome on the day.

Code Of Conduct

The tournament will use and enforce the following Player Code of Behaviour and Parent/Guardian Code of Behaviour from the CF Academy Code of Behaviour.

Tournament Officials will have the final decision on any situation.

Players

Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow players, coaches, officials and spectators.

Refrain from conduct that could be regarded as harassment towards fellow players and coaches.

Respect the talent, potential and development of fellow players and competitors.

Care for and respect the equipment provided to you as part of the day.

Conduct yourself in a professional manner relating to language, temper and punctuality.

Always maintain high personal behaviour standards.

Abide by the rules and respect officials' decisions, making all appeals through the formal process.

Parents

Your child participates in sports for their enjoyment, not yours.

Focus on your child's efforts and performance rather than winning or losing.

Never ridicule or yell at your child and other children for making mistakes or losing a competition.

Show appreciation for all players' good performance and skilful plays (including opposition).

Respect officials' decisions and teach children to do likewise. Like your child, Canberra Referees are also developing; mistakes can be made.

Neither physically nor verbally abuse anyone associated with the sport (player, coach, Referee, etc).

Please respect every person's rights, dignity and worth regardless of age, gender, ability, cultural background, or religion.

Coach

Coach and team officials are expected to abide by all encompassed in the above Codes of Behaviour and encourage good sportsmanship by demonstrating positive support for all players, coaches, contest administrators and officials at every game.

Draws

Available on Sunday, 14th April 2024, and will be emailed to registered teams. The first game starts no earlier than 0800. The last game will finish around 1500 (less finals).

The finals will follow the last pool matches. The final draw will be available on the competition day from the operations location at your venue (typically the canteen).

Minimum three games per team.

Finals

Winners and runners-up are awarded medals/trophies.

For competitions with pools, the top team in each pool will play off in the grand final.

All other teams in each division may play off for minor placings.

Registration

Please register your interest via tournaments@westcanberrawanderers.org.au

Payment in full by Friday 12th April 2024. Please ensure that your payment description includes your team name and age group, e.g. WanderersU12

Fees $400 per team

The team entry fees include insurance cover for players registered for the 2024 Capital Football winter competition.

Interstate teams' insurance cover is provided by their local registration organisation so long as they are registered for that year's winter competition and have obtained clearance (sanction) from the appropriate governing body. The relevant Football/Soccer Club, Association, Branch or State Federation is this governing body.

Mandatory insurance cover for other junior players is $12 per player and will be paid by individual players through Play Football.

Club Discount

Register eight or more teams together to receive a 10% discount. For teams who register more than eight teams, a link will be sent via email to confirm your discount entry and direct payments to be made via Dribl.