OVERVIEW
For all competitions (both boys and girls)
Parents, guardians & visitors
Guidelines
To all parents, guardians and visitors to Paddy’s Hill. Thank you in advance for attending the PAFC Mini Leagues 2026.
The tournament is a fun, end of season, festival of football. The intention is to encourage and showcase the skills of our young players in a safe and structured environment.
In order for the children to fully enjoy the experience, we ask you to adhere to the following :
- Promote and model good sportsmanship at all times.
- Provide encouragement and positive reinforcement to all players during and after games.
- Maintain respectful communication with players, coaches, referees, and club officials.
- Serve as a role model for our young players, in your behaviour and support for our club over the entire weekend.
- Portmarnock AFC promotes a Smoke and Vape free environment. Please protect our children and members and refrain from smoking / vaping on our grounds.
- Please ensure that you use the bins on site and keep our grounds tidy.
By following the guidelines outlined above, you will help Portmarnock AFC to continue to stand out as an inclusive, child centred sports club that the community can be proud of.
Teams
To see which team your child is in, refer to the competitions.
Competitions are divided by age group
- 2015-2016 boys
- 2017-2018 boys
- 2015-2016 girls
- 2017-2018 girls
Check through the name lists to find your child's team
Fixtures
When you know the team and competition your child is in, you can find all their fixtures in the section Fixtures in that competition.
Fixtures contains information about
- Pitches
- Times
- Mini Leagues format
- Live updates (match results)
Note: Match results are updated live throughout the 3 days of the Mini Leagues (Friday, Saturday & Sunday). We will update the App at the end of each round for the group stages and then at the end of each match from the semi finals onward.
Before going to Paddy's Hill, please make sure to check the Last minute info box in the OVERVIEW. This is where we will post any changes at short notice.
Meeting time
See match times for each competition in the Fixtures.
Children must arrive to the assigned pitch at least 10 minutes before the start of their match. For the first match of the day, please have your child at the designated meeting point at least 15 minutes before the start time.
To ensure that the Mini Leagues run as smoothly as possible, we will start all matches on time. Should your child be running late, please contact your Lead Coach directly.
Meeting point
On arrival to Paddy's Hill, please meet at the designated meeting points for each team. The details can be found in the section Fixtures.
The assigned pitch for each match can be found in Fixtures.
Gear & equipment
The Mini Leagues are played on grass (not on Astro)
Football boots (mandatory)
Shinguards (mandatory)
Football socks (mandatory)
Training t-shirt or jersey
Football shorts (mandatory)
Goalkeeper gloves (optional)
Water bottle (can be refilled at the clubhouse). Please put name labels on bottles
Sun hat/cap for between matches
Please apply suncream as neededLast minute info
Any changes to the plan are posted here. Please make sure to check this section before leaving home.
Friday
No change
Saturday
No change
Sunday
No change
App usage
The OVERVIEW section has guidelines and practical information for parents/guardians/visitors. It also shows a layout of the facilities at Paddy's Hill, the Mini Leagues rules and a list of the main contacts. The sub section Last minute info is where we post any changes to the plan so please make sure to check before leaving home.
- Pitches
- Match times
- Mini Leagues format
- Live updates (Match results)
Go to the SERVICES section to find info about
- PITCHES
- CLUB SHOP
- LOST AND FOUND
- SOCIAL MEDIA
Paddy's Hill facilities
Below is the layout of the facilities at Paddy's Hill during the Mini Leagues.
Note: On Saturday the Nippers (2018-2019) will also have their Mini Leagues on grass.
We have a Medical kit on site. Should you need medical assistance, please contact :- Brian Aherne (087 985 3767)
- Conor Molan (086 816 6878)
Toilets are available in the clubhouse.
Portmarnock AFC promotes a smoke and vape free zone, please refrain from smoking on our grounds.
Bike racks are available beside the clubhouse.
Parking spaces are limited so we would encourage everyone to walk or cycle when possible. For safety reasons, please reverse to park your car.
Hot food is available beside the clubhouse on Saturday and Sunday.
Hot drinks are not available this year.
Ice cream van parked in the car park near the clubhouse. Please make sure children don't run into the car park from the queue/van.
We put plenty of bins around the club property and we would appreciate if you can use them. We all want to enjoy a clean environment. Your cooperation is much appreciated.
Dogs are not allowed on the club property.
Note that in the event of adverse weather conditions, there is no shelter available.Meeting points
The meetings points for players on Day 1 are shown below:
Mini Leagues rules
Match Rules
All matches are 5 a side, with roll on/off substitutions.
Format is 24-minute games with no half time.
Teams may switch ends after 12 minutes if the wind gives one team a competitive advantage.
Game start/end: All games start, half time, restart and finish are on the hooter. No exceptions.
2017/18 Boys & 2017/18 Girls
- Standard FAI rules apply for retreat lines and restarts, with some tweaks below.
- Retreat line comes into play when the goalkeeper has a goal kick and when the goalkeeper is playing out from their hands.
- Corner kicks allowed.
- No throw-ins, Only kick-ins.
- Players can dribble in for kick-ins but cannot score directly from a kick-in or dribble in and shoot. If a goal is scored from a deflection on a shot from a kick-in, it does not count. From the kick in there must be a pass before a goal is scored.
- No kick outs from the hands by goalkeepers allowed, but throw outs are permitted.
- Goalkeeper can only handle ball inside of the box.
- Restarts will be a tip-off from the centre circle after a goal occurs.
- If no referees, coaches to step in when required.
2015/16 Boys & 2015/16 Girls
- Referees for all games - Please respect these volunteers.
- The Box acts as a retreat line. The “Retreat Box” comes into play when the goalkeeper has a goal kick and when the goalkeeper is playing out from their hands. No opposition can touch the ball until the ball is outside the box. Box is a safe zone for the keeper. (i.e the keeper can put the ball down and pass it out of the box, without any opposition player encroaching into the box)
- Players can dribble in for kick-ins but cannot score directly from a kick-in or dribble in and shoot. If a goal is scored from a deflection on a shot from a throw in, it does not count. From the kick-in there must be a pass before a goal is scored.
- Goalkeeper can only handle ball inside of the box.
- Tip-offs after a goal to restart the game.
- Referees will award penalties or free kicks (7 yards) at their discretion. A penalty will only be awarded for a foul or handball in the area that denies a goalscoring opportunity. All other fouls or handballs will be indirect free kicks.
Tournament format rules
At the Conclusion of each game the referee will go to the designated tournament coordinator and will give them the names of the teams and the scoreline.
At the conclusion of the group stage, any teams tied on points will be ranked by:
- Head to head result, if tied,
- Goal difference, if tied,
- Goals scored, if tied,
- Coaches coin toss.
After the group stages, knock- out games will be settled by a 3 penalty shoot out with additional penalties to settle if required.
No extra time to be played at any stage.
During the penalty shoot-out, all players to remain behind the retreat line/ half-way line until it is their turn to take a penalty.
If adverse weather results in the cancellation of any game, the game result will be deemed a 0-0 draw and a point awarded for both teams.
Lead coaches
Conor Molan 086 816 6878
- Paddy Jordan 086 385 1077
Derek Brady 086 850 6895
Alan Hanna 087 665 3632
