The Football Canterbury Association Board has confirmed that its Over 50 age group competition will change from the 2026 Winter Season. The following guidance has been provided by the Association:
- For Winter 2025, the Over 50 competition will remain as per the Rules of Association.
- For Winter 2026, the Over 50s will be amended to be Over 55.
- Players registered in the Over 50 competition for Winter 2025 will be permitted to play in Over 55 in Winter 2026.
To enable Clubs and their teams to manage and structure their player groups correctly for the Over 50 age group change during 2025 Winter season, the following information has been provided as a guide by the Football Canterbury Association.
Over 50 – for Winter 2025
- No underage players are permitted to participate in Over 50. (As per the Football Canterbury Rules of Association)
- All players are required to have attained the age of 50 prior to 1st January in the competition year (i.e. 2025). There
are no exceptions.
Over 55 – for Winter 2026
- All players registered who are of age in the Over 50s in 2025 will be automatically eligible to register in Over 55
until they become of age where they have registered in the same team and so long as their participation as a
player annually is continuous. - Any player not registered in the Over 50s in 2025, or one that does not meet the criteria above, will not be
eligible to register in the Over 55 in 2026 unless they have attained the age of 55 prior to 1st January in the
relevant competition year.