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Overage Player Dispensation Policy – Cambridge Cup
Official Documentation

Overage Player Dispensation Policy

At SGM, we aim to maintain the highest level of competitive integrity across all our leagues and tournaments. As a general rule, overage players are not permitted to compete in younger age brackets.

However, we recognise that certain circumstances warrant an exception. Below are the specific categories eligible for an overage application, along with the process for submitting a request.

01 Policy Exceptions

The following categories are eligible for an overage dispensation application. All other requests will be assessed against the standard age eligibility criteria.

1 Relative Age Effect (R.A.E.)
Teams may register one (1) player who falls under the R.A.E. criteria. This applies to players born between October 1st and December 31st of the year immediately preceding the age group cutoff.
2 Female Player Allowance
Female players are permitted to participate in mixed-gender age groups one year below their actual birth year (e.g., a U13-eligible female player may compete in the U12 mixed division).
3 Existing NZ Football Federation Dispensation
Any player who holds a current and valid NZ Football Regional Federation (WaiBop, NRF, Central etc) Dispensation will be considered for approval, provided the official documentation is supplied.
02 How to Apply

To ensure your request is reviewed before the start of the competition, please follow this two-step process:

  1. Online Registration. Register the player via your online team portal and clearly state the reason for the dispensation request in the notes/comments section.
  2. Supporting Documentation. Send an email to hannah@sgm.nz containing one of the following:
    • A copy of the official NZ Football Federation Dispensation Letter.
    • A formal letter from the Club Technical Director or President detailing the specific reasons and justification for the request.
03 Please Note
All applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Submission of an application does not guarantee approval, and players should not take the pitch until formal confirmation has been received from SGM. A maximum of one (1) application will be approved per team, except where extreme circumstances warrant further consideration at SGM's discretion.