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Killarney Athletic have announced a number of exciting new changes for next month’s Senior 7-a-side, including rolling subs, great prizes for the top performers and American style run-up penalties. There are also plans to have a nightly crossbar challenge, which will see spectators brought from the crowd to compete for prizes. The length of the final, meanwhile, has been reduced from 30 minutes a half to 20.

Tournament organisers met with players and the club executive this week to hash out the new additions, all of which are aimed at improving the overall experience for players and spectators alike.

Unlimited substitutions have been a successful feature of the Over 35 competition for a number of years and it is hoped that its introduction at Senior level will lead to more exciting, higher-paced games. It will also give all players a more even share of the minutes.

Replacing the traditional penalty shootouts with American style run-up penalties is sure to be a popular move. The variation was first introduced by the North American Soccer League in the 1970s and 1980s and the MLS repeated the practice during its first four seasons between 1996 and 1999. Last year, FIFA revealed that they were considering bringing run-up penalties back for the 2026 World Cup.

The penalty taker starts 35 yards from goal and has five seconds to score. He can dribble wherever he wants and shoot from wherever he wants. The goalkeeper can also come off his line as far as he likes. Teams will still have five penalties each. If you haven’t seen one of these shootouts, be sure to check out the Killarney Advertiser Twitter page (@AdvertiserSport). They are very entertaining and well worth a watch.

There will be no extra time: drawn knockout games will go straight to penalties.

Organisers have also decided to bring back the Golden Boot Award for the top goalscorer in the Premier and the Reserve, while the Senior and Reserve Player of the Tournament Awards will be presented, as always, to the top footballers in each competition. This year, the winners of individual gongs will receive a voucher for their troubles. The Senior champions will earn free entry to next year’s 7-a-side.

The games will commence on Monday, June 25 at the club’s grounds in Woodlawn.  Application forms are available from the Beech Road and Park Road branches of Killarney Credit Union and online at www.killarneyathletic.com. The entry fee is €200 for the senior men’s tournament, €150 for over 35s and ladies and €100 for U-14s and U-16s. Entry for U-10 and U-12 teams is €75.

The closing date for senior entries (to be returned to the Credit Union) is Saturday, June 9 before 12 noon. The draw will take place on Wednesday, June 13 in Scotts Bar at 9pm. The closing date for entry to the underage tournaments will be announced shortly.

With all of these exciting new changes, this year’s 7-a-side is shaping up to be one of the greats. Be sure to get your team together and your entry forms in as soon as possible.