MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) has taken the first big step towards the often discussed national football league for high school boys with the announcement of the ISSA/LIME Super Cup to be played among the top eight teams in the Manning and daCosta Cup competitions in the 2014 season.

At Wednesday’s annual daCosta Cup planning meeting held at Manchester High in Mandeville, ISSA competitions secretary George Forbes announced a cash-rich competition between the Corporate Area and Rural Area competitions that will see the winners getting $1 million.

The sponsors are expected to pay all expenses of the teams involved.

While format of the competition and other details are still to be worked out, the meeting was told on Wednesday that games would be played on Saturdays starting on October 18 with the final set for November 8.

The Super Cup, Forbes told the Jamaica Observer, would not affect the traditional end of season Olivier Shield play-off, which will now be a one-match decider starting in the 2014 season.

Traditionally, the Olivier Shield was played on a home-and-away basis without tie-breakers, but Forbes said only one game would now be played and tie breakers will be used if needed to decide a winner.

This year, the daCosta Cup champions will host the game with the Manning Cup champions hosting the 2015 game.

— Paul Reid