Get affiliation ready!
As the current season draws to a close, it's already time for clubs and teams to start thinking about the 2023/24 season.
We have put together some key information that will be useful in completing your club's affiliation, so that you can be ready for when the affiliation window opens in June.
When can I affiliate?
The affiliation window for clubs based in the Sheffield & Hallamshire region will open on Monday 19th June 2023.
Why do I need to affiliate?
It is through affiliation that the family of football is brought together and the correct standards and discipline are maintained. Affiliation acts as a quality assurance and as a safety net to help protect players, clubs, officials and administrators throughout the game.
Benefits include:
- Being legally affiliated to the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA (the oldest County FA in the country)
- Eligibility to compete in FA and County FA competitions (e.g. leagues, County Cups, etc.)
- Access to qualified referees for your matches
- Discipline, Fair Play and Respect
- Access to purchase public liability and personal injury insurance for your club, team and players.
- Access to development and funding opportunities
- Access to player and coaching development opportunities
- Access to advice from County FA staff plus FA regional development, coaching and facilities personnel
- And much more
How do I affiliate?
Affiliation for the 23/24 season will take place on the Club Portal, as opposed to the Whole Game System which was used previously. The Club Portal will provide users with a more slicker and efficient affiliation experience.
Key changes you need to be aware of:
- You now have the ability to affiliate your club by team rather than as a whole club. The main benefit of this is that your entire club does not have to wait for one team to resolve the mandatory requirements before affiliating, so individual teams that are ready to affiliate can do so and non-compliant teams can complete their affiliation at a later date.
- Clubs and teams now have the option to purchase Personal Accident Insurance via the County FA, alongside the Public Liability Cover we have offered previously. When teams purchase their Public Liability and Personal Accident Insurance via their affiliation, this will allow the team to automate their affiliation, meaning it does not require a staff member to approve your affiliation.
What are the mandatory requirements?
Football is continually adapting to ensure that the game is safe and inclusive for all that take part, these new mandatory requirements look to ensure this continues as we move forward.
- All junior coaches are now required to hold an in date Safeguarding Children Course as well as an FA DBS.
- All open aged teams that have players aged under 18 are required to have a manager with an in-date FA DBS.
- Clubs with adult teams will require a named Welfare Officer to be listed in roles on Club Portal. There are no required qualifications for the 2023/24 season, but from the 2024/25 season, completion of a player welfare course will be required.
- Clubs with disability adult teams will require an adult disability welfare officer to be in place, who will be required to complete the Safeguarding Adult Course.
- Every club will be required to complete a Safeguarding Declaration (or multiple if affiliating adult and youth teams), which will be dependent on the type of organisation you are, and the number of teams within your organisation. This will ensure key messages from the grassroots game to the professional game are included in this declaration, which will be an annual process and expire each season.
Where can I find the required courses?
All required courses and qualifications can be found on the England Learning website.
What if I need support?
Our team is here to help. If you have any questions or need some advice, the quickest way to get in touch with us is by submitting a support ticket.
Our affiliation knowledge base has lots of resources to help answer frequently asked questions.
