NLS Steps 5 & 6 Clubs
Contracts
Please note the following Rules before entering into any contract of employment with a player.
In accordance with FA Rule C:
C11 Players must be aged 18 or over in order to enter into a Playing Contract, save that a Player aged 17 may enter into a Playing Contract where they are not in Full-time Education.
C13 Players under the age of 18 may not sign a Playing Contract for a term longer than three years.
A fully signed copy of the Football Players’ Non-League Contract, along with any accompanying signed documents, will need to be submitted to The FA via the Online Contact Form https://playerstatus.thefa.com/support/tickets/new.
Signed Agent Forms (AF) will are also required to be submitted. All AF documents can be downloaded from TheFA.com. (Any queries relating to Agents, please contact [email protected].)
As from Season 2024/2025, photo identification of the player will be required with each contract submission, to ensure the player's identity and personal information matches that which has been entered on to the contract agreement.
Any player under the age of 18 will require the forms to be countersigned by the player’s parent/guardian. The registering club will also be required to evidence that a player under the age of 18 is not in Full-time Education.
The FA must approve all contract submissions before any player is to play under the new terms of the contract.
Loans
Players who are registered on a contract, may be registered on a temporary transfer (loan) with another club. Clubs within Steps 5 & 6 are only able to sign players on loans from other clubs within Steps 1 to 6 of the National League System (NLS).
When signing a player from a club within a different leagues, the form H3 is required, unless the loan is a Youth Loan whereby a 'YL' form will be necessary in this event.
Any Long Term Loan can only be authorised during an open Professional Registration Period (Transfer Window). The dates of each Professional Registration Period are to be published by The FA from time to time.
Full criteria for each of the loan types are set out within League Rules. Clubs should refer to their seasonal published League Handbook, to ensure the terms of the loan are done so in line with League Rules.
A fully signed copy of the relevant loan form, along with any accompanying signed documents, will need to be submitted to The FA via the Online Contact Form https://playerstatus.thefa.com/support/tickets/new.
Signed Agent Forms (AF) will are also required to be submitted with the contract. All AF documents can be downloaded from TheFA.com. (Any queries relating to Agents, please contact [email protected].)
Any player under the age of 18 will require the forms to be countersigned by the player’s parent/guardian.
The FA must approve all the loan submission before any player is to play under the loan registration with the new club.
For Clubs at Steps 1-4 sending a player out on loan to a club at Steps 5&6, the documents must be submitted via iFAS for approval. This will show the player as ineligible on your Player List.
Work Experience
Clubs within Steps 1 to 6 are permitted to sign players, who are currently registered on a Scholarship, on Work Experience from the Premier League and the EFL.
Work Experience registrations are for First Team only, which are set within the scope of the NLS (Steps 1 to 6). Work Experience registrations cannot be approved purely for any youth/reserve team who operate outside of Steps 1 to 6.
The parent club will provide the registering club a copy of the required Work Experience form. The parent club will have to upload a copy of the signed form to their online registration system, iFAS. For Clubs at Step 5 & 6, they will be required to email the Work Experience documentation to The FA for approval. This can be done so via the Online Contact Form https://playerstatus.thefa.com/support/tickets/new.
Until both submissions on iFAS and email are approved the player cannot feature in any games for the registering Club.
Timeline for Submissions
In line with FA Rules, all signed registration documents must be submitted to The FA within five days of signature. Should the registering Club require the player to participate in the next scheduled fixture, the signed forms will need to be uploaded and authorised by The FA and relevant Member League(s) in iFAS, before the player plays under the terms of the new registration.
Original Documentation
The FA does not require original copies of documents, therefore it is not necessary to post hard copies to The FA. Original copies should be retained by the Club for its own recording purposes. The player must receive an original copy of the completed and signed documents.