Team Affiliation To Open In June
Opening on Monday 5 June 2023, team affiliation will be available in Club Portal this season, replacing the Whole Game System.
From the 2023/24 season, as previously announced, Lancashire FA will introduce a team-based affiliation model, in line with other County FAs.
Affiliation Requirements for the 2023/24 season are as follows:
All clubs
• Public Liability Insurance - All clubs are required to have Public Liability Insurance covering the club for the upcoming year. This must be a minimum of £10 million – the cost is £64 and this can be purchased via Club Portal
• Club Ground - It is a requirement for clubs to state their main home ground. You can do this ahead of affiliation through the ‘My Club’ tab. You can find guidance on how to complete this here.
• Key Officials - Clubs are required to state their key officials. You can find guidance on how to add your key officials here.
• Safeguarding Declaration - Every club will be required to accept a Safeguarding Declaration. Where clubs have teams that play across different levels of the game, multiple declarations will need to be accepted.
Clubs with adult teams only
• Personal Accident Insurance - All teams are required to have Personal Accident Insurance.
• Team Ground (NEW) - It is a requirement for teams to state their main home ground. You can do this ahead of affiliation through the ‘My Club’ tab. You can find guidance on how to complete this here.
• Named Manager or Coach - Every team must have a minimum of one Manager or Coach. This can be completed ahead of affiliation through the ‘Officials’ tab. You can find guidance on how to complete this here.
• Welfare Officer (NEW) - Clubs with adult teams require a named ‘Welfare Officer (Adult Teams)’. For the 2023/2024 season, no qualifications are required for this role.
Clubs with youth teams
• Personal Accident Insurance - All teams are required to have Personal Accident Insurance, including U5 and U6 teams. Lancashire FA is offering personal accident insurance in partnership with Marsh (formerly known as Bluefin) which you can select on Club Portal; Youth Policy - Basic £20.00 / Adult Policy - Intermediate £38.00, with top-up options available.
• Team Ground (NEW) - It is a requirement for teams to state their main home ground. You can do this ahead of affiliation through the ‘My Club’ tab. You can find guidance on how to complete this here.
• Named Manager or Coach - Every youth team must name all managers and coaches assigned to each team. This can be completed ahead of affiliation through the ‘Officials’ tab. You can find guidance here.
• Safeguarding Children Course (NEW) - All managers and coaches require an in-date, accepted DBS and to have completed the Safeguarding Children Course. The FA is offering a 50% reduction for their coaches taking the Safeguarding Children Course bringing the cost down to £15 during the months of May, June and July.
• Welfare Officer - Clubs with youth teams require a named and qualified ‘Welfare Officer'.
How should we get ready?
• If you are a new club for the 2023/24 season, Lancashire FA Football Services team will be in touch to set you up on Club Portal.
• Familiarise with using the Club Portal to process your club admin (apart from processing discipline).
• Ensure all outstanding invoices from this season are paid. You will not be able to complete your affiliation without these being paid.
• Ensure all player suspensions from last season have been assigned fixtures (unless the suspension is carrying over to next season). If you need any help, please click here or contact Discipline@LancashireFA.com.
Once you have finished your season, we strongly encourage all clubs to access their Club Portal and detach any players that are no longer part of your club.
For further information on the affiliation changes, and many other FAQs, please visit our Support Portal.
Or visit The FA's Grassroots Technology page
SUPPORT FROM THE FA'S GRASSROOTS TECHNOLOGY PAGE
We are here to help! For further information and guidance on the affiliation process or insurance cover please contact Football Services:
E: Info@LancashireFA.com
T: 01772 624000 - Option 1