Dual Player Registration
Football West is committed to ensuring players, parents, clubs and football stakeholders have a clear and consistent understanding of the rules around player registration and dual registration.
Player registration in Western Australia operates within Football Australia’s national registration framework, alongside applicable Football West competition rules.
One player = one registered club at a time*
Under Football Australia’s National Registration, Status and Transfer Regulations, a player can generally only be registered with one club at a time in each form of the game, such as eleven-a-side football or futsal.
This means dual registration is not permitted simply because a player wants to play for two different clubs in different competitions, on different days or under different team names. For example, if a player is registered with Club A to play eleven-a-side football, they cannot also register with Club B at the same time to play in another eleven-a-side competition.
*A player may be registered with one eleven-a-side football club and a different futsal club at the same time, as these are different forms of the game.
When can a player play outside their registered club?
There are limited circumstances where a registered player can participate outside their registered club in the same form of the game. These can include:
• recognised representative football;
• school football where the team is not a club or association;
• approved benefit, testimonial or charity matches; and
• approved trial matches.
There may also be exceptional circumstances considered by Football Australia. These are limited exceptions and are not an automatic entitlement. In practice, Football West may consider supporting an exemption request for players turning 11 years of age or younger in the applicable calendar year in two main circumstances:
– Split Family: where, for example, a child’s parents have separated and have a joint custody arrangement, allowing the child to register with a club near each parent’s respective home.
– Regional Development: where, for example, a player from a regional or country area wishes to remain registered with their local club while accessing an appropriate higher-level opportunity. These are narrow exceptions rather than general pathways for players wishing to play for two clubs.
Any proposed dual registration arrangement must be supported by the relevant clubs and competition administrators before Football West can consider putting the request to Football Australia. Final approval rests with Football Australia.
How many clubs can a player play for in one season?
Football Australia regulations provide that a player may be registered with a maximum of three clubs in each form of the game during a season. However, during that season, the player is generally only eligible to play matches, other than friendly or trial matches, for two clubs in that form of the game.
This is separate from the rule preventing a player from being simultaneously registered with two clubs in the same form of the game.
Registration breaches and player eligibility
Registration requirements form part of the national registration framework and are not simply administrative guidelines. Clubs and players should not assume a second registration is permitted because the player is participating in a different competition, on a different day or under a different team name.
Severe sanctions can apply where registration requirements are breached.
If your club is considering registering a player who may already be registered with another club in the same form of the game, please check with the relevant competition administrator before completing the registration.
One player, one PlayFootball account
Players should only have one PlayFootball account and one Football Australia identification number. Creating another account or using different participant details does not make a second registration valid and may create issues with player eligibility, registration records and club standing.
Why does this matter?
A consistent registration system helps ensure everyone understands:
• which club a player is registered with;
• where a player is eligible to participate;
• that competition rules are applied fairly and consistently; and
• that player registration records remain accurate.
Football West supports players having as many appropriate opportunities as possible to participate in football. The aim is not to unnecessarily restrict participation, but to ensure those opportunities occur within the national Football Australia registration framework and applicable Football West competition rules.
Not sure? Ask before registering
If you are unsure whether a player can register or participate with another club, please check before completing another registration.
Contact Football West or the relevant competition administrator so the circumstances can be reviewed and the available options explained.
