PREMIER LEAGUE

TALENT IDENTIFICATION AND RECRUITMENT
Guidance
It is considered that the requirement that a trial be six consecutive weeks may no longer be appropriate in the case of
a Club which recruits nationally, even when read together with Rule 215. Consultation will be undertaken with Clubs
to develop an appropriate amendment to this Rule.
214. The conditions referred to in Rule 213 are as follows:
214.1. a trial may be offered or given by a Club to anyone in age groups Under 9 to Under 11 inclusive
who has his permanent residence within one hour’s travelling time of the Club’s Academy;
214.2. a trial may be offered or given by a Club which is permitted to recruit nationally
(because it operates a Category 1 Academy and is permitted to recruit nationally
pursuant to Rule 212) to anyone in age groups Under 12 and Under 13;
214.3. a trial may be offered or given by any Club to which Rule 214.2 does not apply to anyone
in age groups Under 12 and Under 13 who has his permanent residence within one and
a half hours’ travelling time of the Club’s Academy;
214.4. a trial may be offered or given by a Club to anyone in age groups Under 14 to Under
16 inclusive;
214.5. subject to Rule 214.6.2 a trial may be offered or given by one or more Clubs to an
Academy Player in age group Under 16 who has been informed by the Club holding his
registration that it will not offer to enter into a Scholarship Agreement with him; any
such trial or series of trials may not in the aggregate exceed six weeks;
214.6. a trial may not be offered or given to anyone:
214.6.1. who is on trial at another Academy; or
214.6.2. whose registration is held by another Club (or club) except with the written
consent of such Club (or club) or in the case of an Academy Player who is
exercising his entitlement under either Rule 239, Rule 240 or Rule 241 to seek
registration as an Academy Player at the Academy of another Club (or club).
Any question or dispute concerning the travelling time requirements in this Rule shall be
determined by the Board in its absolute discretion.
215. If a Trialist attending an Academy is injured so that he cannot be coached or play football
or if the period of his trial is interrupted by any other occurrence, application may be made
to the Board in writing to extend the period of his trial, giving full reasons therefor, and the
Board shall have power to extend such period in such terms as it may think fit.
216. If before the date upon which a Trialist’s trial period is due to end his trial is terminated, notice to
that effect shall be given to the League by sending to the Secretary PLYD Form 3 duly completed.
217. Upon a Trialist commencing a trial, the League shall provide to him and his Parent a copy of
these Rules and of the Parents’ Charter.
Pre-Registration Agreements
218. Subject to the provisions of Art. 19 of the FIFA Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players,
on or after 1st January in any Season a Club may enter into a pre-registration agreement with a
player who does not reside within one and a half hours’ travelling time of its Academy provided that
such a player is then:
218.1. in his Under 16, Under 17 or Under 18 year; and
218.2. in Full Time Education; and
218.3. not registered with another Club or Football League club.
337
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES