Information on how local leagues are affiliated.

Similar to the 11-a-side game, competitive small sided formats are required to affiliate their competitions, leagues and teams to either The FA or County FAs to be appropriately sanctioned by the governing body. 

Affiliation is important for a number of reasons, but predominantly for refereeing and disciplinary factors. 

FA qualified match officials are only permitted in accordance with FA Rules and Regulations to officiate in properly FA affiliated and sanctioned football – this includes all small sided formats of the game. 

A referee found to be officiating in non-affiliated football is at risk of facing punishment from The FA or County FA.  Also The FA are only able to take action against any disciplinary incidents that occur in affiliated football. So on the rare occasions in Small Sided Football when a player commits a serious offence (e.g. assaulting another player or referee) and it is in non-affiliated football, The FA is unable take any action against that individual.

To find out more about how to affiliate your Small Sided Football competitions and teams then please contact your local County FA.  It is important to note that in Small Sided Football it is the responsibility of the competition organiser to sanction and affiliate the competition and the teams that play within it.

For those larger Small Sided Football providers that operate small sided leagues and competitions in three or more County FA areas, these organisations should affiliate directly to The FA.  An Online Small Sided Football Affiliation system will be operational for these larger organisations in the near future.

Separate SSF Links
• FA SSF Laws of the Game
• FA Umbro Fives
• SSF Referee Courses