Why host an FA FIVES event

By hosting an FA FIVES event in Round One you will be involved in creating England’s largest and most inclusive small-sided football festival in the summer of 2021.

It’s also a major football retention and recruitment opportunity in the build-up to UEFA EURO 2020. You can showcase your capability for hosting an engaging football event for the local community – deepening participation levels for existing players and kickstarting involvement for new players.

THE FA FIVES will be promoted nationally by The FA and BBC. All communications will direct thousands of grassroots players across the nation to sign up to FA FIVES events in their local area.

As well as event management and promotion toolkits, FA FIVES branding will be provided to every Event Host to promote their involvement in the national event and to dress the Round 1 weekend. All FA FIVES Event Hosts will receive a financial contribution towards the costs of delivering their event.

Key dates

Who can become an FA FIVES Event Host

FA FIVES events can only take place within England (including the Channel Islands) on the weekend of 7,8 & 9 May 2020.

All FA FIVES events must take place on a grass or 3G/artificial surface and use the normal five-a side match rules provided by The FA for each category.

The format should be a group stage (league) followed by a knock-out stage and we ask that each team is given a minimum of 40 minutes of match time.

An FA FIVES Event Host must also have experience of delivering football tournaments and meet the requirements set out in the Service Level Agreement (SLA).

All FA FIVES Event Hosts will need to comply with the FA FIVES SLA which is available below:

Key requirements of an FA FIVES Event Host

An FA FIVES Event Host must:

• Have relevant experience and capacity to organise the management of the Round One FA FIVES event for all or selected categories
• Be able to provide full contact details for yourselves as Event Host. Contact and facility details must also be provided for the host venue, as well as for the sessions being offered (per category)
• Agree to promote their FA FIVES event through the Event Host’s available marcomms channels and networks. Guidance on how to promote your FA FIVES event will be made available through scheduled webinars, email communications and a digital toolkit
• Agree to the Service Level Agreement (SLA) which includes all relevant health and safety laws and The FA’s Covid-19 and safeguarding policies
• Ensure all FA FIVES sessions are booked in at the venue using the venue’s normal internal booking procedures
• Have a dedicated person (Event Director) as the lead for your FA FIVES event. The details of this person need to be provided during the registration process
• Fully brief all venue staff members to be able to deal with any FA FIVES queries in the lead-up to – and during – the Round One weekend
• Display branding provided by The FA prominently at the venue on the agreed event dates
• Ensure all officiating referees are FA-qualified and wearing consistent apparel (where possible)
• Submit all results from your event on the same day, via The FA’s Events Platform

How many categories should an FA FIVES Event offer?

The programme would like to see large engaging Round One events offering a good range of categories and that create a festival feel in the build-up to UEFA EURO 2020.

A minimum of three categories is required to register an application to host an FA FIVES event:

• Adult Male
• Adult Female
• Male Vets (35yr+)
• Female Vets (35yr+)
• Female Walking Football (40yr+)
• Mixed Walking Football (50yr+)
• Adult Disability Premiership
• Adult Disability Championship
• Adult Disability League
• Adult Disability Female
• Adult Disability Youth Under-16 Male
• Under-16 Female
• Under-14 Male
• Under-14 Female

A non-competitive Under-12 mixed category may also be offered. Please contact the FA FIVES Support Team if you are interested in hosting an Under-12 mixed category.

Support available to FA FIVES Event Hosts

The FA and their delivery agency Limelight Sports Ltd will support FA FIVES Event Hosts throughout the planning and delivery of their FA FIVES event.

Specifically:

• FA FIVES event guides and webinars will be provided to assist all FA FIVES Event Hosts. These will cover how to:
  - Market and promote an FA FIVES event;
  - Plan your FA FIVES event;
  - Deliver your FA FIVES event;
  - Use The FA’s digital tools.
• Branded digital and physical assets will be provided to promote and brand your FA FIVES event.
• Limelight Sports will seek potential exposure for your event through The FA and BBC channels, as well as local media.
• Financial contribution towards the cost of hosting your FA FIVES event. The financial contribution is dependent on the number of categories offered at your FA FIVES event.

THE FA FIVES support team is contactable below and you can call them on 020 3865 6972, between 09:00 and 17:30 Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Contact THE FA FIVES support team

How to register your FA FIVES event application

The FA FIVES Event Registration period opens on Monday 26 October 2020 and closes on Friday 18 December 2020. An email will be sent to confirm whether your application has been successful or not by Monday 11 January 2021. Follow the link below to complete an online registration form:

Complete THE FA FIVES Events Host registration form

You will receive an automated email confirming your application has been received. Once you have submitted your application, you will be able to edit your FA FIVES application through a unique link that will be included within the automated application confirmation email that you will receive shortly after submitting your application.

• Full contact details (including email and telephone number) for the lead organiser of the FA FIVES event and one alternative contact email.
• FAN (FA number): this can be accessed through your account area on TheFA.com/account/signin or created at TheFA.com/account/signup
• Full address of the venue where you will be hosting your FA FIVES event.
• Event categories that you wish to host.
• Dates and start/finish times for the sessions you will be hosting. You will be able to edit the start/finish times at a later date.
• Open/closed: whether your FA FIVES sessions will be open or closed to the general public
• Teams: the maximum number of teams you can host in each category (event capacity).
• Pitch surface at the venue (grass or 3G/artificial).
• Additional facilities available at the venue (e.g. parking, toilets and showers).

THE FA FIVES support team is contactable below and you can call them on 020 3865 6972, between 09:00 and 17:30 Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Contact THE FA FIVES support team