Grassroots Technology Support Hub
As part of the development of the Dispensation process, the FA are piloting a new category to support children to play football.
The category Talent Development is designed to ensure the best opportunity is given to a player to develop, which may mean they need to play outside of their permitted age band."
Please note to apply under the Talent Development category there is a series of evidence required to apply. You can find the template files within the What Supporting Evidence do I Require for Player Dispensation? article.
Eligible examples
Female – FA Licensed Talent Pathway Clubs / Centres
Talented female players within an FA Girls’ Emerging Talent Centre (ETC), an FA Professional Game Academy (PGA), or an affiliated team within a club that holds an ETC / PGA license may be granted dispensation to support their continued development as a player.
Female - Playing down in mixed
Female players that wish to play an age group down in a mixed/boys team for their development.
Male - PL/EFL Academy release
Talented male players recently released from a PL/EFL Academy may be granted dispensation to support their continued development as a player.
Non Eligible examples
Talent Development (but non-ETC / PGA or PL / EFL Academy release)
A player is perceived to be talented and wishes to further their development by playing out of their prescribed age group. but they are not currently (in the case of the female pathway) or recently (in the case of the male pathway) part of a recognised talent pathway.
This excludes female players wishing to play in a younger age group within mixed / boys provision (applications of this nature are eligible).
Physical Stature
A player wishes to play in an older age group because they are more physically matured than their peers. (This is in non-eligible because what classifies someone as more physically mature is not feasible to deduce within grassroots football).