If a professional club wishes to approach or sign a player registered with the Scottish Youth FA, the procedure set out in Section 3 of Annex 9 of the Scottish FA Registration Procedures must be followed.

To read the procedure in full, the Scottish FA Handbook can be accessed HERE

Annex 9, Section 4 of the Scottish FA Handbook gives clear guidance should a professional club wish to approach a player registered with an SYFA Club.

It states ‘Should a Team Scout attending a Scottish Youth FA’s Club’s match wish to approach a Scottish Youth FA Club’s Player, then he must make himself known to a Scottish Youth FA Registered Official of the Scottish Youth FA Club by first introducing himself, providing his full name and confirmation of which Club(s) he represents. 

Permission must be granted by a Scottish Youth FA Registered Official of the Scottish Youth FA Club prior to any approach being made to the Player and/or his parent(s)/guardian(s). Only in these limited circumstances, and only if verbal permission from a Scottish Youth FA Registered Official of the Scottish Youth FA Club is granted as set out in this Paragraph 4.1 of Annex 9, prior written intimation to the Scottish Youth FA Club is not required.’

Duty to Inform

Rule 45 of the SYFA Supplementary & Playing Rules requires that, if a Club holding a player’s registration is approached, it should inform and discuss the approach with the player and the parent/carer within 7 days. This aligns with Article 12 of the European Convention on the Rights of the Child, which ensures that every child capable of forming their own views has the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting them.

Training or Playing with a CAS Team

Annex 10, Article 3 of the Scottish FA Handbook details the circumstances in which an SYFA registered player can participate in training and matches for a CAS team.

3.1 A Recreational Player may, with the written permission of his Club, play in a match for a Club in full membership of the Scottish FA, an Affiliated Association or an Affiliated National Association providing the rules of the competition allow him to do so and providing he is otherwise eligible to do so.

3.2 A Recreational Player may, with the written permission of his Club, train with a Club in full membership of the Scottish FA, an Affiliated Association or an Affiliated National Association.

Compensation Payment – Professional Contract

Annex 11, Article 2.1 states ‘Compensation of £200 will be due to the Club of a Recreational Player if the Player currently registered with that Club signs as a Professional Player with a Club in full membership of the Scottish FA or in membership of an Affiliated Association.

Training Fund Contribution – CAS

Annex 11, Article 3.1 advises – ‘When a Professional Club signs a Recreational Player as an Amateur Player or a Club Academy Scotland Player, a fee of £100 must be sent by the Professional Club to the secretary of the relevant Affiliated National Association.

Confirmation of this payment should also be lodged with the Scottish FA’s Registrations Department. Any sums payable in accordance with this Paragraph 3.1 of this Annex 11 shall be paid within 30 days of the date the relevant Recreational Player signs with the relevant Professional Club. Failure to adhere to this procedure may result in the matter being referred to the Compliance Officer for investigation and possible sanction in accordance with the Judicial Panel Protocol.’

SYFA Clubs should note that there is no requirement to request or submit an invoice for this payment; the rule simply requires the professional club to make the payment to the Scottish Youth FA. However, Clubs may wish to send an email to the CAS club requesting payment and providing the SYFA bank account details. The email should also be copied to the SYFA at [email protected]

At the SYFA’s Annual General Meeting on 28th June 2026, members agreed that the club that last held the player’s registration would receive the full £100 from the SYFA.

Complaints

In the event of any breaches of these rules, the circumstances can be reported to the Scottish FA’s Compliance Officer. Please email [email protected]

Please note that the Scottish Youth FA has no authority to investigate or sanction a professional club that is a member of the Scottish FA.