PREMIER LEAGUE

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES
GENERAL
1.66. “Training Camp” means an event for the Academy Players of one Club and which lasts for one
or more days and at which a variety of coaching and other on-pitch and off-pitch activities
takes place.
1.67. “Training Model” means the Full Time Training Model, the Hybrid Training Model or the Part
Time Training Model.
1.68. “Trialist” means a player playing in age groups Under 9 to Under 21 who is attending
an Academy on trial under the provisions of Rule 213.
1.69. “Youth Development Phase” means the Under 12 to Under 16 age groups inclusive.
1.70. “Youth Development Phase Games Programme” means the games programmes organised
by the League and Football League for teams in each of the Under 12 to Under 16 age groups,
full details of which are set out in Rules 128 to 140.
2. For the purpose of this section of these Rules:
2.1 Academy Players shall be placed in one of 13 age groups commencing with age group
Under 9 and ending with age group Under 21; and
2.2 the age group into which each Academy Player shall be placed shall be determined by
his age on 31 August in the year in question.
General
3. If a Club engages in the training and development of young players then it must:
3.1. obtain a licence to operate an Academy; and
3.2. operate its Academy in accordance with this section of the Rules.
4. The term of a licence to operate an Academy shall be three years, unless revoked earlier
in accordance with these Rules.
5. There shall be four Categories of Academy.
6. In respect of each Club which applies for an Academy Licence, the ISO shall undertake
an analysis (“the ISO Audit”) of the matters set out in Rule 1.11(a) to (c).
7. The ISO Audit shall utilise the Audit Tool by assessing and recording thereon a score in respect
of the matters set out in Rule 1.11(a) to (c).
8. The Category of a Club’s Academy shall be determined by the percentage that the Club scores
on the Audit Tool as determined by its ISO Audit as follows:
8.1. for Category 1, the Club must achieve a score of at least 75% on the Audit Tool;
8.2. for Category 2, the Club must achieve a score of between 65% and 74% on the Audit Tool;
8.3. for Category 3, the Club must achieve a score of between 50% and 64% on the Audit Tool; and
8.4. for Category 4, the Club must achieve a score of between 35% and 49% on the Audit Tool;
provided that in each case it also complies with the minimum mandatory criteria applicable to
the relevant Category.
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