PREMIER LEAGUE

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT RULES
GAMES PROGRAMME
138.2. may organise and participate in additional Authorised Games of the types listed in
paragraphs c), d), f), g) and h) of that definition only (which shall be notified to the
League (in the case of a Club operating a Category 1 or Category 2 Academy) or the
Football League (in the case of a Club operating a Category 3 Academy) no later than
72 hours before they are scheduled to take place).
Guidance
The Games Programme Schedule will incorporate free weeks (in addition to those referred to in Rule 162) during which
no matches will be arranged by the Leagues. This will allow Clubs to organise additional matches pursuant to Rule 138.2.
139. Each Club shall ensure that each of its Academy Players in the Under 12 to Under 14 age groups
shall, subject to fitness, participate in half the playing time of matches in the Youth
Development Phase Games Programme and any other matches organised by his Club pursuant
to Rule 138.2, the Academy Player’s playing time to be reasonably spread over the Season.
140. Each Club shall ensure that each of its Academy Players in the Under 15 to Under 16 age groups
shall, subject to fitness, participate in at least 20 matches per Season (being matches in the
Youth Development Phase Games Programme or any other matches organised by his Club
pursuant to Rule 138.2). Participation in a match shall for the purposes of this Rule mean playing
at least 50% of the game time.
Guidance
When assessing whether Rule 139 has been complied with, each Academy Player’s playing time over the course of the
Season will be assessed and an average calculated (i.e. the Academy Player need not play in half the time of every match).
In addition, Rule 139 requires that the playing time is spread relatively evenly over the course of the fixture programme.
This is to ensure clubs do not try to backload playing time at the end of the Season simply to ensure the average is met.
Professional Development Phase Games Programme
141. The League will organise two games programmes, one for teams of Clubs operating Category
1 Academies and one for teams of Clubs operating Category 2 Academies.
142. The Football League will organise a games programme for teams of Clubs operating Category
3 and Category 4 Academies.
143. The games programmes organised by the League and the Football League pursuant to Rules
141 and 142 will be constituted on the following geographical bases:
143.1. Category 1: a national league, with some international matches against teams representing
clubs in membership of national associations other than the Football Association or the
Football Association of Wales (and such matches may be played either in England or abroad);
143.2. Category 2:
143.2.1. in two leagues, each of which shall be constituted on a geographical basis (for
example one league of northern based teams and one of southern based teams),
the exact constitution of each league to be determined by the Board in its absolute
discretion having regard to those Clubs (and Football League clubs) which operate
Category 2 Academies;
143.2.2. where practical, international matches against teams representing clubs in
membership of a national association other than the Football Association or the
Football Association of Wales (and such matches may be played either in
England or abroad);
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