The short answer
Yes. If any of the teams are affiliated to the FA, which is almost every junior club team, your tournament must be sanctioned before it goes ahead. That's usually by the County FA for your area, or by The FA itself if teams from outside England are coming. It's an online application. Fees vary: Cheshire FA charges £100, and the other North West county pages linked below did not state a fee. Apply early.
Why sanction matters
Sanction is the County FA's official OK for your event. The FA's rules say clubs, players and officials may only take part in competitions and matches that are properly authorised, and that includes "friendly" competitions and festivals (FA Rules, Section 8, Rule B).
If a tournament isn't sanctioned:
- Insurance may not cover it. Manchester FA says club insurance policies do not cover incidents at unsanctioned events. Confirm your own event cover with your insurer (Manchester FA).
- Clubs can be disciplined. Taking part in an unauthorised competition counts as misconduct, and not knowing it wasn't sanctioned isn't a defence (FA Rules B20 and B21).
- You can't use registered referees. Lancashire FA says registered match officials may only officiate at sanctioned tournaments (Lancashire FA).
The teams coming to your tournament share that risk, so tell them it's sanctioned when you invite them.
Who sanctions your tournament
- Teams from England only: start with the County FA your club is affiliated to. They'll confirm which county should sanction the competition (FA competition sanction regulations).
- Any team from outside England: The FA's approval is also needed. Start with your County FA and The FA's sanctioning team (sanctioning@thefa.com) to confirm the application route. Visiting teams also need permission from their own national association, so allow extra time (Cumberland FA guidance).
What you'll need
Each county asks slightly differently, but these are the things that come up across the FA rules and the sanction process:
- Tournament rules. A short document covering the format, match lengths, how groups and knockouts work, and what happens with ties. Youth competitions must submit their own separate rules (FA Section 20, Reg 7).
- A named welfare officer, with adults in roles that require an FA DBS check holding a valid check. Confirm which roles need one with your County FA (FA safeguarding guidance 5.4). The online application asks you to accept the FA's safeguarding declarations.
- A risk assessment, uploaded with your application (FA Competitions Portal guide).
- First aid: a qualified first aider and an in-date kit (FA guidance 5.4), plus an emergency plan that says where the nearest defibrillator is (FA: How to Run a Tournament).
- Insurance. Confirm the public liability and personal accident cover required for your event and participating clubs with your County FA and insurer. The online sanction application lets you upload an existing certificate or buy cover (FA application guide).
- A list of teams, with their affiliation numbers. Lancashire FA says teams without a valid affiliation number can't enter (Lancashire FA).
- The right format and playing time for each age group (see below). The FA's youth rules also cap how many minutes a player can play in a day, so check your timetable against them.
From the 2026/27 season, the FA's FutureFit changes introduce 3v3 at U7 and keep smaller-sided formats for longer (England Football: FutureFit). If you used last year's rules, check your age groups:
| Age group | Format from 2026/27 |
|---|
| U7 | 3v3 |
| U8 and U9 | 5v5 |
| U10 and U11 | 7v7 |
| U12 and U13 | 9v9 |
| U14 and above | 11v11 |
Source: The FA, Know Your Format. Check match lengths and daily playing limits against the current FA youth competition rules as well. Your County FA can confirm the limits for your tournament.
How to apply
Many counties now use The FA's online Competitions Portal. The steps, from The FA's own help guide (FA Grassroots Technology), are:
- Sign in at competitions.thefa.com with your usual FA email and password.
- Create the event as a Standalone Tournament, which is the option for a tournament or festival over one or more days (FA guide).
- Go to Competition › Sanctioning, choose your tournament and click Sanction Competition.
- Work through Key Officials, FA Policies & Documentation (safeguarding declarations and your risk assessment), Review Rules (upload your rules) and Insurance.
- Tick the box, go to the summary and submit it to your County FA for review.
Some counties use their own online form instead. The table below links to each one.
North West County FAs
What each county publishes, checked on 9 October 2026. Where a page doesn't say, we've written "not stated" rather than guess.
Swipe the table sideways to see fees and contacts →
Manchester FA also says it can refuse sanction to events that don't meet its safeguarding standards, and that it looks into events offering football for U6s and younger (Manchester FA).
A simple timeline
This is our suggestion, not an FA rule. It leaves room for the county to come back with questions.
- 8 weeks or more before: fix the date and venue, and decide your age groups and formats.
- 6 weeks before: write your rules, do the risk assessment, sort insurance, and confirm your welfare officer and first aider.
- 4 to 6 weeks before: apply for sanction.
- Once sanctioned: open entries properly, collect affiliation numbers, and tell teams it's sanctioned.
- The week before: final team list, timetable and pitch plan.
Once you're sanctioned
Zokko builds the whole timetable in one click from your teams and pitches, and runs the day from one screen. It's free while in beta. You can also
list your tournament free on the Zokko finder so teams can find it by postcode and age group.
Questions organisers ask
Do I need sanction if it's just a festival with no trophies?
Yes. The FA's rules cover so-called friendly competitions and matches as well as cup and trophy events, so a festival with medals for everyone still needs sanction from your County FA.
What if only teams from our own club are playing?
We couldn't find an FA rule that deals with tournaments run entirely inside one club, and the general rule is written broadly. Ask your County FA before the day. It's a quick email, and it's safer than finding out afterwards.
How much does sanction cost?
It depends on the county. Cheshire FA's page says competition sanction costs £100. The other North West county pages we checked don't state a fee, so ask when you apply.
How far in advance should I apply?
Apply as early as you can. Cumberland FA asks for at least 14 days. Lancashire FA's support guidance, last updated in 2020, says at least five days; confirm its current deadline. Applying four to six weeks ahead gives you time to fix anything the county asks for.
What if teams from outside England are coming?
Tournaments with non-English teams need The FA's approval. Start with your County FA and The FA's sanctioning team at sanctioning@thefa.com to confirm the application route. Start early, because visiting teams also need permission from their own national association.
Can we hold a tournament in June?
June is the close season, but the FA rules exempt small-sided football (up to seven-a-side), mini-soccer and 9v9, as well as authorised single-day, weekend and bank holiday festivals. It still needs sanction.
Can a registered referee officiate at an unsanctioned tournament?
No. Lancashire FA says registered match officials are only permitted to officiate in sanctioned tournaments.
This guide is general information to help you get started, not official FA advice. Rules and county processes change, so always check with your County FA before your event. Last checked 9 October 2026.