The short answer
Under the EPPP Youth Development Rules, Category 1 to 3 academies can register Under-9 to Under-11 players who live within 1 hour of the academy, and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1 and a half hours. From Under-17 there is no limit. Category 1 academies using the full-time training model have no limit from Under-14 to Under-16. Category 4 academies only have Under-17 to Under-21 players, so the limits never apply to them (Rule 262).
Examples
| Player | Register? | Trial? |
|---|---|---|
| Under-10, lives 55 minutes from a Category 2 academy | Yes (1-hour limit) | Yes (1-hour limit) |
| Under-12, lives 1 hour 40 minutes from a Category 3 academy | No, unless every academy is more than 1½ hours away (Rule 292) | No, on the same terms |
| Under-15, lives 2½ hours from a Category 2 academy | No (1½-hour limit), unless Rule 292 applies | Yes (no trial limit from Under-14) |
| Under-15, lives 2½ hours from a Category 1 academy, on its full-time model | Yes (no limit) | Yes |
| Under-17, any distance, any category | Yes (no limit) | Yes |
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Registration travel limits by category
These are the limits in Rule 262 of the 2026/27 Youth Development Rules. An academy can only register a player who lives within the travel time for the player's age group, measured to the academy's main venue for coaching and education.
| Category | Under-9 to Under-11 | Under-12 to Under-16 | Under-17 to Under-21 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | 1 hour | 1½ hours (no limit Under-14 to Under-16 on the full-time model) | No limit |
| Category 2 | 1 hour | 1½ hours | No limit |
| Category 3 | 1 hour | 1½ hours | No limit |
| Category 4 | No academy squads | No academy squads | No limit |
Trial travel limits
Trials have their own limits in Rule 270, and they are the same for every category:
| Age group | Trial travel limit |
|---|---|
| Under-9 to Under-11 | 1 hour |
| Under-12 and Under-13 | 1½ hours |
| Under-14 to Under-16 | No limit |
A trial can last up to eight weeks, with a possible four-week extension for Under-9 to Under-16 players. The academy has to give the player's junior club and school seven days' written notice before it starts.
Exceptions
- Living too far from any academy. An Under-12 to Under-16 player who lives more than 1½ hours from the nearest academy can be registered at the nearest academy of the right category, with a written coaching plan for training near home that doesn't take the player out of school (Rule 292).
- Disputes. The League decides any question about travel time, looking at the likely time of day and the way the player would actually travel.
- Moving house. If a registered player's family moves outside the travel time, the academy can lose the registration, and compensation can then be due from the new club.
Why this matters for scouts
The travel time decides where an academy's scouts should be watching. At Under-9 to Under-11 a Category 2 or 3 academy can only sign players within an hour of its training ground, so scouting further away is wasted unless the family is willing to move. From Under-14 the trial rules open up, and Category 1 academies on the full-time model can recruit nationally, which is why so many players move between Under-14 and Under-16.
See every club's category on our club-by-club academy guide.
Frequently asked questions
How far can a football academy recruit from?
It depends on the age group and the academy's category. Category 1 to 3 academies can register Under-9 to Under-11 players who live within 1 hour of the academy, and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1 and a half hours. From Under-17 there is no limit. Category 1 academies using the full-time training model have no limit from Under-14 to Under-16 (Rule 262).
Is the travel time measured by car?
The rule measures travel time from the player's home to the academy's main venue for coaching and education. When there is a dispute, the League looks at the likely time of day and the way the player would actually travel to the academy.
Can an academy trial a player who lives too far away?
Not at Under-9 to Under-13. Trials for Under-9 to Under-11 players are limited to 1 hour and Under-12 and Under-13 players to 1 and a half hours. There is no travel limit on trials from Under-14 to Under-16 (Rule 270).
What if a player lives more than 1 and a half hours from any academy?
An Under-12 to Under-16 player who lives more than 1 and a half hours from the nearest academy can still be registered at the nearest academy of the right category, with a written coaching plan for training near home that doesn't take the player out of school (Rule 292).
Do Category 4 academies have travel limits?
Category 4 academies only work with Under-17 to Under-21 players, and there is no travel limit at those ages.
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