Player Registration Fees contribute to delivering football at all levels across Australia. This page provides information about how Player Registration Fees are structured, what they support, why they can vary and how they help fund and support the delivery of football nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is changing in 2027?
National Football Development Contribution (NFDC)
From the 2027 registration season, the National Football Development Contribution (NFDC) will replace Football Australia’s National Registration Fee (NRF). The NFDC is Football Australia’s national component of the Player Registration Fee.
Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) reforms to card payment surcharging, Football Australia has decided to abolish the separate 1.98% Service Fee and replace the NRF with the NFDC to comply with the intent of the RBA reforms to simplify card payments and improve transparency for consumers.
Football Australia has determined not to increase the underlying 2026 NRF component of the NFDC for the 2027 season.
Previously, participants paid the NRF and a separate 1.98% Service Fee applied to the total Player Registration Fee. The separate Service Fee contributed towards payment processing fees and the PlayFootball support team. From 2027, the NRF and Service Fee will be consolidated into the single NFDC, providing a more transparent national fee structure.
How was the 2027 NFDC determined?
The 2026 NRF component of the newly established NFDC has been maintained in 2027 at the same level, with no increase applied. The Service Fee component is based on the average service fee paid by participants within each registration category in 2026.
Football Australia determined not to apply a CPI increase in 2027 despite the ever-increasing costs and continued investment across the game, including new Youth National Teams, strengthened player development pathways, increased grassroots support and ongoing improvements to PlayFootball. The NFDC reflects the consolidation of the NRF and the Service Fee into a single, transparent contribution.
What are 2027 National Football Development Contributions?
| Registration Category | 2026 NRF | 2026 Average Service Fee | 2027 NFDC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club Football – Player (Youth) | $18.00 | $4.00 | $22.00 |
| Club Football – Player (19+) | $42.00 | $7.00 | $49.00 |
| Club Football – Pro Player (Youth) | $53.00 | $6.00 | $59.00 |
| Club Football – Pro Player (19+) | $77.00 | $6.00 | $83.00 |
| Futsal – Player (Youth) | $5.00 | $3.00 | $8.00 |
| Futsal – Player (19+) | $10.00 | $2.00 | $12.00 |
| Club Football – Referee | $5.00 | $2.00 | $7.00 |
What does the NFDC support?
The NFDC supports Football Australia's national responsibilities, including:
- Junior National teams and National Futsal teams for men and women.
- Delivery costs of National championships, including Emerging Matildas, Emerging Socceroos, Para Football and Futsal.
- Entry level Coaching and Referee accreditation and development systems.
- Club Changer, Football Australia's National Club Development Program.
- Development, maintenance and provision of the National Online Registration System (PlayFootball) and Competition Management System.
- Development, maintenance and enforcement of Football Australia’s Member Protection Framework (MPF) comprising a comprehensive system of policies designed to safeguard the safety, dignity, and inclusion of all participants in the sport.
- Participations, Grassroots & Amateur resources.
When will the NFDC apply?
The NFDC will be implemented in PlayFootball from 29 September 2026 and will apply to 2027 registrations as the relevant registration windows open.
- Professional Women: from 29 September 2026
- National Premier Leagues and Pathways: from 1 December 2026
- Community: from 1 January 2027
Which participants must register and pay the NFDC?
All participants involved in organised football under Football Australia’s jurisdiction must register on the National Online Registration System (PlayFootball) including players, coaches, referees, team managers, and volunteers. All participants outlined in the above table must pay the NFDC at the point of registration. The applicable NFDC is determined annually by Football Australia. Please refer to the National Registration Status and Transfer Regulations (NRSTR’s) for further information.
When is the NFDC collected?
The NFDC is collected automatically at the point of registration through Football Australia’s National Online Registration System (PlayFootball). This continues the collection method introduced for the National Registration Fee (NRF) in 2025.
Does the NFDC include insurance?
No. Insurance is covered separately by the relevant Member Federation fee.
What are the origins of the NRF?
The NRF was a mandatory fee collected by Football Australia as part of a player’s annual registration for sanctioned football in Australia. First introduced in 1989, it provided reliable funding for Australia’s national teams and grassroots programs, which could not rely solely on commercial revenue such as match-day revenue, sponsorship and broadcasting. The NRF provided an important source of funding to support Football Australia’s national responsibilities, including youth national teams, programs and grassroots development. From 2027, the NRF will be replaced by the National Football Development Contribution (NFDC). The NFDC will continue to support Football Australia’s national responsibilities, while providing a simpler and more transparent national fee structure through the consolidation of the previous NRF and Service Fee into a single national contribution.
If you have any questions in regard to the NFDC, please contact support@playfootball.com.au
What makes up a Player Registration Fee?
Player Registration Fees are usually comprised of four components; however, this varies depending on the State or Territory in which the player participates. This includes National Football Development Contribution (NFDC) charged by Football Australia (FA), Member Federation Levy charged by Member Federations (MF), Association or Zone Levy and the Club Fee imposed by the player’s club. Not all components apply in every State or Territory. Football structures differ nationally, and some Member Federations do not operate through Associations or Member Zones. The various football bodies largely have the autonomy to determine their component of the total Player Registration Fee. The individual fee breakdown is available through PlayFootball at the point of registration.
What does my Player Registration Fee support?
The Player Registration Fee contributes to the essential costs required for a player to be officially registered and able to participate in sanctioned football. The fee supports the delivery of training, competitions, facilities, equipment, coaches, safety and integrity programs, insurance, development programs, and the digital systems used to manage registrations and competitions. It also helps maintain the structures that ensure football is delivered in an organised, safe, and consistent way across the country. Together, these components ensure that every participant has access to a safe, well‑managed, and enjoyable football experience.
National Snapshot - how are Player Registration Fees distributed nationally?
Player Registration Fee revenue supports the delivery of football at Club, Association/Member Zone, Member Federation and National levels. The distribution reflects the different roles and costs incurred across the football ecosystem, with the largest proportion remaining at Club level, where most of the direct costs associated with delivering football to players are incurred. The following provides an aggregate national snapshot of how Player Registration Fee revenue was distributed across the Australian football ecosystem in 2026. The distribution varies between States and Territories based on their respective football structures and fee models.
Source: Football Australia analysis of 2026 PlayFootball registration data. Individual fee structures and the distribution of registration revenue vary between States and Territories, including where Associations or Member Zones do not form part of the relevant football structure.
Who makes up our national player base?
Pathway players include those participating in JDL and NPL competitions. Community Club players represent all other registered outdoor players.
Source: Based on 2026 PlayFootball data.
What does it cost to register?
Player Registration Fees vary depending on factors including location, competition, age group, Club and football environment.
2026 Community Club Football Median Registration Fees
- Coles MiniRoos - $250
- Youth - $325
- Senior - $450
Source: Based on 2026 registration fees recorded in PlayFootball, including disclosed offline payment amounts.
Why do Player Registration Fees vary?
Player Registration Fees can vary depending on factors including location, competition, age group, Club and the type of football program. Each football body determines its component of the Player Registration Fee, reflecting the different costs of delivering football at national, State or Territory, Association/Member Zone and Club levels. While football structures and terminology vary across States and Territories, different football environments can have different delivery costs:
What is a typical Community Football environment?
- Participation-focused and open to players of all ages and abilities
- Predominantly delivered by volunteer-based local Clubs
- Typically one to two training sessions plus a match each week
- Generally delivered across an 18-22 week season
- Often uses shared community facilities
What is a typical Pathway Football environment?
- Player development-focused, including competitions and programs which may include NPL, Premier Youth League, SAP and JDL
- Greater accredited coaching requirements and elevated competition standards
- Typically three to four training sessions plus matches each week
- Generally delivered across a 25-35 week season
- Greater training, facility and program requirements
Do state and territory Member Federations also charge a registration fee?
Each of the nine (9) state/territory Member Federations sets and collects an annual Member Federation Fee as part of the Player Registration Fee outlined above. Please refer to the relevant Member Federation website below to learn more about their services and fees:
- Capital Football
- Northern NSW Football
- Football Northern Territory
- Football NSW
- Football Queensland
- Football South Australia
- Football Tasmania
- Football Victoria
- Football West
I have a question about my Player Registration Fee, who should I contact?
Player Registration Fees include different components across the football ecosystem. For questions about a specific component of your fee, please contact the organisation responsible for that component:
- National Football Development Contribution (NFDC): support@playfootball.com.au
- Member Federation Fee: Contact your relevant Member Federation.
- Association / Member Zone Fee: Contact your relevant Association or Member Zone, where applicable.
- Club Fee: Contact your Club.
If you are unsure which component your question relates to, please contact your Club in the first instance.