Football NSW has confirmed a registration fee freeze for junior and youth community footballers in 2027, keeping costs unchanged for thousands of young players and their families across the state.
Under the new fee structure, registration fees for players aged five to 12 and youth players aged 13 to 18 will remain at $54.42, including GST.
Senior players aged 19 and above will face a modest increase of $1.50, with fees rising from $106 to $107.50, an increase of less than 1.5 per cent.
Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas said keeping football affordable for younger participants and their families remained a key priority.
“Football is the game of the people, and we recognise the importance of keeping participation accessible for families across our state,” Tsatsimas said.
“By freezing our registration fees for junior and youth players in 2027, we are continuing to support the next generation of footballers and help ensure that cost is not an unnecessary barrier to participation.”
Tsatsimas said Football NSW had worked to manage rising operating costs, particularly those associated with insurance, while continuing to support clubs, associations and participants.
“For senior players, we have kept the increase to less than 1.5 per cent, well below the rate of inflation,” he said.
The fee structure comes as Football NSW continues to navigate inflationary pressures across its operating costs, balancing financial sustainability with the need to keep community football accessible.
Registration fees comprise two components: insurance, which contributes to the cost of the Football NSW Insurance Program, and capitation, which supports the organisation’s operations.
Following adjustments to its insurance program, Football NSW has secured savings across its total insurance costs. The insurance component of community registration fees will decrease by 3.11 per cent in 2027.
The organisation also reported that the upward cost trend in the personal accident component of its insurance program has ended, helping ease pressure on registration fees.
Football NSW will continue working with clubs and associations to identify practical ways to manage risks and address rising public liability costs, with the aim of reducing insurance expenses.
Separately, Football Australia has consolidated its previous National Registration Fee and PlayFootball service fee into a single charge for 2027, known as the National Football Development Contribution (NFDC).
The contribution will be $22 for junior and youth participants and $49 for senior players, including GST. It is collected directly by Football Australia during registration and is separate from the Football NSW registration fee.
The NFDC does not pass through Football NSW or contribute to its operating revenue.
The 2027 fee structure aims to give players, families, clubs and associations greater cost certainty ahead of the new season, with junior and youth registration fees frozen and the increase for senior players kept below 1.5 per cent.