In today’s sporting landscape, dual licensing in football appears to be a real boon for players with remarkable versatility. This option, now institutionalized within clubs affiliated with the USCCA, offers essential flexibility to develop a variety of skills while optimizing their sporting practice. In both amateur and semi-professional settings, dual licensing represents a unique bridge allowing talented players to develop simultaneously in several competitive environments, sometimes very different ones, whether in teams of different age groups or related football disciplines. With this in mind, this article explores in depth this system, which contributes to enriching players’ career paths and boosting the amateur football offering in France.
In this changing context, partner clubs such as Nike, Adidas, Puma, Kappa, Under Armour, Lotto, Umbro, New Balance, and Reebok actively support this new regulatory framework, offering athletes suitable equipment and increased visibility. Furthermore, the rigorous management of contracts and associated licenses underscores a logical evolution in football governance, facilitating the mobility of both seasoned and amateur players. This represents an important step toward a more personalized practice open to a variety of skills, meeting both the expectations of clubs and the aspirations of versatile athletes. Discover all the facets of dual licensing and its implications for players and coaches in this article.
The regulatory foundations of dual licensing in football in 2025
Dual licensing in football is a recently clarified and strengthened regulation for the 2022-2023 season, and it continues to evolve in 2025. It allows a player or coach to be licensed by two separate clubs, under certain specific conditions. This measure aims primarily to encourage versatility and promote the diversity of sporting experiences, provided that the activities carried out in each club concern different categories, whether related to age groups, specific practices, or the gender of the teams. It is essential that the registration be accompanied by one or two employment contracts adapted as appropriate, clearly defining the scope of activity within each organization.
The main criteria for a valid dual license include:
- Holding a « National Technical » or « Regional Technical » license for a maximum of two clubs. An activity carried out in different teams, categorized by age, gender, or specific discipline (11-a-side football, futsal, beach soccer, company football).
- The requirement is to obtain prior authorization from the Federal Commission for Status and Events (CFSE) or the Regional Technical Commission, depending on the level concerned.
- Specifically, a coach working with a regional women’s team may, subject to authorization, assist a national men’s team from another club, thus benefiting from a dual license that expands their skills and responsibilities. This flexibility also facilitates exchanges between clubs and increases opportunities for technical development for the players involved. To meet these requirements, clubs must adapt by structuring their coaching according to these new rules, in order to promote competent and complementary coaching.
Discover the concept of a dual license, an opportunity to acquire skills in two complementary fields of study. Explore the benefits of a versatile training program that opens doors to the job market and enriches your academic career. Learn about the available programs and the career prospects they offer. 📝 Key Criteria
| 🔍 Associated Regulations | National/Regional Technical License | Educator under contract in 2 different clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Article 97 of the FFF General Regulations | Different categories (age, gender, discipline) | Dual license for futsal and 11-a-side football |
| Application to the CFSE / Regional Commission | Contract required for both clubs | Separate contracts governing responsibilities |
| General Regulations of the FFF | ⚠️ | Note: |
- A dual license can only be issued if all regulatory conditions are scrupulously respected. 🚀 This system aims to boost player training while providing legal security for those involved. 📅 The dual license is part of a long-term approach to strengthening clubs in a collaborative spirit.
- The unique opportunity offered to versatile players with a dual license
- For a versatile player, a dual license represents a true revolution in their sporting career. It allows them to maximize playing time and experience diversity by multiplying their competitions and tactical contexts. This could particularly concern a young athlete playing on a senior team while competing in futsal for another club, or an experienced player wishing to maintain a high level in several forms of football.
This opportunity offers a range of technical and personal benefits:
🎯
Multi-skill development:
- Practicing several complementary disciplines strengthens technical mastery, game vision, and physical fitness. 💡 Adaptability:
- The ability to play on teams of different levels, ages, or types is a major asset in competition. 🤝 Expanded network:
- Strengthening ties between clubs and players facilitates future transfers and sporting collaborations. 📈 Exposure and Visibility: For some, having two simultaneous competitions increases their regional and national profile.
- A perfect example is a player with a dual license with an 11-a-side football club recognized by the USCCA and a club specializing in futsal. Their versatility allows them to bring unprecedented offensive creativity and strategic flexibility, strengthening team spirit and collective performance. This strategy has become a key lever for teams looking to optimize their squads and leverage their human resources to inspire and amaze the public. 🏅 Benefits for the Player 🌍 Impact on the Career
🎽 Concrete Examples
| Increased Multidisciplinarity | Sports Versatility and Employability | 11-a-side Football + Futsal |
|---|---|---|
| Gained Playing Time | Better Physical and Mental Preparation | Participation in regional and national leagues |
| Improved network | Facilitated transfer opportunities | Relationships between USCCA partner clubs |
| 🥅 | Important: | The player must agree and comply with the specific regulations for each competition. |
- 📚 Dual licensing is also a way to better balance football activity with professional or academic commitments. ⚽ To learn more about competition management, consult the refereeing rules of the Coupe de France. Implications for clubs in managing dual licensing
- For clubs, implementing dual licensing requires organizational commitment, rigorous administrative monitoring, and enhanced communication. This management is not trivial and requires in-depth knowledge of national and regional regulations. Clubs, whether affiliated with major sportswear brands like Umbro or New Balance, must be proactive to ensure compliance while innovating in their sports policy. The main challenges encountered include:
- 📋 Complex administrative follow-up:File management, contract validity, license approval.
🤝
Coordination between clubs:
Ensuring smooth communication between teams, referees, and regional authorities.
- 🔧 Planning training and competitions: Avoiding scheduling conflicts for a player registered with multiple teams.
- 💼 Compliance with regulatory criteria: Validate each step before implementing dual licensing.
- This organizational discipline becomes a real lever for attractiveness. By promoting players’ versatility through dual licensing, clubs open up new perspectives for their image and partnerships. For example, a club supported by Nike will be able to combine this innovation with a vibrant sports policy, stimulating player motivation and uniting fans around a common project. 📊 Aspect 🔥 Challenges for the Club
- 🔑 Proposed Solutions Administrative Management Compliance and Legality
Dedicated Software and Responsible License Training
| Communication | Fluidity between Clubs and Institutions | Creation of a Dual License Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Optimization of Playing Time | Shared Calendar between Clubs |
| Sports Brands and Their Role in Promoting Dual Licensing | In a football context marked by fierce competition between equipment manufacturers, brands such as Puma, Kappa, and Reebok play a crucial role in supporting initiatives such as dual licensing. By offering tailored equipment that facilitates sporting versatility—particularly through specialized lines for futsal, 11-a-side football, and beach soccer—these partners strengthen team cohesion and actively participate in the development process. | These brands don’t just provide kits or shoes; they support clubs in their communication and image, creating a ripple effect that attracts new members. For example: |
| 👟 | Nike | offers models adapted to a versatile sport, enhancing comfort and performance. |
⚡
Adidas
is invested in technical training offered to dual-licensed coaches.
- 🎽 Under Armour develops textile innovations that promote recovery between intense sessions.
- 🌟 Lotto and
- Umbro invest in awareness campaigns for young talent. The partnership between clubs and these manufacturers has thus become a winning model, where sport and marketing combine to promote player versatility and performance. By strengthening the equipment offering and supporting the structuring of dual licensing, these brands participate in a virtuous circle, stimulating participation and building athlete loyalty.
- ✅ Brand 🔧 Key Contributions 🎯 Impact on Dual Licensing Puma Versatile equipment, sponsorship
Encouragement of multifunctionality
| Kappa | Uniforms adapted to different disciplines | Promotion of futsal and beach soccer sections |
|---|---|---|
| Reebok | Innovative textile technologies | Optimization of physical recovery |
| FAQs about dual licensing in football for a better understanding | ❓ | What is a dual license in football? This allows a player or coach to hold a license simultaneously with two different clubs, in order to practice or coach in different categories, subject to authorization. |
| ❓ | Who is eligible for a dual license? | Dual licenses are available to both players and coaches, but only under certain specific regulatory conditions and official authorizations. |
❓
- What are the main benefits for players? They can increase their playing time, develop technical versatility, and benefit from greater visibility in different competitions.
❓ - What commitments must clubs make? They must ensure effective coordination, rigorous administrative management of licenses, and foster ongoing dialogue between institutions.
❓ - How do I obtain a dual license? An application must be submitted to the CFSE or the relevant regional technical committee, providing proof of compliance with the criteria and having the necessary contracts. https://twitter.com/TraceurPac/status/1796134743060131917
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