What are the registration windows, and can a player be registered outside them?

Question

Accepted Answer

Registration Periods (article 6.10): unless Football Australia (FA) authorises otherwise, a Player may be registered only during one of two Registration Periods set or approved by FA: one of no less than 8 and no more than 12 weeks, beginning after a Season ends and before the next Season starts; and one of no less than 4 and no more than 8 weeks, in the middle of a Season. The dates for National Leagues and Professional Competitions are those specified in FIFA TMS and notified by FA, and they apply to Professionals and to Amateurs seeking to register for a Club in a Professional Competition. Amateur Competitions: Registration Periods do not apply. The Competition Administrator must specify in the Competition Rules any timeframes within which Players may be registered, taking into account the integrity of the Competition. Outside the periods (article 6.11): FA or a Member Federation may register a Player outside a Registration Period only in the listed cases, subject to DTC or ITC requirements. They include: a Professional whose contract has expired or been mutually terminated, or who ended it with Just Cause or had it ended by the Club without Just Cause; a goalkeeper who needs a DTC but not an ITC, where FA or the Member Federation is satisfied the Club has a justifiable reason and evidence; a female Player temporarily replacing a female Player on Maternity, Adoption or Family Leave, or returning from that leave or pregnancy-related recovery; and any Player who needs a DTC but not an ITC where FA or the Member Federation is satisfied in its absolute discretion that exceptional circumstances exist. A Club requesting a DTC must enter all mandatory information and upload all mandatory documents in the National DTMS by the closure of the relevant Registration Period. Source: NRSTRs, articles 6.7, 6.10 and 6.11.