Is my child an amateur or a professional, and can they be paid?

A professional is a player with a written contract with a club under which they are paid more than the expenses they effectively incur to play football for that club. Any player who is not a professional is an amateur.

A club may pay or reimburse an amateur's expenses (for example travel, kit, equipment or insurance premiums) without changing their status. If an amateur is paid or reimbursed more than $115 a week, the club must satisfy the competition administrator that the amount reflects the expenses actually incurred. If it cannot, the player is deemed a professional.

Clubs must record each player's status accurately on the National Online Registration System, and all amateurs must be registered through it. A professional cannot re-register as an amateur until at least 30 days after their last match as a professional.

Source: article 5, National Registration, Status and Transfer Regulations (22 September 2026).