NBL: Player Eligibility - Nationality 

 

 

Migrants in Amateur Leagues

The definitions of a migrant playing in amateur leagues (WNBL 1 & 2, NBL 2,3 & Conference League) under the visa that enables them to be in the UK has been updated as follows:

Government innovation rules and guidance HERE.

Important definitions and considerations are as follows:

“Amateur” means a person who engages in a sport or creative activity solely for personal enjoyment and who is not seeking to derive a living from the activity.

“Professional Sportsperson” means a person who is one or more of the following:

1. currently providing services as a sportsperson, or is playing or coaching in any capacity, at a professional or semi-professional level of sport (whether paid or unpaid); or
2. currently receiving payment, including payment in kind, for playing or coaching, and that payment covers all, or the majority of, their costs for travelling to, and living in, the UK, or has received such payment within the previous four years; or
3. currently registered to a professional or semi-professional sports team or has been so registered within the previous four years (this includes all academy and development team age groups); or
4. has represented their nation or national team within the previous two years, including all youth and development age groups from under-17s upwards; or
5. has represented their state or regional team within the previous two years, including all youth and development age groups from under-17s upwards; or
6. has an established international reputation in their chosen field of sport; or
7. engages an agent or representative, with the aim of finding opportunities as a sportsperson, and/or developing a current or future career as a sportsperson, or has engaged such an agent in the last 12 months; or
8. is providing services as a sportsperson or coach, unless they are doing so as an “Amateur” in a charity event; or
9. is providing services as a sportsperson or coach, unless they are doing so as a student who is studying a course.

Should a player meet any of the criteria above as a “Professional Sportsperson”, they will be unable to register for any league considered as amateur.