2015 SKNFA club licensing boosts women’s game

ASSETERRE, St. Kitts & Nevis – As evidenced by a recent workshop conducted jointly by CONCACAF and FIFA, the advantages of club licensing will have a lasting impact in numerous ways.

The St. Kitts & Nevis Football Association (SKNFA) is finalizing the steps it and its clubs must take to be in compliance with new global standards, which will apply to all of the country’s Premier League (10) and First Division (15) clubs.

“Our federation has embraced the new Club Licensing System as a true development tool, and we are aiming to raise the sporting and administrative levels of our clubs in a first phase, while making sure that we increase the number of women playing football in our islands,” said SKNFA President Anthony Johnson. “With FIFA and CONCACAF’s support, we are confident that we will successfully implement Club Licensing in St. Kitts and Nevis with the start of our 2016-2017 football seasons.”

St. Kitts & Nevis has been historically known for its community-based football clubs. In order to strengthen football’s role within that culture, those organizations are required to submit documentation by the August 2, 2016, deadline.

This timeframe will allow ample time for analysis by the SKNFA’s Club Licensing administrators ahead of decisions on whether to award or deny licenses through the First Instance Body on August 27, 2016.

Throughout the last three seasons, Premier League clubs have started to develop women’s teams as part of their overall structure. Next year, having a women’s side will be essential to the eventual granting of a license.

Other minimum requirements include: fielding under-13 and under-15 teams, completing four online forms, proposing a budget for the upcoming season, appointing at least one individual to the roles of General Manager, Finance Officer, Marketing Officer and Media Officer, and submitting statutes.

In order to establish and act as the licensor of the new system in St. Kitts & Nevis, the SKNFA has finalized its Club Licensing Regulations and Support Manual, as well as appointed a First Instance Body, an Appeals Body and a Club Licensing Manager.

The overall vision of CONCACAF’s Club Licensing system is to improve the quality of all men’s and women’s clubs that participate in sanctioned football, futsal and beach soccer leagues through the implementation of 41 unique Club Licensing systems in partnership with each one of our Member Associations.