The FA work in partnership with the England Amputee Football Association (EAFA) and County FAs to develop football opportunities for amputees, people with congenital limb deficiencies and persons with restricted use of limbs.

We fund a part-time national amputee football development officer, in partnership with the EAFA to retain and grow participation levels, and as of January 2018 there were 12 affiliated amputee football teams across England.

At a grassroots level you can choose whether to play with or without your prosthesis, both in amputee-specific and also within pan-disability teams/sessions. If you choose to use your prosthesis it must be approved in advance of you playing - for details on how to do this, please contact your local County FA.

The use of prosthesis is also permitted within traditional mainstream football, but again it must be approved in advance of you playing.

Walking football has become popular with amputee players, we have seen a rise in numbers getting involved in local mainstream sessions, as a low level entry into the game. It suits players of all ages that want to play a less intense format of the game.

If mainstream football is not for you there are a range of other formats you may wish to play:- 

Amputee Specific
• Competitive – The EAFA oversees the English Amputee Football League that, for season 2018-19, has seen eight adult teams enter with fixtures taking place monthly at various central venue locations.
• Recreational – for those who are not ready for, or don’t fancy, the competition of a league there are a range of amputee-specific recreational opportunities across the country.

Pan-Disability
• Competitive – There are 36 County Pan-Disability leagues that cater for players with a range of different disabilities, with over 1000 teams taking part across the country for season 2018-19. Fixtures tend to take place monthly at various central venue locations.
• Recreational – for those who don’t fancy the competition of a league there are hundreds of pan-disability recreational centres across the country that welcome amputee footballers.

We’re working hard with The EAFA to establish more youth opportunities for players to engage them in the game at a much younger age and ensure they get a choice of what format to play.

For more information about opportunities in your local area please contact your local County FA or the EAFA’s Owen Coyle owen@theeafa.co.uk

Amputee Specific League Classification and Rule Adaptions

Classification
In international amputee-specific competitions, outfield players are either above or below the knee single-leg amputee whilst goalkeepers are single-arm amputees. Domestically here in England there is some flexibility that allows arm amputees to play outfield (limitations apply to the league laws of the game).

Rule adaptations
Amputee-specific competitions adopt the following laws of the game:
- Seven players on each team with unlimited substitutions.
- Internationally, outfield players play without prosthesis on aluminium wrist crutches however the use of prosthesis is permitted domestically at grassroots level.
- Two halves of 25 minutes in duration.
- No offside.
- Pitch and goal sizes are smaller: the pitch is usually 60m x 40m.
- The goalkeeper is not allowed out of the penalty area.
- Players are not allowed to strike the ball or any other player with their crutches. An infringement would result in a ‘handball’ decision being made against the player with the opposition receiving a direct free kick.
- Slide tackles are not allowed.
- Players kick the ball into play instead of throwing.
- Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their residual limb.
- The goalkeeper is not allowed to save the ball with their residual limb – a penalty is awarded if this rule is broken.