The advantages of affiliation

For clubs

Clubs affiliated to England Athletics gain many advantages. These include:

• Funding programmes to benefit affiliated clubs
• Dedicated support for clubs from CCSOs (Club and Coach Support Officers)
• Insurance for affiliated clubs and their members
• Subsidised training events for club members
• Visits to clubs from expert coaches to support athlete development
• Discounts on coaching courses for registered club members (Coaching Assistant, Athletics Coach and Coach in Running Fitness qualification)
• Funding community athletic coach positions boost local opportunities
• Club member welfare and DBS record checking
• Resources and training programmes to support club development
• National Championships across a wide range of event groups
• Major national and regional award programme to recognise the efforts of the volunteer
• Specialist national and regional events, seminars and conferences to support coaches, officials, athletes and volunteer
• Benefits and support for competition organisers
• Delivery of licensed coach, teacher and officials education programmes
• Development of up-to-date resources for coaches, teachers and officials
• Specialist conferences and technical workshops for coaches, teachers and officials
• Introducing athletics to young people through the club–school links project
• Working with established bodies to secure more investment for talent development

Note: Competition licence cards will not be sent out to new registered athletes between 31 January and the start of the new affiliation year. Paid up registered athletes are still fully eligible for competition and will be allocated a registration number. 

Benefits for registered athletes

Registration with England Athletics brings a wide variety of benefits for athletes:

• Personal profile page on Power of 10
• Reduced entry fees for UKA licensed road and multi-terrain events (minimum £2)
• Discounted products at Sweatshop such as £15 off Running Shoes, 20% off Spikes and Racing Shoes, 15% off Spring/Summer Apparel, 20% off Autumn/Winter Apparel, £15 off Cross Country/Trail Shoes. Spend over £75 on Autumn/Winter apparel (incl High Viz) and get £20 off Running Shoes and much more.
• Discounts on Athletics Weekly magazine, save £6 per year on a Junior Subscription or £12 per year on a senior subscription.
• 10% off athletics equipment from Eveque and Sunwise sunglasses
• You will be entitled to discounts on coaching courses including Athletics Leader, Assistant Coach, Athletics Coach, Children's Coach and Coach in Running Fitness qualifications.
• Opportunities for you, (and at times your club or your school) to get involved in exclusive events and experiences

And importantly it enables you to opt to receive fortnightly bulletins on what's happening in the sport including essential information for athletes. To find out more about receiving this information click here. You can learn more about updating your profile to ensure we send you the information by clicking here.

The importance of affiliation and registration in athletics

Club affiliation and athlete registration are a vital part of the sport of athletics. They bring great benefits which allow the sport to function effectively and fairly. The reasons a club should affiliate and athletes should be registered include:

• clubs and athletes that are affiliated or registered with England Athletics have rights with regards to support, services and resources. These benefits include insurance, club places at the London Marathon, specialist coaching visits to clubs and preferential entries to events. To administer these and other benefits fairly and effectively it is important for us to know who our affiliated clubs and registered athletes are.
• athletes and clubs have the right to fair competition. Both clubs and athletes have the right to compete in confidence that they are competing against legitimate opposition, and not against opposition which is ineligible. For appropriate checks, monitoring and enforcement to be made affiliation and registration are necessary
• athletes and clubs have the right to information. They have the right to be contacted directly with essential information about the sport rather than having to rely on this being passed on indirectly or second-hand. Registration allows this to happen and for each athlete to make personal decisions about whether to receiving different types of non-essential information. This also reduces the burden on other people, often volunteers, who would otherwise be relied upon to communicate this information.
• athletes and clubs have the right to have their voice heard, and to have a say in how the sport is run. This requires two-way communication between England Athletics and its athletes. Affiliation and registration enables this to happen
• athletes and clubs have the right to know that appropriate standards are upheld in the areas of health, safety and welfare when they are participating in the sport. Licensing and registration help to enable the monitoring and enforcement necessary for the observance of these standards throughout the sport
• the information and communication that is made possible through club affiliation and athlete registration also help us to provide clubs and athletes with support and opportunities to help them maximise their potential and get as much enjoyment from the sport as possible.