TFA and QTF 2026 to 2028 Apparel Licensing Program Explained
The TFA and QTF Apparel Licensing Program runs from 1 March 2026 to 31 July 2028. It merges two previously separate programs into one. Only licensed suppliers may put association logos on club uniforms.
Committees often assume this only concerns suppliers. It does not, because non-compliant uniforms can keep your team out of State Cup and national events. Team Spirit Sports holds a licence under the program.
This guide explains the TFA QTF apparel licensing program and what it requires of clubs. It also covers the deadline that catches most people out.
Key Takeaways
- The licence term runs 1 March 2026 to 31 July 2028.
- Eight licences were issued, plus two held by official apparel partners.
- Association logos are compulsory for State Cup and national events.
- From 1 January 2027, all uniforms must meet the guidelines for those events.
- NSWTA runs a separate program until its agreement expires in 2028.
What the Program Is
Touch Football Australia and Queensland Touch Football previously ran their apparel licensing separately. New South Wales Touch Association ran a third program.
From 1 March 2026, TFA and QTF operate a single combined program. The stated aims are efficiency, better quality control and consistent branding across uniforms and events.
A licence grants non-exclusive rights to use TFA and QTF intellectual property, logos and brands. Those rights cover club, affiliate and regional team uniforms.
How Many Suppliers Hold a Licence
This is where the published figures moved considerably, and it matters.
The November 2025 announcement set a maximum of fifteen suppliers. The January 2026 application round revised that to thirteen. The final position is eight licences issued. Two more are held by the official apparel partners, New Balance and Tribal Sport.
So the field is far smaller than clubs were originally told to expect. If your existing supplier is not on the approved list, they cannot legally produce your uniforms with association branding.
Which Events Require Compliant Uniforms
The requirements differ by jurisdiction:
Where your club sits | Logos required | Events affected |
Queensland | TFA and QTF | Queensland State Cup, Queensland Junior State Cup, DoorDash National Youth Championship, The Championships, future national events |
TFA Alliance States: WA, TAS, SA, VIC, NT, ACT | TFA and the relevant state logo | State Cup or equivalent, Junior State Cup or equivalent, DoorDash National Youth Championship, The Championships, future national events |
New South Wales | TFA and NSWTA | DoorDash National Youth Championship, The Championships, future national events |
Ordinary weekly competition is not the issue here. The requirements bite when your team qualifies for representative fixtures.
The 1 January 2027 Deadline
This is the detail most clubs miss. Existing uniforms that fall short of the guidelines can still be used at the listed events. Clubs apply to TFA or QTF for a dispensation.
That flexibility ends on 1 January 2027. From that date, all uniforms must meet the guidelines to attend those events, with no dispensation available.
Clubs planning a kit cycle should work backwards from that date. Production lead times mean the practical deadline is considerably earlier.
The Uniform Guidelines
The program runs alongside the Touch Football Uniform Rules and Guidelines. Version 5.1 is the current release, having replaced version 5.0.
The current version introduced several changes:
- Combined guidelines covering TFA, QTF and NSWTA in one document
- Revised application of national and state logos
- Clearer minimum and maximum logo sizing
- More flexibility for sponsor branding and placement
- Guidance on sun safety, headwear, compression garments, jewellery and fingernails
Logo positioning is specified rather than left to the designer. Getting your logo placement right is a compliance question under this program, not a design preference.
Do You Need New Uniforms?
Not necessarily. Two things decide it. Whether your current kit meets the guidelines, and whether your supplier holds a licence.
If Your Supplier Was Re-Licensed
You can continue with them. Existing uniforms that already meet the guidelines are fine. Any new designs must meet the current guidelines.
If Your Supplier Was Not Licensed
They can no longer produce uniforms carrying association intellectual property. If you want or need that branding, you must order from an approved supplier.
If Your Current Kit Does Not Comply
Apply for dispensation, or replace the uniforms. Remember that the dispensation route closes at the start of 2027.
Why the Two Programs Merged
Running separate programs meant suppliers applied twice, clubs faced different rules either side of a border, and branding varied across events.
The stated benefits of merging are efficiency, improved quality control and stronger brand consistency. The associations also point to reduced financial burden on participants.
For clubs the practical gain is simpler. One set of guidelines now covers Queensland and the alliance states. A supplier approved in one is approved across all seven.
Who Selects the Licensed Suppliers
TFA and QTF assess applications together. The published criteria are not about size or reputation.
The associations state they select for a spread of:
- Price points, so smaller clubs are not priced out
- Design options, covering different club needs
- Order lead times, including faster turnaround providers
That matters when choosing between licensed suppliers. All hold the same rights, so the difference sits in price, design capability and how quickly they can deliver.
What the Licence Does Not Cover
Two limits are worth knowing, because they surprise clubs and suppliers alike.
State representative uniforms for the TFA alliance states are not available through licensees. Those rights sit with the official apparel provider. Licensees supply affiliates and non-representative teams.
Merchandise sales at TFA and QTF events are also excluded. Those rights belong to the official apparel partners.
What Happens If You Breach
Breaches are reviewed case by case and taken seriously. Entities must submit uniform designs to event organisers for approval under the conditions of entry.
A show cause notice may be issued to either the supplier or the club. Consequences can extend to financial penalties for the club, affiliate or region.
The practical risk is simpler than the formal one. A design that fails approval close to an event leaves no time to reorder.
Where New South Wales Sits
NSWTA continues to run its own apparel licensing program, and this program does not grant rights to NSWTA intellectual property.
The stated intention is for NSWTA to join the amalgamated national program when its current agreement expires in 2028. Until then, New South Wales clubs work under separate arrangements for state-level events.
NSWTA requirements are still included in the combined uniform guidelines for national events. That is the part clubs on both sides of the border tend to conflate.
What This Means for Smaller Clubs
Social and junior clubs sometimes assume licensing is only a concern for representative sides. That holds until a team qualifies for something.
The risk is timing. A side reaching State Cup for the first time may discover the problem weeks out. By then there is no production window left.
Ordering compliant kit from the start removes that entirely. It costs nothing extra if the supplier already holds a licence.
What Clubs Should Do Now
Five practical steps:
- Confirm your supplier holds a current licence
- Check your existing kit against the current guidelines
- Apply for dispensation if needed, before 2027
- Plan your replacement cycle backwards from 1 January 2027
- Submit designs early for event approval
Asking the right questions of a teamwear supplier will settle most of this in one conversation. Licence status should be the first of them.
Committees running a full refresh should build the compliance check into their club kit plan. It is not a final approval step.
Team Spirit Sports Holds a Licence
Team Spirit Sports is one of the suppliers approved under the TFA and QTF Apparel Licensing Program for the 2026 to 2028 term. Our coverage spans seven jurisdictions. Those are Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the ACT.
With only eight licences issued outside the official apparel partners, the approved field is genuinely small. That is worth verifying before any club commits to an order.
As a custom uniform manufacturer we build the guidelines into the first proof. Logo positions and sizing are settled before a design reaches you.
Get Ahead of the 2027 Deadline
The TFA QTF apparel licensing program is straightforward once you know the two things that matter. Use a licensed supplier, and meet the guidelines before January 2027.
Clubs that check both this season will avoid the rush when the dispensation window closes.
Design compliant kit with our 3D design tool, or contact our team for a tailored quote.
Apparel Licensing Program FAQs
How long does the licence term run?
From 1 March 2026 to 31 July 2028. That is 29 months in total.
How many suppliers are licensed?
Eight licences were issued. Two additional licences are held by the official apparel partners.
Do all uniforms need association logos?
Only for the listed State Cup and national events. Ordinary weekly competition is not affected.
What happens on 1 January 2027?
Dispensations end. All uniforms must meet the guidelines to attend the listed events from that date.
Does the program cover New South Wales?
No. NSWTA operates its own program until its agreement expires in 2028. NSWTA requirements still apply at national events.
Can we keep our current uniforms?
If they meet the guidelines and your supplier is licensed, yes. If not, you can seek dispensation until the end of 2026.