Sportspersons who are amateurs at home, will be able to join a club in the UK as a sports visitor provided that the team is represented wholly or predominantly by amateur players and they are not being paid by the club  other than board and lodging and living expenses. The club must be regarded within their sport as an amateur one (i.e. one where the players are not normally paid or contracted to play for the club) and must not be in a professional league.

In the Immigration Rules an `amateur’ is defined, for the purpose of distinguishing him from a professional who is paid a salary for participation in sport (eg someone contracted to play for a sport or club) as a person who engages in a sport solely for personal enjoyment and who is not intending to derive a living, either wholly or in part, from the sport. Amateurs may not receive fees and sponsorship but may receive cash prizes as well as board, lodging and living expenses.

Sports visitors may undertake some informal or unpaid coaching provided that it is incidental to their playing with a club as amateurs.