U.S. SOCCER FEDERATION BYLAWS, POLICIES & STATEMENTS:
The U.S. Soccer Federation Bylaws and Policies are available on this web page. A few bylaws and policies that may be of specific interest to US Club Soccer members:
- Bylaw 212: General Responsibilities
- Policy 212-1: Participation in Affiliated Organizations
- Policy 531-9: Misconduct Towards Game Officials
- Policy 601-7: Competition Participation
NEW PROTOCOLS AND MODIFIED SUBSTITUTION RULES FOR SUSPECTED HEAD INJURIES:
CERTIFIED ATHLETIC TRAINERS REQUIREMENT:
Important updates have been made to the sanctioned tournament hosting application and terms. Pursuant to the U.S. Soccer player safety campaign, any tournament projected to have 64 or more teams at 11-U and older age groups must have an adequate number of certified athletic trainers or other healthcare providers in attendance. For more information on this requirement, please visit the “Sanction Your Tournament” web page and refer to the “certified athletic trainers at sanctioned tournaments” section.
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES:
In August 2015, U.S. Soccer announced two player development initiatives relating to new standards to small-sided games and birth-year registration. This page provides information on US Club Soccer’s implementation of those initiatives.
- U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives Presentation (updated September 2017). This presentation – available in English and Español – is designed as a resource to parents, coaches and referees.
BIRTH-YEAR REGISTRATION:
While the U.S. Soccer Federation’s birth-year registration mandate is required to be implemented by all U.S. Soccer members by August 1, 2017, US Club Soccer implemented this mandate as of August 1, 2016 for all of its programming. This included the NPL, National Cup and all sanctioned leagues and tournaments. This means that all US Club Soccer-operated or sanctioned competitions beginning must be based on age group cut-offs of January 1 for each age group. Clubs may continue to organize their teams for competition with players of any age younger than the age group cut-off.
SMALL-SIDED GAMES:
US Club Soccer members have been required to follow the U.S. Soccer mandates related to small-sided games, which also includes changes to field and goal sizes, since Aug. 1, 2017.
HOSTING INTERNATIONAL TEAMS:
Approval from the U.S. Soccer Federation must be obtained for any game or tournament involving international (“foreign”) teams. For more information or to apply, visit U.S. Soccer’s Application to Host a Tournament or Games Involving Foreign Teams web page on ussoccer.com.
Applications are due a minimum of 30 days prior to the start of the event. Please contact hosting-travel@ussoccer.org with questions.
LINKS / FORMS:
- U.S. Soccer Federation – Federation Services Resource Center
- Youth Permission to Travel/Host (Foreign Travel)
- International Games
- International Clearance Process – Note that it is the responsibility of each US Club member to abide by the U.S. Soccer and FIFA rules on foreign born players. US Club Soccer Player Rule 102 (e) states as follows:
- (e) International Player Clearances: Any foreign-born player must receive clearance from the United States Soccer Federation (“U.S. Soccer”) to register with an affiliated club in the United States, in accordance with then-current FIFA and U.S. Soccer rules and regulations, prior to participation. U.S. Soccer’s process and applicable forms can be found here.
- Sports Medicine
