MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:

[New Member Application]

There are four primary categories of membership in US Club Soccer.  A more complete definition of these categories can be found in the US Club Soccer Policies.

1. Club Membership (Youth or Adult):
   Any soccer club conducting programs for teams in at least three age groups is eligible to become a member of US Club Soccer, and must register a minimum of three teams on an annual basis.
   
   
2. Academy Membership (Youth Only):
   Soccer academies that are not a soccer club may join as a non-voting affiliate member by registering a minimum of 50 players annually.  See Section 3.04 (Affiliate Members) of the US Club Soccer Policies for a more complete definition of academies. While the general focus should be on player training, academies may field teams and attend events with their US Club Soccer player cards.  They may dual register US Club Soccer players with the permission of the player’s club, as long as the player’s primary affiliation is with their club.
   
   
3. League Team Membership (Youth or Adult):
   Clubs and teams may also join through a youth or adult soccer league that has been sanctioned by US Club Soccer.  In this case, they only register the teams that participate in the league, even if just one team.  They may do everything a club member does, but cannot vote or serve on the Board of Directors.
   
   
4. In-house Recreational Programs (Youth Only):
   In addition, youth clubs and leagues that have rec programs, that are primarily in-house or intramural in nature, can register as a rec member. In this case, player data is received via an Excel spreadsheet. Insurance coverage is the same, and the program can have tournaments sanctioned by US Club Soccer. Proof of birth is checked at the club or league level, and medical consent and waiver forms, while required, are also retained at the local level. Recreational coaches must complete a background check when they first register, and their registration is also completed directly on the Excel spreadsheet.

In addition, there are two special membership categories:

1. Super Rec:
   Teams that have limited competition against similar programs in the same geographical area (but are not competitive, travel teams) can be classified as Super Rec, and receive player passcards online for a slightly higher fee. Super Rec programs must be pre-approved and register their players the same as a league. Rec and Super Rec registration is not available to adult players (over U-20). If you think you qualify for this category, please discuss with your respective Membership Services Representative.
   
   
2. Tournament Teams:
   Note also that teams may join if they are playing in a US Club Soccer State Cup or in a US Club Soccer-sanctioned tournament:
   
   
• State Cup teams:
  Individual teams that are not US Club Soccer members may participate, on a space-available basis, in a US Club Soccer-sanctioned state cup.  These teams register at New Member Application, pay the regular player registration fee, and obtain player cards good for the entire registration year.
  
  
• Other tournament teams [youth only]:
  Non-member teams that need cards or tournament insurance to participate in a US Club Soccer-sanctioned tournament (that is not a US Club Soccer state cup or the National Cup) because their state association will not provide coverage for them can also become a US Club Soccer member, and receive cards good for the entire registration year. [Tournament Team Registration]
  
  

LEAGUES:

For more information on sanctioning an entire league through US Club Soccer, please visit the Leagues section of the website.

NEW MEMBER REGISTRATION:

To register your club, academy or league team, please complete the New Member Application. Prior to registering a rec program, please contact and discuss your plans with our staff. Rec programs still apply online, however. After your registration is approved, you will be sent a password to access the Members' Only section of the Web site where you will find more information on the player registration process, all necessary forms,  insurance information, etc.

MEMBERSHIP FEE PAYMENTS:

For club and academy members that make an initial $1,000 deposit, these monies are used for initial player registration, until exhausted.

Thereafter, fees are paid by credit card at the time the passcards are requested, or if pre-approved, members may make a deposit that is drawn down upon. Your registrar can elect for all club teams to pay with the same credit card, or have each team pay fees separately. Payment methods for some leagues and rec programs may vary slightly, and will be discussed with the new member.

All members’ players and staff are covered by the US Club Soccer liability and secondary medical policy. Please click for more insurance information.

Only new clubs and academies pay a $1,000 deposit at the time of application.  While this deposit is non-refundable, these are not membership dues. This deposit is credited against their initial player and staff registration fees.  League teams, rec programs, and state cup teams do not pay an initial deposit, but rather pay by credit card as they register their players and staff.

It’s important to note that there are no other fees for membership in US Club Soccer—no league or tournament sanctioning fees, no per team fees, no player transfer or other fees, or other administrative fees or surcharges for travel, etc. 

The registration year is the same as most other youth soccer organizations — August 1 to July 31. 

REGISTRATION FEES - PLAYERS, COACHES & STAFF:

Fees are as follows for the 2012-13 registration year:

Players (U-11 and below)	$14/player
Players (U-12 through U-19)	$18/player
Adult Players (U-20 and over)	$25/player
Rec players (youth only; no cards)	$8/player
Super rec players	$10/player
Staff (non-carded)	$5/staff member
Staff (two-year passcard)	$15/staff member

The registration fee is all-inclusive, and includes general liability and secondary medical. Fees for registering coaches and other staff include the cost of risk management checks. Each competitive coach or manager with direct contact with a team (players U-20 and below), or on the team bench must have a passcard and complete the background check every two years. A coach needs only one passcard to coach any team within the club.