Pursuant to U.S. Soccer rules, current US Club Soccer staff registration is required of all individuals coaching, managing or working with US Club Soccer-registered youth players. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, all coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers assigned to a team with youth players, regardless of whether they are volunteers or paid staff, or registered with another U.S. Soccer member organization.
Individuals that are not currently registered with US Club Soccer are not allowed to participate with US Club Soccer-registered youth players, nor are they covered by US Club Soccer insurance. Clubs/organizations whose members are not in compliance with this requirement are subject to disciplinary action.
Player Health and Safety Initiatives: As part of its Players First philosophy and in order to promote a safe environment, US Club Soccer requires completion of the following Player Health and Safety Initiatives by all staff members registering with US Club Soccer.
This requirement takes effect with the 2018-19 registration year. Please click here to read CEO Kevin Payne’s letter. Completion takes approximately 90 minutes, but it does not need to be done at once. You may save your progress and pick up where you left off at a later time.
Instructions: Please send an email to SafeSport@usclubsoccer.org to receive an auto-reply with the link, U.S. Soccer access code, and instructions to take the course. (The U.S. Center for SafeSport and U.S. Soccer will not allow the code to be posted publicly.)
Once the course is completed, you will be able to download a master “SafeSport Trained” certificate from your SafeSport dashboard. Save this certificate. You will be required to upload it into your next US Club Soccer background screening application, as a condition of US Club Soccer staff registration.
Timeframe: As soon as possible, before your participation with US Club Soccer-registered players. We also recommend others in your club/organization who may not be required to register with US Club Soccer become SafeSport Trained.
Cost / Payment: Free.
Technical support: Contact the U.S. Center for SafeSport Technical Support Help Desk at (720) 676-6417 or complete the contact form on this web page.
You will receive a certificate number when the course is complete, which must then be entered into the corresponding background screening application (#3 below). Completion takes approximately one hour, but it does not need to be done at once. Users may save their progress and pick-up where they left off at a later time.
Link / instructions: usclubsoccer.sidelinesportsdoc.com/
Timeframe: Every other registration year. For competitive staff, that means the course must be completed each time you register with US Club Soccer. More specifically, the course must be completed within the 120 days preceding submission of one’s background screening application.
Cost and payment: $5 per person, which is payable 1) by the person taking the course, or 2) clubs/leagues may cover the cost for some or all of their staff members by purchasing access in bulk.
Purchasing bulk access (for registrars or club officials): To make a first-time bulk purchase, please visit this web page. From that page, you’ll be able to immediately make a purchase and create a coupon code that can be used by your staff to access the course at zero cost to them. If you have an existing code, you may view the status of your club licenses and add to them immediately if you wish by visiting this web page.
Other: The course takes approximately one hour to view the videos, but it does not need to be done at once. You may save your progress and pick up where you left off at a later time.
You are required to upload both your “SafeSport Trained” master certificate, and the Sideline Sports Doc-US Club Soccer online course completion certificate, into your background screening application. If you uploaded the incorrect “SafeSport Trained” or Sideline Sports Doc online course certificate to your background screening application, click here for instructions to replace those initial certificates with the correct versions.
Links: Background Screening Application / Background Screening web page
Timeframe: Every other registration year. For competitive staff, that means the background screening application must be completed each time you register with US Club Soccer. The background screening application must be submitted within the three months prior to one’s registration request.
Cost and payment: $18 per application, which is payable 1) by the person completing the application via a credit card or bank draft transaction (default), or 2) clubs/leagues may cover the cost for some or all of their staff members by purchasing one-time use, prepaid codes. All applicants will have the opportunity to enter a prepaid code during the background screening application process.
Purchasing prepaid codes (for registrars or club officials): Submit the US Club Soccer Background Screening Prepaid Code Request Form. From that page, you may purchase your desired quantity of one-time use, prepaid codes and then distribute these unique codes to some or all of your coaches/staff members for use during the background screening application payment process at zero cost to them.
Unused prepaid codes issued prior to April 26, 2019, are not longer valid. Affected clubs will be emailed replacement prepaid codes by May 8, 2019. If you have any questions, please email prepaidcodes@usclubsoccer.org.
Links: US Club Soccer’s registration platform, powered by SportsEngine (formerly known as KYCK Play) (for competitive staff) / Rec Registration Form #R003-R (for rec staff)
Timeframe: Competitive staff: In accordance with the Competitive Staff Registration-Passcard Validity Dates [.pdf]. Rec staff: Each registration year.
Cost / Payment: A staff passcard costs $25 and is paid at the time of the passcard request. Rec staff registration costs $5 and will be invoiced after submission of the Rec Registration Form.
If you uploaded the incorrect “SafeSport Trained” or Sideline Sports Doc online course certificate to your background screening application, click here for instructions to replace those initial certificates with the correct versions.
Currently registered staff members whose background screening or registration is already valid through the 2018-19 registration year do not need to complete the Sideline Sports Doc online course or another background screening until the following (2019-20) registration year.
Questions? Please contact your respective US Club Soccer regional administrator:
