Benefits of Membership with the United States Soccer Federation
MEMBERSHIP WITH THE UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION COMES WITH MANY BENEFITS. SOME OF THESE BENEFITS ARE OUTLINED BELOW:
IN THE AREA OF GOVERNANCE
US SOCCER PROVIDES THE INTERFACE WITH IOC, USOC, FIFA, AND CONCACAF
EACH MEMBER MAY USE THE US SOCCER APPEAL PROCESS
MEDIATION FOR DISPUTES
SETTLEMENT OF GRIEVANCES BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS
MEETING AND EVENT PLANNING AND LOGISTICS FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS, COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND ALL SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE FEDERATION.
PARTICIPATION IN FORMULATING THE BYLAWS AND POLICIES REGARDING GOVERNANCE OF SOCCER IN THE UNITED STATES
LINKS FROM US SOCCER WEBSITE TO THE WEBSITES OF AFFILIATES
UPDATE AND PUBLISH ON THE WEBSITE BYLAWS AND POLICIES
COLLECTION AND POSTING OF MINUTES OF MEETINGS
COACHING
OFFICIAL FIFA LICENSING PROGRAM FOR ALL LEVELS OF COACH
EDUCATION OF COACHES THROUGH DEVELOPMENT AND PRESENTATION OF MATERIALS
CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR COACHES
REFEREES
EDUCATION THROUGH PRODUCTION AND PRESENTATION OF MATERIALS BY US SOCCER REFEREE DEPARTMENT
LICENSING AND INSURING OF US SOCCER REGISTERED REFEREES
CONTINUING EDUCATION OF REFEREES
TRAINING AND LICENSING OF INSTRUCTORS, ASSESSORS AND ASSIGNORS
PRIORITY RIGHTS IN GAME COVERAGE GOES TO AFFILIATED GAMES
UP TO DATE WEBSITE FOR REFEREE INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL GAMES
APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL GAMES
APPROVAL PROCESS FACILITATED WITH FOREIGN NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL SOCCER GAMES AND EVENTS
COMMUNICATIONS
E-MAIL PARTICIPATION IN THE US SOCCER COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES UPDATES ON THE STATUS OF US SOCCER, NATIONAL TEAMS AND THE SPORT DIRECTLY TO YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS
NOTIFICATION OF NATIONAL TEAM GAMES AND TELEVISION SCHEDULE
FIRST RIGHT TO PURCHASE TICKETS FOR ALL US SOCCER OPERATED EVENTS – THIS GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO PURCHASE TICKETS BEFORE THE PUBLIC SALE.
PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES
AFFILIATION AND PLAYING OPPORTUNITIES OPEN TO ALL IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TED STEVENS AMATEUR SPORTS ACT
SELECTION AND FUNDING OF NATIONAL TEAMS AND PROGRAMS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, BEGINNING AT AGE 14
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF PLAYERS
GAME AND EVENT OPERATIONS
OTHER BENEFITS
APPROVAL OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
APPROVAL OF PERMISSION TO HOST INTERNATIONAL TEAMS
PROFESSIONAL PLAYER REGISTRATION
PROVIDE INFORMATION TO AMATEUR MEMBERS REGARDING PRO STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCE STATUS OF PLAYERS
SOLICIT AND TRACK INTERNATIONAL CLEARANCES
Responsibilities of Membership in the United States Soccer Federation
WHILE BEING A MEMBER IN THE US SOCCER FEDERATION ENTITLES YOU TO A NUMBER OF BENEFITS, THERE ARE ALSO RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS ARE EXPECTED TO FULFILL. SOME OF THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE LISTED BELOW:
EACH ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBER MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW, COMPLY WITH ALL BYLAWS, POLICIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE FEDERATION, AND ALL STATUTES, REGULATIONS, DIRECTIVES AND DECISIONS OF FIFA AND CONCACAF, EACH AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED OR MODIFIED FROM TIME-TO-TIME, TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE TO THAT CLASSIFICATION OF ORGANIZATION MEMBER.
MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE FEDERATION ANY AMENDMENT TO ITS ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS OR ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS.
SUBMIT TO THE FEDERATION ITS MOST CURRENT ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS AFTER THE END OF ITS FISCAL YEAR.
EXCEPT ASSOCIATES AND AS PROVIDED BY SECTION 1 OF BYLAW 601
REQUIRE THAT EVERY PLAYER, COACH, TRAINER, MANAGER, ADMINISTRATOR AND OFFICIAL THAT IS SPONSORED, FINANCED, COACHED, ORGANIZED OR ADMINISTERED BY AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER OR A MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER BE REGISTERED WITH THE APPROPRIATE ORGANIZATION MEMBER; AND
REGISTER WITH THE FEDERATION EACH SEASONAL YEAR THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THOSE PLAYERS, COACHES, TRAINERS, MANAGERS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND OFFICIALS REGISTERED WITH SUCH ORGANIZATION MEMBER.
PAY FEES AND OTHER AMOUNTS DUE TO THE FEDERATION BY DEADLINES SET BY THE FEDERATION.
COMPLY WITH THE SPORTS ACT.
IF THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITING, TRAINING, FIELDING OR FUNDING SOCCER PLAYERS, ESTABLISH A RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND PROTECT THE WELFARE OF PARTICIPANTS.
EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER AND ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS SHALL BE OPEN TO ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS AN AMATEUR ATHLETE, COACH, TRAINER, MANAGER, ADMINISTRATOR, OR OFFICIAL ACTIVE IN THE SPORT OF SOCCER WHO IS NOT SUBJECT TO SUSPENSION UNDER SECTION 4 OF BYLAW 241 OR PURSUANT TO THE DISCIPLINARY OR RISK MANAGEMENT ACTION OF ANY AMATEUR SOCCER ORGANIZATION IN ITS TERRITORY; AND EXCEPT FOR A NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER AND ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS SHALL BE OPEN TO ANY AMATEUR SOCCER ORGANIZATION IN ITS TERRITORY.
THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE FEDERATION, ITS RULES AND POLICIES, AND THESE BYLAWS, INCLUDING BYLAW 603 GOVERNING INTERPLAY, SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER AND SUPERSEDE THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND GOVERNING DOCUMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER AND ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT APPLICABLE LAW OTHERWISE REQUIRES AND THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER AND ITS MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS SHALL ABIDE BY THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE FEDERATION, ITS DULY APPROVED BINDING RULES AND POLICIES, AND THESE BYLAWS.
THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER SHALL NOT BECOME A MEMBER OF ANY ORGANIZATION THAT IMPOSES ANY REQUIREMENT THAT CONFLICTS WITH THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF THE FEDERATION, ITS RULES AND POLICIES, OR THESE BYLAWS.
EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE AND FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION MEMBERS, THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER SHALL HAVE A BOARD OF DIRECTORS (OR SIMILAR BODY) SELECTED THROUGH AN OPEN AND DEMOCRATIC ELECTION PROCESS.
EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE, THE ACTIONS AND POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (OR SIMILAR BODY), EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD (OR SIMILAR BODY), OR OFFICERS OF THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER SHALL BE REPORTED TO ITS MEMBERSHIP, OR THEIR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES, AT LEAST ONCE EACH YEAR AT A MEETING OF THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER’S MEMBERSHIP, WITH NOTICE OF THE MEETING AND ITS PURPOSES GIVEN TO SUCH MEMBERSHIP AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING.
THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER SHALL PROVIDE PROMPT AND EQUITABLE PROCEDURES FOR RESOLUTION OF COMPLAINTS OF ITS MEMBERS AND PROCEDURES FOR FAIR NOTICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING WITH RESPECT TO ANY COMPLAINT OF ANY ATHLETE, COACH, TRAINER, MANAGER, ADMINISTRATOR OR OFFICIAL WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER, OR A MEMBER ORGANIZATION THEREOF, CONCERNING A PROPOSED DECLARATION THAT ANY SUCH INDIVIDUAL IS INELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS OR OTHER ACTIVITIES OF SUCH ORGANIZATION MEMBER OR A MEMBER ORGANIZATION THEREOF AND SUCH PROCEDURES SHALL CONFORM, AS APPLICABLE, TO THE PROVISIONS OF PART VII OF THESE BYLAWS.
THE ORGANIZATION MEMBER SHALL ADOPT POLICIES PROHIBITING SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE.
THE FEDERATION MAY AUDIT OR REVIEW AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 3. THE FEDERATION’S REVIEW SHALL BE PERFORMED BY A TASK FORCE OR COMMITTEE DESIGNATED BY THE BOARD.
IF AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER INTENDS OR IS BEING COMPELLED BY LAW TO DISSOLVE OR OTHERWISE TERMINATE ITS EXISTENCE FOR ANY REASON, IT SHALL IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE FEDERATION.