US Club Soccer Registration – What Families Need to Know

Overview: Our Club’s US Club Soccer Membership

Girls Only Soccer Club is in the process of becoming a member of US Club Soccer, a national youth soccer organization. Membership allows us to register our players and coaches under US Club Soccer, providing them with official player cards and insurance coverage. (All US Club Soccer–registered youth players, coaches, and staff are covered by an excess accident medical insurance policy during sanctioned activities usclubsoccer.org.)

What the Club Is Doing: GO SC’s administrators are handling all the administrative requirements: we will register our teams (7v7 and 9v9) and players in US Club Soccer’s registration system (GotSport). We are also paying the necessary fees for club membership, player cards, and coach/volunteer registrations out membership costs already collected from families. This means families do not need to pay any extra registration costs to US Club Soccer – the club covers those expenses. Additionally, our club is ensuring that all coaches and volunteers meet US Club Soccer’s safety and compliance requirements, such as completing background checks and training, which we outline below.

Player Registration Process & Requirements

Registering a player with US Club Soccer involves a few key steps and documents. The club will initiate the player’s registration in the system on your behalf, but we will need some information and action from each family to complete it. Below is an overview of the process and what is required:

• Player Information Entry: Completed by Club. We (the club) will enter each player’s basic information into the US Club Soccer/GotSport online system to create their member profile. This includes assigning the player to our club and team for the season. This step will be done for each player each registration year (US Club Soccer’s registration year runs roughly August–July)

• Once entered, the player is “pending” until required documents are verified and the registration is approved. Proof of Birth Verification: One-time requirement for each player. US Club Soccer requires verification of each player’s date of birth. To satisfy this, you will need to provide an official proof-of-birth document for your child. This document can be uploaded either by the parent or by our club administrator, and then it will be verified by US Club Soccer

• Accepted documents for proof of birth include a birth certificate, passport, driver’s license, or other government-issued document (such as those issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or USCIS) that verifies birth date

• In most cases, a copy of the birth certificate is the easiest and most common option. If our club enters your child’s information in the system first, you may receive an email prompting you to upload the birth document (or you can send it to us and we’ll upload it for you). This proof of birth only needs to be provided once for each player’s time with the club – it will stay on file after being verified. Player Waiver & Medical Release (Form #R002): Annual requirement. Each player must have a US Club Soccer Player Info, Medical Treatment Authorization, Liability Waiver/Release and Consent Form (Form R002) completed by a parent or guardian (for minors) as part of the registration process

• This form provides emergency contact info, grants medical treatment permission, and includes liability waivers. The club will provide you with this form (or a link to complete it). Parents should fill out and sign the form for their player. Our club is required to retain the signed R002 form on file for at least five years or until the player turns 18 (whichever is longer)

• We do not typically send this form to US Club Soccer unless requested, but it is mandatory that we have it completed and on record. Please return this signed form to the club by the requested deadline.

Player Photo: Annual requirement (for player card)

Each player will need a photo in the system for their US Club Soccer player pass (ID card). Typically, this is a headshot (similar to a passport photo: front-facing, no hats or sunglasses). Our club will either take a photo or request you to upload one. The photo can be uploaded to the player’s GotSport profile. We’ll ensure this meets the requirements so that the player’s card can be printed with their picture. US Club Player Card Approval: Once we have entered the player’s info, uploaded the proof of birth, collected the R002 form, and added a photo, the club will submit the registration to US Club Soccer. US Club Soccer will then verify the birth document and approve the player’s membership in the system. After approval, we can generate the official US Club Soccer player card for your child. This card is proof of registration and will be used for league games or tournaments. (Player cards may be digital or printed – our team managers will have access to them as needed.) Important: Proof of birth and the signed waiver are mandatory for all players – players cannot be officially registered or issued a card until these are in place. Fortunately, US Club Soccer allows these documents to be managed at the club level and via the online system, making it straightforward: we collect and upload, and US Club Soccer verifies idahofootballfederation.com usclubsoccer.org . Coach & Volunteer Requirements (Safety/Risk Management) US Club Soccer has strict requirements to ensure all adults working with the players are qualified and safe. Our club is taking care of registering coaches and any volunteer managers as “staff” in the US Club system. This includes: Background Checks: Every coach or staff member must pass a national background screening as a condition of US Club Soccer registration usclubsoccer.org . The background check looks for any disqualifying criminal history and is required under US Club Soccer Policy 13.08. Typically, background screenings are renewed every two years for each coach/volunteer. Our club will cover the fees for these background checks and ensure that all coaches complete them. No coach or volunteer will be added to the team roster until they have an approved background check. SafeSport Training: In compliance with federal law (the SafeSport Act) and US Club Soccer policy, all coaches and staff must complete SafeSport abuse prevention training each year. This is an online course mandated for any adult with regular contact with minor athletes tenaflyunitedsoccerclub.com tenaflyunitedsoccerclub.com . Our coaches will take this training (or the annual refresher if they have taken it before) and provide their certificate as part of their registration. This training educates coaches on how to prevent, recognize, and report any form of abuse or misconduct. (Any player who will turn 18 during the season and share a locker room or field with minors would also be required to take SafeSport training, though this is unlikely for our current youth age groups.) Coaching Education & Other Requirements: US Club Soccer may require additional items such as an injury recognition course (formerly “Sideline Sports Doc” course) for coaches, and our club will ensure those are completed when applicable tenaflyunitedsoccerclub.com . We are also providing GotSport training to coaches or team managers who need to use the system for tasks like checking player cards or game day rosters. All these steps for coaches/staff are being managed by the club. We want families to know that every coach or adult with the team will be fully registered and compliant with US Club Soccer’s safety standards before working with the players. (US Club Soccer registration is not complete – and insurance is not valid – for a coach until their staff passcard is approved by US Club Soccer tenaflyunitedsoccerclub.com , which is why we take this process seriously.) What Families Need to Do For parents, the main responsibilities in this process are: Provide Required Documents: Be prepared to submit a proof-of-birth document for your child (e.g., a birth certificate or passport). If you have not already given a copy to the club, please do so. We can accept a scanned copy or clear photo of the document. (This will be used to verify your child’s age and then kept on file – you do not need to provide it again after verification idahofootballfederation.com , unless you join a new club in the future.) Complete the Player Waiver Form (R002): Fill out and sign the US Club Soccer Player Registration and Medical Treatment Authorization Form (Form #R002) for your child sanjuansouth.com . The club will supply this form (either via email or hard copy link). It includes important medical info and waivers. Return the signed form to us by the deadline given. We will keep this form in our records as required sanjuansouth.com . Submit a Player Photo: If asked, please upload or provide a headshot photo of your child for their player card. We’ll give you instructions on the photo requirements. Often, a smartphone photo against a plain background works fine. Watch for Email from “GotSport” or the Club: After we enter your child into the system, you might receive an automated email invitation to log in to the GotSport platform to complete any missing items (such as uploading the birth certificate or e-signing the waiver). If you get an email like this, follow the instructions provided. (If you prefer, you can instead send the documents to the club and we will handle the upload on your behalf.) Please also keep an eye on communications from our club in case we need any additional information. Ask for Help if Needed: If you have any trouble with the online system or have questions about the forms, reach out to us. We can guide you through uploading documents to GotSport, or we can arrange to collect paperwork in person. Our club is committed to helping every family get their player registered smoothly – including offering GotSport training or support for those who need it. Timeline: We aim to have all players registered with US Club Soccer well before the season starts. Once your child’s registration is approved, they will be eligible to participate in any US Club Soccer sanctioned leagues or tournaments. We will inform you when your child’s US Club Soccer player card is ready. There’s no additional action needed from you at that point – the card will be handled by the team manager/coach for game check-ins (though we can provide a copy if you’d like one for your records). Summary and Key Points Club Membership: Our club is joining US Club Soccer and handling all the setup and fees for player and coach registrations usclubsoccer.org . This affiliation provides benefits like official player cards and insurance coverage for our participants usclubsoccer.org . Player Registration: The club registers players each year through GotSport. Parents must supply a proof of birth document and sign the US Club Soccer waiver form to complete registration usclubsoccer.org sanjuansouth.com . The club will assist with uploading documents and will retain the signed waivers on file sanjuansouth.com . No Extra Fees for Families: All US Club Soccer registration costs for players and staff (including coach background checks) are covered by the club from the fees you’ve paid. You will not be charged additional fees for registering with US Club. Coach/Volunteer Compliance: All coaches and team staff will be background checked and SafeSport trained per US Club Soccer requirements before working with the kids usclubsoccer.org tenaflyunitedsoccerclub.com . This ensures a safe environment for our players. What You Need to Do: Provide your child’s birth proof and signed waiver, and respond to any registration prompts. Essentially, help us gather the required paperwork, and we’ll handle the rest. If you have any issues, we are here to help you through it. By working together on these steps, we’ll ensure every player is properly registered and ready to play under US Club Soccer. This one-time process for new players will make our teams eligible for competitions and will give our club and families peace of mind knowing everyone is documented and insured. We appreciate your cooperation in completing the registration requirements. If you have any questions about the process, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for being a part of this exciting step as we become an official US Club Soccer member club!