International Player Rules/Instructions
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INTERNATIONAL PLAYER CLEARANCE RULES MODIFIED
The below international clearance rules must be followed if a foreign born player is on a state cup rostered team or is traveling internationally with a team. If this player is not on a state cup team or traveling internationally with a team then these rules do not apply for a Massachusetts Youth Soccer affiliated club/town/league. In this case, the player must simply fulfill all registration requirements for the town/club and affiliated league in order to qualify to play.
If you are inquiring about a state cup rostered player or a player who needs to play internationally please read below as without following the below procedure the player cannot and will not be cleared to play.
IMPORTANT: FIFA has adopted a recent change in the international player clearance procedures for 17 year old players. While this change only impacts 17 year olds, the changes that have been made significantly impact the clearance process and the time it will take to secure clearance before the player can be placed on a team roster. Any team with a 17 year old player must become familiar with these policy clearance changes. Please see Category 3 – International Transfer Clearance Request Procedure for Players Currently 17 Years Old.
General International Player Clearance Guidelines:
As a result of this change and other changes that have been made over the last few years, and a series of questions that have since been posed to the state office, we have contacted US Soccer for clarification on the guidelines that should be followed and what forms need to be completed when dealing with players born outside of the United States. Please note that these guidelines apply to all players born outside of the United States, even if they are, or subsequently become, a US citizen.
The guidelines below contain instructions given to us by US Soccer, and should be used for all future roster determination issues. Failure to follow the specific guidelines may result in a player being declared ineligible, and the team's forfeiture of all games in which the player's name appeared on the game roster, whether or not the player participated in that game.
In addition to rules applicable to foreign players, there are also rules for US citizens who have played soccer outside of the US if that player appeared on the roster of a foreign team. See below for additional details.
Please consult and follow these revised guidelines when rostering foreign players. If you have any questions regarding the International Clearance process, please contact Jim Gondek at statecupinfo@gmail.com for assistance.
Permanent Residence Foreign Born Players:
Any player who was not born in the United States but is now living in this country must first be cleared by US Soccer before being placed on a team roster. US Soccer and its affiliates are bound by the rules and regulations found in FIFA’s regulations for the status and transfer of players.
A player who was not born in the United States, but is now living permanently in this country, may be placed on a Massachusetts roster, but must first follow the applicable procedures below, based upon the age of the player when they first came to the United States.
Once this process has been completed and appropriate documents have been submitted to Mass Youth Soccer indicating that the player has received international clearance, players will be placed on a master listing by US Soccer (and Mass Youth Soccer), and will not be required to submit this required paperwork moving forward, provided the initial process used was Category 1 or Category 2 below.
There are four categories under which a player can obtain International Clearance:
Category 1) Proof of Entry Prior to Age 12 Procedure***
Category 2) Waiver Form Procedure (used if player is currently between the ages of 12 and 16 and did not enter the US prior to age 12, or traveled outside of the United States)
Category 3) International Transfer Clearance Request Procedure for Players Currently 17 Years Old
Category 4) International Transfer Clearance Request Procedure for Players Currently 18 Years Old or Older
***For any player who entered the US prior to their 12th birthday, regardless of current age.
All players must be properly registered with Mass Youth Soccer before any paperwork will be processed on a player. [Please note that registering a player is separate and distinct from placing that player on a roster.] When submitting forms, please be sure to include contact info should we need to contact you with questions regarding your paperwork.
A summary of the clearance guidelines follows:
Category 1) Proof of Entry Prior to Age 12 Procedure - A “Proof of Entry Prior to 12 Years of Age Submission Form” must be completed for each player who entered the US prior to attaining age 12. In addition to this form, a copy of an official document which clearly indicates the player was living in the US prior to his/her12th birthday must also be submitted.
The following are examples of acceptable proof of entry documents. Please note that the document that is submitted must clearly identify the US institution or office that issued the document:
· school records/report cards
· doctor’s records
· immunization records
· immigration records
· state issued ID cards
· registration history with state association
A passport is NOT an acceptable proof of entry document. If the child has left the country at any time and crossed US borders to play soccer (and is now over the age of 12), you must follow Category #2, Category #3 or Category #4 based on the player's current age.
Mass Youth Soccer will forward the form and documentation to US Soccer. US Soccer will confirm receipt and approval of the form and proof of entry documentation. Mass Youth Soccer will then provide the team with notification that it is acceptable to roster the player.
Please CLICK HERE for Proof of Entry Prior to 12 Year of Age Submission Form
Category 2) Waiver Form Procedure - The International Clearance Waiver Form is used for all players CURRENTLY between the ages of 12 and 16, that have either just entered the United States, or have traveled outside of the United States (even if only for a short period of time). The player must fill out the International Clearance Waiver Form and send it to Mass Youth Soccer for approval. If the player can not answer “NO” to all questions, the player must fill out the International Clearance Request Form (described below). Mass Youth Soccer will forward the International Clearance Waiver Form to US Soccer. US Soccer will process this form, and hold on file.
Category 3) International Transfer Clearance Request Procedure for Players Currently 17 Years Old - FIFA has adopted a recent change in the procedure for International Clearance regarding players who were born outside the United States (1) who are currently age 17, (2) who have never been cleared, and (3) and who entered the US at age 12 or older. This is defined by US Soccer as players in Category 3 of the international clearance process.
Previously, the International Transfer Clearance Request Form and a letter of “Non-Footballing”,(stating that the player did not come to the United States for the sole purpose of playing soccer), was accepted as provisionary paperwork while the 30 day verification period took place at US Soccer Federation. As part of the changes, the International Clearance Request Form is still a requirement. However, the “Non”Footballing” letter will no longer be accepted, thus removing any chance for provisionary status.
A player now cannot be rostered until all paperwork/proof is submitted and the player receives final clearance from the US Soccer Federation.
Unfortunately, this new process takes more time to clear (potentially up to 3 months), so teams with players in this circumstance must account for this. Under the new FIFA guidelines, all of the following documents must be submitted in order for the ITC Clearance process to take place:
1. International Clearance Request Form
2. Player’s Passport
3. Player’s Birth Certificate
4. Players’ Parent’s Passports
5. Player’s Parent’s Work Visa’s
6. Player’s Proof of Residency (Lease Agreement, Mortgage paperwork..etc)
7. Player’s Parent’s Proof of Employment ( Paystub, Employment Verification)
All of these forms must be sent in PDF Format to the Mass Youth Soccer office to Maureen LaRoche at mlaroche@mayouthsoccer.org. If any of the forms listed in the check list cannot be provided, the player will not be considered for clearance. Paperwork must all be sent together, and must be clear and legible. Mass Youth Soccer will forward all applicable paperwork to US Soccer and they will initiate the clearance process with FIFA. Only after receiving authorization from FIFA that it is acceptable to proceed can US Soccer file the formal ITC thereby starting the 30 day verification time period under which a provisional clearance can be authorized.
If after 30 business days from the official request, US Soccer does not receive a reply, on day 31 US Soccer will issue a Provisional Certificate and notify Mass Youth Soccer. A Provisional Clearance is good for up to one year. During the one year period, should the Foreign Association contact US Soccer with a valid reason as to why the certificate was not issued, the Provisional Certificate will be withdrawn. US Soccer will then notify Mass Youth Soccer. After the one year period, if US Soccer does not receive any further communication from the Foreign Association, the Provisional Certificate will be permanent.
The player may not be placed on a roster, or participate in any games until Mass Youth Soccer receives notification from US Soccer. Mass Youth Soccer will inform the player/club once notification has been received.
Category 4) International Transfer Clearance Request Procedure for Players Currently 18 Years or Older - Players that are currently 18 years old or above must complete the International Clearance Request Form and forward it to Mass Youth Soccer, and Mass Youth Soccer will forward the form to US Soccer for processing. US Soccer requests the ITC from the Foreign Federation and provides the Federation with a copy of the letter. This process can take up to 30 business days before approval. If after 30 business days from the official request, US Soccer does not receive a reply, on day 31 US Soccer will issue a Provisional Certificate and notify Mass Youth Soccer. A Provisional Clearance is good for up to one year. During the one year period, should the Foreign Association contact US Soccer with a valid reason as to why the certificate was not issued, the Provisional Certificate will be withdrawn. US Soccer will notify Mass Youth Soccer. After the one year period, if US Soccer does not receive any further communication from the Foreign Association, the Provisional Certificate will be permanent.
US Citizens Who Played Outside the US:
If a US citizen lived outside the United States and was listed on a roster of a foreign team, the International Transfer Clearance Form must be completed, signed and submitted directly to Mass Youth Soccer, 512 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, MA 01523. Do not send this directly to US Soccer. There is no fee for submission of this form. Until US Soccer has approved the international transfer, the player's name should not be placed on a team roster.
If you have any questions regarding the International Clearance process, please contact Maureen LaRoche at mlaroche@mayouthsoccer.org or 978-466-8812 ext. 221 for assistance.