How to Join a Guest Team

You must be currently registered with a club affiliated to a recognised governing body — US Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer, USSSA, or your national FA if playing internationally.

Your player pass must be valid for the current seasonal year. An expired pass from last season is not accepted at any sanctioned tournament — no exceptions.

You must fall within the correct birth year for the tournament's age group. Most US tournaments use the January 1–December 31 birth year standard, but the 2026 US Soccer age group transition (August 1 cutoff) is creating confusion. Always confirm the specific tournament's rules.

You must not be serving a suspension from your home club or any governing body.

You need a signed Guest Player Release Form (also called a loan form or release letter) from your home club's registrar or administrator. In some US state associations, this form must be submitted to the state association office — not just signed by the club.

On the GotSport platform (used by US Club Soccer): the receiving club's admin submits a Player Release Request Form through Roster Builder. The releasing club's admin then approves it, cancels the player's membership for the event, and removes them from the roster.

For USYS state associations: the form is typically filled out in triplicate — one copy to the state office, one to the releasing coach, one to the receiving coach. Some states require submission 5–10 business days before the tournament.

If the player is registered with a different sanctioning body than the host team (e.g., player is US Club Soccer, team is USYS), the receiving team may need to register the player under their sanctioning body for the event.

The pass must be for the current seasonal year. Previous year passes are not valid at any sanctioned tournament.

The pass must show the player's photo, name, date of birth, and registration number.

At most tournaments, the referee checks passes before every match — not just at check-in.

If a player cannot produce their pass, they cannot play. Contact your club registrar immediately if the pass needs renewing — do not wait until tournament week.

US Club Soccer passes are issued through GotSport. USYS passes are issued through your state association's registration system.

Guest player limits typically range from 3 to 5 players per team, depending on the tournament and age group.

Guest players must be the same gender as the team and within the correct age group. Playing down (in a younger age group) is generally not permitted. Playing up may be allowed — confirm with the tournament director.

Most tournaments require the guest player's pass to match the same sanctioning body as the host team. Mixed association guests are often not allowed.

For international tournaments: rules are set by the host country's football association. At the Gothia Cup (Sweden), all players must be registered with the club they are playing for, according to that country's FA rules. At the Glasgow City Cup, teams must receive permission from their National Governing Body.

Add the guest player's name to the game roster. If the guest player is replacing a rostered player, draw a line through the replaced player's name.

Have the guest player's player pass available for the referee before every match.

Have the signed guest player release form available for tournament officials at check-in.

Have the guest player's medical release form from their home club. This is separate from the release form — it authorises medical treatment in case of injury.

Do not leave paperwork to the morning of the first match. Most tournaments require all guest player documentation at the main check-in desk before play begins.

Guest players are covered by the receiving team's insurance during the tournament, provided they have a valid player pass with the same sanctioning body as the host team.

If the guest player's sanctioning body differs from the host team, there may be a coverage gap. Confirm this with your club registrar before the tournament.

US Club Soccer provides excess participant accident medical insurance to all registered players. USYS state associations provide similar coverage through their member insurance programs.

For international tournaments: the player's home club insurance typically does not extend to overseas events. Reputable international tournaments (Gothia Cup, Donosti Cup, Dallas Cup) carry their own event insurance that covers all registered participants. Confirm this with the tournament organiser before travelling.