Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards BOTN Main Message Board Player Card Release

I know this was covered here before but I need some help. If a kid playing with a 2008 EDP team wants to leave thay club and join another club now (technically between the fall and spring season) can the original club hold his card and make him sit out a year? The dad will pay his original club all the tuition due etc, it's just releasing the card. I thought someone in here mentioned that there is an actual youth sports law prohibiting this, that kids must be allowed to move freely? Any help would be appreciated.

You are correct. The Ted Stevens Amateur Sports Act clearly states that amateur sports players are not chattel. BOTN has posted this document and I have posted it here for you and everyone else once again.

Thanks Larry. That was it

Why leave mid season ? Is it playtime , or competition , or training ?? Just wondering

OK, I just scanned the document, so I may have missed it, but where does it address the issue in the OP?

To the OP, IS the original club holding the card? Did they give a reason why? Or is this a hypothetical?

The kid is moving from one club to ours because he likes the training and coaching better. Right now it's just hypothetical. The father believes the original club will put up a stink and threaten not to let him go and sign over his card. Hopefully none of this happens and all is smooth. Thanks

I don’t think a club would hold a card to a kid or dad who don’t want to be there.

The club that currently holds his pass has the ability to make things difficult by dragging their feet and/or refusing to release the pass. There is technically nothing illegal about doing this, but it would at least be an ethical issue. Why would an adult at any club refuse to release an individual player who clearly wants to leave? From a business perspective, clubs do not want to get a reputation for disrupting individual player movement or being difficult to deal with.

In my experience, the only scenario where this becomes a factor is when multiple members of the same team request their release at the same time, or when a club fears that a single departure may have a snowball effect that impacts an entire team/age group. Even so, the worst they can do is refuse to release the pass (and/or any monies already paid), which only means the player would not be able to play in league games for the new club. If the training/coaching at the new club is a significant upgrade, I would still consider making the move and let the situation with the pass unfold between the 2 clubs. It's only U12 and training is much more important at that age.

Unless the family owes the club money the old club has little choice in the matter.

Happens more times than it should which is zero times....simply put there is no reason or right for any club to hold back a players pass. The league that club belongs to needs to get involved and if they dont then go directly to the sanctioning body, US Club or USYSA and file a complaint.

Let me repeat myself. NO CLUB IS ALLOWED TO HOLD A PLAYER HOSTAGE FOR ANY REASON.

Yeah I was gonna say 'how long have you been in youth sports?' It's particularly egregious in hockey.

what if the player owes the club money?

Happens all the time. East Meadow held up my daughter's card years ago until we called US Club Soccer and told them about it and they forced the release.

US Soccer will tell you to file something in Small Claims court. They do not get involved

Someone (either you or US Soccer) does not understand what small claims court is.

Hi, I decided to move my younger boy to a different club because we weren't happy with his training, they decided they didn't want my older daughter there because I was not happy with coaching placement so we shouldn't be on the club, basically kick out my daughter that has nothing to do with it, they want me to pay mi younger boys complete year so they can release both of their cards, they say I broke the contract of him, and for that I have to pay, and until then they will hold both cards, I was able to enroll mu daughter on a different club that plays with different card, but not my boy, they are still holding both cards, can they do that? Theres any way I can get both of them release with out paying them? Is not about the
Money, is about the way they kick her out and now asking for “ramson” for their release…

something else, can they keep holding the card next season?

Thanks doe any help you can give…

That's ridiculous. The cards should be released. We are between seasons so there is no reason to not release the cards. You need to share the clubs name. This type of behavior should not be tolerated by the paying public.

EC should release the cards!

Just tell the league and register with new team! They must turn in pass! This is a youth sports rule. Players are allowed to leave whenever they want! Youth sports is not a dictatorship and they cannot tell a parent of a child they will not turn in pass!

EC= Each Club

Thank you everyone, this is going on in East Cost name of the academy , IDEA SPORTS, in Orlando Florida, espesifically located on ESPN world Wide of Sport at Disney World Property, this is a common practice of them, they keep dozens of kids like this, they want to leave for different reason and they threaten everyone they wont be able to play nowhere and if they want to leave they have to pay, in my case and many cases the whole family. Really don't know what to do with My boy he is 8, since like I mentioned before I was able to enroll my Girl 13 in another academy that uses US CLUB SOCCER player cards, Idea Sports uses FYSA PLAYER CARDS. Should I hire a lawyer or something? Thanks again 🙏🙏🙏

Specifically East Meadow.

The club uses the line" you signed a contract" to scare parents into staying. Just leave. Also, NEVER pay fees upfront.

That sounds like blackmail, this is illegal and I think you could actually present a formal complain against them or even hire a lawyer and sue them, and yes, I have hear of this from Idea Sports, they are very well known in the area for this, is all about the $$$$ I do know some of their employees have several formal complains on record, contact FYSA and ask them what should you do.