Club Resources

NorCal Membership is our standard membership.
It serves the majority of clubs participating in NorCal competitive events at most levels of play.

The application window opens on October 15 and closes on December 1.
The application will be available on October 15.

APPLICATION COMPONENTS

Applicants must submit the online application and include the following documentation:

• Club logo
• Club Code of Conduct
• US Club Soccer Sanctioning Confirmation (screenshot of your membership page or email confirmation of acceptance from US Club)
• Club Mission Statement
• Articles of Incorporation or 501(c)(3) documentation
• Club Bylaws or Constitution
• Technical Director (TD) or Director of Coaching (DOC) license(s)
• Background check confirmation for TD/DOC (must have an active US Club Coach Pass)
• Coaching staff licenses
• Technical plan or curriculum
• Field permits or rental agreements demonstrating previous usage
• Agreements with other clubs for shared field usage (if applicable), or justification for access to fields shared by NorCal member clubs
• 5-Year Growth Plan
• Three Letters of Reference
  

Note: Incomplete applications will not be considered.

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Adhere to NorCal Recruiting and Tryout Window rules – see NorCal Handbook (updated July 2025)
2. Obtain US Club Soccer sanctioning
3. Submit an online application and the required documents
4. Initial review meeting with the NorCal New Club Committee
5. Member club feedback via survey
   
6. Applicant presentations at Regional RAC meetings (DOC and preferably President must attend)
7. Follow-up interview with Nor Cal Staff member
   
8. New Club Committee review and recommendation
9. Board of Directors decision
10. NorCal Premier Sanctioning agreement signed by accepted clubs

EVALUATION CRITERIA

1. Organizational Integrity & Standards

• • Professionalism and ethical standards in all areas: coaching, administration, sportsmanship, and referee relations.
  • One person cannot be solely responsible for multiple club leadership positions.

2. Director of Coaching (DOC)

• • Must have a minimum USSF D License or equivalent.
  • Must oversee all teams and be active in NorCal competitions.
  • Must pass a US Club background check and hold an active coach pass with the club.

3. Geographic Cohesion

• • Club must operate in a single geographically connected community.

4. Field Access
5. Referee Availability

• • Club must have a certified USSF assignor and adequate referee coverage.

6. Administrative Capacity
   • Must designate an administrator responsible for managing NorCal communications and compliance.

7. US Club Soccer Membership

• • Proof of active sanctioning required

8. Code of Conduct

• • Written guidelines for the behavior of coaches, parents, and players.

9. Impact on Existing Clubs

• • Must not displace current clubs’ access to critical facility resources.

10. Team Structure

• • Clubs with U12 and younger: minimum of 3 teams (exceptions possible for clubs forming at U8–U10).
  • Clubs with U13 and older: minimum of 6 teams total, including younger age groups.

12. Technical Plan

• • Written plan outlining development model and philosophy.  This plan can be created by the club’s leadership or by another source (e.g., US Soccer)

13. NorCal Handbook Compliance

• • Adherence to the NorCal tryout window and recruitment rules, as outlined in the NorCal Handbook

*Evaluation criteria may be subject to revision.  Revisions will be posted on this webpage before the application window opens.

APPEAL PROCESS

If a club’s application is denied, it may request an appeal hearing with the NorCal Board of Directors within 10 business days of the decision. Clubs may then escalate an appeal to US Club Soccer.

NEW CLUB COMMITTEE