Rule 2206. Multiple Rostering

The NYSWYSA permits multiple rostering of a player to more than one team during a season in accordance with US Youth Soccer Rule 206. However, a player can only be designated a primary player on one team. US Youth Soccer Rule 224, Section 4 has conditions regarding US Youth Soccer sponsored competitions:

"When a State Association allows a player to be rostered on more than one team, the first team to which the player is rostered is the only team with which the player may participate in National Championship competitions for a seasonal year, except if a player is rostered to more than one team on the same day, the player must designate on that day the only team for which the player is to be rostered for National Championship competitions and failure to so designate on that day makes the player ineligible for any National Championship competitions for that seasonal year; and As provided by Section 2 of US Youth Soccer Rule 221."

Although NYSWYSA allows multiple rostering, no player is permitted to be rostered to more than TWO (2) teams at any one time during the seasonal year. Any player rostered to more than one team must participate in the game played by their primary team in case of a schedule conflict. The player's first obligation is to the primary team.

Leagues and tournaments may have further restrictions on multiple rostering. Each league has the autonomy to permit or not permit the use of secondary players within that league. It is incumbent upon the team to verify that they comply with any such restrictions. The most common restriction is to require that all team members be registered as primary players. Teams should determine from all tournament hosts if their multiple rostered players are eligible to participate before submitting the tournament application.

Secondary players must complete the appropriate paperwork on the NYSWYSA Release to Secondary Team form. This form is available from your district registrar or district commissioner. Once you receive the form, numerous signatures are required; namely, parent's, primary team coach, and secondary team coach. Once you have all the signatures except the district registrar take or mail the completed secondary release form to the district registrar along with the player's primary team pass, and a check made payable to NYSWYSA for Five dollars ($5.00) for validation.

Upon presentation of the Release to Secondary team form, the player's district registrar (the last signature required) will insure the secondary player has been listed on his or her secondary team roster. Prescribed roster limits on the number of players will be observed. US Youth Soccer Rule 205, Number 1 states that, "No team shall be allowed more than eighteen (18) players on its roster at any given time during the seasonal year." The maximum roster for small-sided teams is fourteen (14).

A secondary player pass is issued to the player using the primary registration number and indicating the team to which he or she is designated as a secondary player. Upon fixation of the player photo and signature, the district registrar will validate the secondary pass. This pass will then be laminated with a colored laminate to designate it as a secondary pass. Primary passes will continue to be laminated with clear laminate.

A player may become secondary only if he or she is rostered to a team as a primary player. If the player transfers or is released from their primary team, their secondary player pass becomes void. If the primary team is disbanded, the secondary player pass becomes void. If the player desires to switch primary and secondary designations of his or her two teams, this should be done via the NYSWYSA Player/Team status form using the release and transfer sections.

It must be noted that due to the limits imposed by US Youth Soccer Rule 224, Section 4, for players and teams involved in State Cup play. This roster move will count as a transfer. By US Youth Soccer Rule 221, Section 2, Cup teams are limited to no more than 3 transfer adds in a seasonal year. A fee of five dollars ($5.00) payable to NYSWYSA will be charged for this roster transaction.

A player can only be added to an existing roster as a secondary player. This means, that the team must already exist before secondary players can be added.

Therefore, a team can have a maximum of eleven (11) secondary players on the roster. The maximum for small-sided teams is seven (7) secondary players. US Youth Soccer Rule 205, Number 2 states, "No team shall be allowed to have less than seven (7) players on it roster at any given time during the seasonal year."