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 An arbitrator on Monday rejected the grievance filed by US Club Soccer, three of its member clubs and the American Youth Soccer Organization that alleged that the U.S. Youth Soccer Association and five of its state organizations – including the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association – of discriminating against its clubs and tournaments.
Broadly speaking, the decision essentially states that according to U.S. Soccer Federation rules, the USYS and its member organizations are not required to insure their teams or allow their passes to be used at non-USYS tournaments, and that those groups do not attempt to keep their member teams from playing in events not sponsored by USYS organizations.
US Club Soccer issued a statement to its members in which it said it was "generally disappointed" with the decision. A spokesman wrote in an e-mail that the group was considering appealing the decision to the U.S. Soccer Federation Board of Directors, which it has the right to do within 10 days.
"We want to emphasize that US Club Soccer will continue to follow the (principles) on which it was founded, which include allowing youth soccer players and their clubs to compete freely and easily in any USSF-sanctioned open competition with full membership rights and insurance coverage," the US Club Soccer statement concluded.
"We are disappointed that USYS and some of its state associations continue to feel that the best way to 'compete' is to make playing soccer more difficult and more expensive for youth soccer players. We commend the USYS states that have not employed such tactics, and will continue to lobby the USSF and the other states to do the right thing."
The grievance (PDF), which was filed with the Federation on Aug. 17, alleged that the USYS, WYSA and the state organizations in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Carolina and Tennessee discriminate against US Club Soccer teams and events by:
• Denying insurance coverage for USYS teams attending a US Club Soccer-sanctioned tournament
• Denying teams' use of their USYS player passes when attending a US Club Soccer-sanctioned tournament
• Charging US Club Soccer teams an extra insurance fee for playing in a USYS-sanctioned tournament
On the issue of US Club Soccer teams playing in USYS-sanctioned tournaments, the arbitrator clarified that the only extra fee that can be charged is a $25 administrative fee. However, the decision states that neither of the other practices violate any Federation bylaw, rule or policy.
“The Arbitrator finds nothing in the USSF bylaws, policies, or resolutions to support the proposition that Organization Members must afford the same benefits to their players or teams when participating in another organization’s activities as apply when the player or team is playing within their own organization,” the decision read.
The decision also included several items specific to certain state organizations and events, including the actions of WYSA and the Minnesota and North Dakota associations in regards to the 2009 USA Cup at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minn. Some rulings only applied if this year's event wasn't sanctioned by a USYS association, but because the MYSA has sanctioned the 2010 USA Cup, those provisions are not applicable.
The arbitrator made one ruling specific to WYSA, involving the organization communicating its policies to its members.
WYSA President Peter Mariahazy responded by sending a letter (PDF) to its member clubs and coaches stating that WYSA teams are to use their player passes only at USYS tournaments and that its insurance is only valid for tournaments sponsored by WYSA, the USYS or a USYS member.
Additionally, the letter explained that WYSA teams are welcome to play in any events they wish, even those not sponsored by the USYS, and are free to sponsor tournaments that are open to teams not sponsored by the USYS.
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