2024 MLS Player Development Guidelines

OVERVIEW

The MLS Player Development Guidelines set out the provisions governing player development programs and MLS Homegrown players.

HOMEGROWN TERRITORIES

The Homegrown Territory for each MLS club is as set forth below. These territories are subject to modification by MLS from time to time (including, but not limited to, modification because of expansion).

Atlanta United FC

The state of Georgia and the following counties located in Tennessee: Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, Polk, Sequatchie.

Austin FC

The following counties located in Texas: Aransas, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Coryell, DeWitt, Falls, Fayette, Gillespie, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Hays, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kleberg, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Mason, McLennan, Medina, Milam, Mills, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, San Saba, Travis, Victoria, Williamson, Wilson

Charlotte FC

The states of North Carolina and South Carolina.

Chicago Fire FC

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s stadium, including Milwaukee County.

Colorado Rapids

The states of Colorado and New Mexico, excluding El Paso.

Columbus Crew

The following counties located in Ohio, some of which may be shared with FC Cincinnati: Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Guernsey, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Monroe, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, Wyandot

D.C. United

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s stadium.

FC Cincinnati

The following counties located in Ohio, some of which may be shared with Columbus Crew: Adams, Allen, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Lake, Lawrence, Lorain, Lucas, Mahoning, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Trumbull. Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood.

The following counties located in Indiana: Clark, Dearborn, Decatur, Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Randolph, Ripley, Rush, Scott, Switzerland, Union, Wayne.

The following counties located in Kentucky: Bath, Boone, Bourbon, Bracken, Campbell, Carroll, Clark, Fayette, Fleming, Franklin, Gallatin, Grant, Harrison, Henry, Kenton, Lewis, Mason, Montgomery, Nicholas, Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Scott, Shelby, Trimble, Woodford.

FC Dallas

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s stadium, and all of Texas north of Dallas and Fort Worth.

Houston Dynamo

The following counties located in Texas: Austin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton.

Inter Miami CF

A 100-mile radius of the Club’s home stadium (assuming Melreese site), excluding any non-Floridian territories (i.e., the Bahamas).

Los Angeles Football Club

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s home stadium, excluding San Diego County.

LA Galaxy

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s home stadium, excluding San Diego County.

Minnesota United FC

The states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, excluding a 75-mile radius of Chicago Fire’s stadium, but including Milwaukee County.

CF Montréal

All of Canada, excluding: (i) Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba; and (ii) a 50-mile radius of Toronto FC’s stadium.

Nashville SC

The state of Tennessee excluding the following counties: Bradley, Hamilton, Marion, Polk, Sequatchie and including the following counties in Alabama: Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan.

New York City FC

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s home stadium, excluding a 25-mile radius of Philadelphia Union’s home stadium.

New York Red Bulls

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s home stadium, excluding a 25-mile radius of Philadelphia Union’s home stadium.

New England Revolution

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s stadium, plus the state of Rhode Island.

Orlando City SC

A 100-mile radius of the Club’s home stadium, plus to the north of the stadium, the remainder of the state of Florida.

Philadelphia Union

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s home stadium, excluding: (i) the state of Maryland; and (ii) a 25-mile radius of New York Red Bulls’ home stadium.

Portland Timbers

The states of Idaho, Oregon, and New Mexico (excluding El Paso), and including Vancouver, Washington, and its environs.

Real Salt Lake

The states of Utah and Arizona.

San Diego FC

In the United States, a 75-mile radius of the Club’s training facility, excluding Orange County, CA.

In Mexico, a 62.1-mile (100-km) driving distance of the Club’s training facility.

San Jose Earthquakes

A 75-mile radius of the Club’s stadium.

Seattle Sounders FC

The states of Hawaii and Washington, excluding a 50-mile radius from Portland Timbers’ home stadium.

Sporting Kansas City

The states of Kansas and Oklahoma.

The state of Missouri, some of which might be shared with St. Louis City, excluding the following counties: Ralls, Audrain, Pike, Lincoln, Montgomery, Callaway, Warren, St Charles, St Louis (including the City of St Louis), Jefferson, Franklin, Gasconade, Osage, Maries, Phelps, Crawford, Washington, St Francois, Saint Genevieve, Perry, Dent, Iron, Madison, Cape Girardeua, Bollinger, Wayne, Reynolds, Scott, Stoddard, Butler, Mississippi, New Madrid, Dunklin, Pemiscot.

The following counties located in Arkansas: Crawford, Madison, Carroll, Washington, and Benton.

St. Louis CITY SC

The state of Arkansas, excluding the following counties: Crawford, Madison, Carroll, Washington, and Benton.

The state of Missouri, some of which might be shared with Sporting KC, excluding the following counties: Atchison, Nodaway, Holt, Worth, Harrison, Gentry, Daviess, Andrew, DeKalb, Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell, Livingston, Carroll, Ray, Clay, Platte, Jackson, Lafayette, Johnson, Cass, Bates, Henry, St Clair, Vernon.

The following counties located in Illinois: Adams, Schuyler, Fulton, Peoria, Tazewell, McLean, Champaign, Edgar, plus to the south of these counties, the remainder of Illinois.

The following counties located in Indiana: Posey, Vanderburg.

Toronto FC

All of Canada, excluding the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Quebec.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

All of Canada, excluding: (i) a 50-mile radius of Toronto FC’s stadium; and (ii) the Province of Quebec.

NON-HOMEGROWN TERRITORIES

Any area of the United States not considered a Homegrown Territory is known as a Non-Homegrown Territory.

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMING

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

An MLS club must establish a player development program. There are two types of player development programs: (1) Homegrown Territory Player Programs and (2) Non-Homegrown Territory Player Programs.

Homegrown Territory Player Programs

• Academy: An MLS club may create an academy within its Homegrown Territory for elite youth soccer talent to develop their skills and to represent the MLS club in youth soccer competition (e.g., MLS NEXT).
• Youth Affiliates: An MLS club may form any number of youth affiliates with local amateur youth clubs to further develop youth soccer in the MLS club’s Homegrown Territory.
• Other Programming: An MLS club may offer other player development programming, including but not limited to talent identification camps, local youth tournaments, and soccer clinics, as long as the MLS club holds the programming within its Homegrown Territory.

Non-Homegrown Territory Player Programs

• Subject to the League’s approval, an MLS club may form up to two (2) owned and operated youth clubs outside of its Homegrown Territory, provided that the youth club:
  • is located within the United States or Canada;
  • is not located in another MLS club’s Homegrown Territory; and
  • is fully owned and operated by the MLS club (e.g., the coaches and training environment must be under the direct supervision and control of the MLS club).

HOMEGROWN PLAYERS: OVERVIEW AND HOMEGROWN PRIORITY

The rules governing prospective MLS Homegrown Players aim to incentivize MLS clubs to develop top domestic talent within MLS Academies, while accounting for variations across the geographies of the MLS ecosystem.

HOMEGROWN FRAMEWORK

1. Homegrown Priority is an MLS entrance mechanism by which an MLS club may sign an eligible player to a professional contract and add him directly to the MLS club’s first-team roster with the Homegrown Player designation.
2. Homegrown Exclusivity is an exclusive right held by an MLS club to develop (without undue influence from another MLS club) for purposes of establishing Homegrown Priority up to fifty-four (54) players across three (3) age groups and certain former registered academy players who have gone to college or signed a professional contract with the MLS club’s MLS NEXT Pro team.
3. The Homegrown Player List is the mechanism by which an MLS club formally documents its Homegrown Exclusivity over qualifying players.

HOMEGROWN PRIORITY

An MLS club establishes priority to sign a player after he completes twelve (12) continuous months registered with an MLS club’s academy and/or MLS club’s MLS NEXT Pro team. The 12-month period must conclude between the year in which the player turns fourteen (14) and the year in which he turns eighteen (18). An MLS club may retain Homegrown Priority, for a limited period, over certain former registered academy players.

HOMEGROWN EXCLUSIVITY

With the intention of establishing Homegrown Priority, an MLS club holds the exclusive right to develop players who meet the qualifications listed below. A player over whom an MLS club maintains Homegrown Exclusivity by including him on its Homegrown Player List is ineligible to be recruited by other MLS clubs.

Registered Academy Players

• An MLS club may establish Homegrown Exclusivity over up to forty-five (45) academy players between the U15, U17, and U19 age groups.

Additional Players (“Plus 9”)

• In addition to the 45 registered academy players, an MLS club may establish Homegrown Exclusivity over up to nine (9) players who:
  • are not registered academy players;
  • have a permanent address or currently reside with their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in the MLS club’s Homegrown Territory; and
  • are in one of the U15, U17, or U19 age groups.

3. Post-Formation Players: College and MLS NEXT Pro

1. An MLS club may extend Homegrown Exclusivity, for a limited time, over any former registered academy player enrolled in college or signed to a professional contract with the MLS club’s MLS NEXT Pro team, if the MLS club:
   1. Already achieved Homegrown Priority over the player at the time of college enrollment or of signing a professional contract in MLS NEXT Pro; and
   2. included the player on its Homegrown Player List at the time of college enrollment or of signing a professional contract in MLS NEXT Pro.
2. For Post-Formation Players enrolled in college, Homegrown Exclusivity expires December 1 of the player’s scholastic senior year in college, at which point an MLS club must offer an MLS contract to sign the player as a Homegrown Player to remove him from the MLS SuperDraft.

RECRUITING

Subject to certain rules, an MLS club may recruit eligible players to join its academy.

Recruitable Players: If no MLS club retains a Right of First Refusal or Homegrown Exclusivity over a player, based on the Homegrown Player List, then the player is eligible to be recruited by any MLS club to join and subsequently register with its academy.

Underage Players – Ineligible to be Recruited: If a player is (or turns) thirteen (13) years old or younger in the year of these Guidelines and is from or resides within another MLS club’s Homegrown Territory, then the player is not eligible to be recruited.

An MLS club may recruit an underage player who is from or resides within the club’s Homegrown Territory to join its academy.

Registered Recruitable Players: A player who is a registered academy player with an MLS club but is not listed among the 45 on that MLS club’s Homegrown Player List, may be recruited by other MLS clubs. If an MLS club wishes to recruit and register this player, then the MLS club must inform the MLS club with which the player is currently registered. The two MLS clubs will then work to resolve the end of the previous club’s player development efforts to allow the player to continue his development by registering with his next MLS club.

All Other Player Relocations Must be for Non-Soccer Reasons: This obligation applies to the following situations:

• A player who relocates as an underage player and is looking to register with an MLS club’s academy for the first time; or
• A player included on an MLS club’s Homegrown Player List who relocates from that MLS club’s Homegrown Territory to another.

HOMEGROWN PLAYER LIST

To include a player on its Homegrown Player List and thereby maintain Homegrown Exclusivity, an MLS club must comply with the applicable eligibility requirements below.

Components of the Homegrown Player List

• An MLS club must submit to the League its Homegrown Player List. The Homegrown Player List consists of players over whom an MLS club retains Homegrown Exclusivity, specifically, the 45 registered academy players, “Plus 9”, and Post-Formation Players.

Ineligible Players

• An MLS club must not add (or re-add) the following players to its Homegrown Player List:
  • Underage Players: A player who is (or turns) thirteen (13) or younger in the year of these Guidelines (irrespective of whether he is registered in the MLS club’s academy) is not eligible to be included on an MLS club’s Homegrown Player List.
  • Player Already in College or in MLS NEXT Pro: A player who is enrolled in college or participating in MLS NEXT Pro as a professional is not eligible to be included on an MLS club’s Homegrown Player List unless he otherwise qualifies and is properly included.
  • Players on Another MLS Club’s Homegrown Player List: A player is only eligible to be listed on one MLS club’s Homegrown Player List. An MLS club must not include a player on its Homegrown Player List if he is currently listed on another MLS club’s Homegrown Player List.

Shared Territories

• With respect to MLS clubs with overlapping Homegrown Territories:
  • A player who resides in the shared Homegrown Territory may be listed as a “Plus 9” player on both clubs’ Homegrown Player Lists, only if the player was initially added on the same submission date.
  • If the “Plus 9” player subsequently becomes a registered academy player with one of the clubs, then the other club(s) must remove him from its next Homegrown Player List.
  • An MLS club must not recruit a player within the shared Homegrown Territory if he is among the 45 registered academy players of another MLS club’s Homegrown Player List.

Submissions

• An MLS club has two opportunities over the course of a given year to submit to the League updates to its Homegrown Player List:
  • Spring Submission Date
  • Fall Submission Date

COMPLIANCE

If an MLS club fails to comply with any of its obligations in the MLS Player Development Guidelines, it may constitute a breach of these Guidelines and/or League Rules.