Soccer Guest Guide to Guest Playing

What Is Guest Playing?

Guest playing is when a soccer player temporarily joins another team for a game, tournament, or showcase without leaving their home club. It's a great way to gain playing time, experience different coaching styles, be more adaptable, and compete at new levels.

Players may guest when their regular team has a break, a weekend off, or when another team needs options, such as filling in for absent or injured players. It's also a chance to take on fresh challenges and even get noticed by scouts or college coaches.

Is Guest Playing Allowed?

Yes—but it depends.

While the club should not own your player card, different organizations and clubs have different rules.

If your team isn't playing and your player is healthy, they're generally welcome to guest play. Still, some clubs may discourage or even prohibit guest playing, so it's always best to check with your coach or team manager.

If the club policy feels overly strict, you might consider starting a conversation about it.

Some advanced leagues restrict guest playing within 50 miles of a player's home. The idea is to prevent local teams from using guest players to gain an unfair advantage and to preserve a consistent roster within league play.

In general, it's best to guest play with teams that match your player's skill level:

• Other team is too advanced?

  Your player might feel overwhelmed or out of place, or the other team might not give your player much playing time.

• Other team is less skilled?

  Your player could dominate the game, which may not be fair to the other team or helpful for development, or may frustrate your player with things they expect from their teammates.

Aim for balance. Of course, talented players will make an impact wherever they go, but the goal is to keep things fair and enjoyable for everyone involved and to have fun.

How to Guest Play

Finding an Opportunity

• Use the Soccer Guest app to set up your profile and availability.
• Ask your current coach if they know teams looking for guest players.
• Join online communities like Facebook groups dedicated to guest playing.
• Use tournament guest player registries—many events let players register as free agents.
• Talk to other parents and your child's teammates—word-of-mouth is powerful.

Reaching Out to Teams

When you find a possible match:

• Message the coach or manager within the Soccer Guest app, or directly
• Include your player's profile or key info from the app
• Ask about expectations, costs, and logistics; usually any travel would be covered by you. Some teams will cover tournament and coach travel costs, others might ask you to share in the cost if the team has a lot of guest players.

Paperwork

• You'll often need a guest player form, signed by your home club which you then give to the visiting club.
• Make sure your player card is valid and matches the event's sanctioning body. Usually you'll need to coordinate something via GotSport
• If traveling across state lines or countries, extra approvals (like an ITC or International Transfer Certificate) may be required.

Expectations: Before, During, and After

Before

• Talk to the guest coach to understand your player's potential role
• Attend a practice if possible; at a minimum, arrive early for warmups. The coach will be observing your player to confirm how they'll use them during the tournament
• Prepare your child: remind them they're there to help, not to be the center of all attention
• Don't overhype your player. No one wants to hear they only play 'two years up in gold brackets' and can only guest if they're the star. Keep it fun and level-headed.

During

• Players should focus on supporting your temporary teammates and coach.
• Parents should be respectful, avoid coaching from the sidelines, and avoid telling the other parents how much better your original team is than theirs or how much better your player is than theirs.
• Cheer for the players, chat with the parents, have fun
• Playing time may vary—stay supportive regardless

After

• Thank the coach and team.
• Reflect privately with your player on the experience.
• Avoid comparing the guest team to your home club in public or vice versa. Generally, complaining adds no value
• Keep your expectations reasonable and you should have an enjoyable experience.

Playing Across Different Organizations

Carding Bodies to Know

Players and teams in the U.S. may be registered with different sanctioning bodies, and all players on a team's tournament roster must have cards from the same organization. Common ones include:

• USYS (US Youth Soccer)
• USCS (U.S. Club Soccer)
• USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association)
• AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization)
• SAY (Soccer Association for Youth USA)

Team and Player Card Requirements

If your player doesn't have a card from the same organization as the guest team, here are your options:

• The hosting team issues a player card under their own club account.
• The organization provides a standalone tournament card
• A third-party club issues a card on behalf of the player for the tournament.

In each case, the cost is typically around $30 and will require proof of age, a headshot, and basic registration info. The process typically takes 2–5 business days but could take longer, so plan ahead.

Some systems, like US Club's "club pass," allow more flexibility within their own structure. But no matter the system, guest players must always be registered (or "carded") under the same governing body as the team they're joining.

Tips & Best Practices

• Always get your coach's approval before guest playing.
• Don't skip your own club's events to guest unless encouraged by your coach.
• Be flexible. Playing time and position aren't guaranteed.
• Respect the guest coach, players, and families.
• Don't discuss switching clubs during the event.
• Treat it as a growth experience, both on and off the field.