Club Standards & Membership
Building Strong Clubs. Creating Better Competition.
The Canadian Academy Soccer League (CASL) is committed to creating a professional, competitive, and development-focused environment for participating soccer academies and clubs.
These standards establish the minimum expectations for organizations participating in CASL competition.
1. Club Eligibility
CASL membership is open to soccer academies, clubs, and organizations that meet league requirements and demonstrate the ability to operate teams in a safe, organized, and responsible manner.
Acceptance into CASL is subject to league approval.
2. Club Responsibilities
Participating clubs are expected to:
- Follow CASL Rules & Regulations and policies
- Maintain accurate team and participant information
- Provide qualified and responsible team officials
- Fulfill scheduled league commitments
- Maintain appropriate insurance as required
- Provide suitable home fields when required by their competition
- Promote appropriate conduct among players, coaches, parents, and spectators
- Cooperate with CASL administration and disciplinary procedures
3. Coaching Standards
Each team must have responsible adult leadership and meet any coaching requirements established by CASL for its competition.
CASL encourages clubs to provide coaches with appropriate education and development opportunities.
Individuals working with youth participants must satisfy applicable legal, safety, and screening requirements.
4. Club Conduct
Member organizations are expected to represent CASL and the soccer community professionally.
Clubs are responsible for promoting respectful behaviour among their players, coaches, officials, parents, and spectators.
Harassment, discrimination, violence, referee abuse, or conduct that jeopardizes participant safety will not be tolerated.
5. Fields & Facilities
Where a club provides home fields, those facilities must be appropriate for the applicable age group and match format.
Clubs are responsible for ensuring their designated fields are reasonably safe and properly prepared for competition.
Specific requirements are established under the CASL Field & Match Standards.
6. Competition Commitment
Teams accepted into a CASL competition are expected to complete their scheduled season.
Clubs should not enter teams they cannot reasonably support for the duration of the competition.
Repeated forfeitures, withdrawals, or failure to fulfill league obligations may affect a club’s continued participation.
7. Insurance & Participant Safety
Participating organizations must satisfy CASL’s applicable insurance and participant-safety requirements.
Clubs remain responsible for maintaining any insurance, permissions, screening, emergency procedures, or other requirements applicable to their own organization, facilities, employees, coaches, and activities.
8. Membership & Team Fees
Applicable membership, team-entry, competition, or other league fees will be established by CASL and communicated before registration.
Acceptance into CASL competition may be conditional upon required fees and membership requirements being satisfied.
9. Multiple Teams & Age Divisions
Member clubs may enter multiple teams across available CASL age groups and competitive divisions, subject to league approval and competition availability.
CASL may consider competitive level, geography, travel requirements, and other relevant factors when organizing divisions.
10. New & Independent Academies
CASL is committed to creating opportunities for established organizations as well as growing and independent soccer academies.
Membership is based on an organization’s ability to meet CASL standards, rather than its size or history.
CASL’s goal is to provide qualified organizations with access to structured, meaningful competition and opportunities for growth.
11. Membership Review
CASL reserves the right to review the membership status of any participating organization that repeatedly fails to meet league standards.
Depending on the circumstances, CASL may issue conditions, probation, suspension, or termination of membership.
Organizations will be provided appropriate notice and an opportunity to respond where required.
12. Commitment to Canadian Soccer
CASL member organizations share a commitment to:
Player Development • Fair Competition • Safety • Respect • Integrity • Opportunity
Together, CASL and its member clubs aim to create a stronger competitive environment where players, coaches, and soccer organizations can develop and succeed.