Why Every Player Account Must Include a Valid Parent or Guardian Email
Step 1 - Audit your GotSport player accounts immediately.
The Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League has always stood for more than soccer. We are a league built on integrity, community, and the responsibility to provide the safest and most developmentally appropriate environment for every young player who takes the field in New York City.
That’s why it’s critical that we address an issue that puts all of that at risk: the absence of parent or guardian email addresses in GotSport player accounts.
In a recent review of registration data, we found a troubling trend. Too many minor players are listed with coach or club email addresses, and in some cases, even with placeholder emails like coachesnames@email.com. This is not just a matter of convenience or clerical oversight. It is a violation of US Youth Soccer policy, a failure of SafeSport compliance, and a breach of trust with the families we serve.
Every minor player account must include a valid email address for their parent or legal guardian. This applies to all CJSL competitions — from the CJSL Elite Travel League and Girl’s City League to our 4v4 Development platform, the New York Winter Tournament, college showcases, and every other event under our umbrella.
The reasoning behind this requirement is not just bureaucratic. It is rooted in the protection of minors and the prevention of abuse. According to the US Youth Soccer Code of Conduct, all electronic communication must be professional, visible to parents, and never private. One-on-one messages between adults and minors are strictly prohibited unless a parent or guardian is copied. Social media connections between coaches and players are forbidden. Communications must happen in shared spaces or on platforms where transparency is built in.
When we ignore these standards, we create space for risk — not only to players, but to clubs, coaches, directors, and the reputation of the league itself. There are real-world examples of clubs facing fines, lawsuits, insurance loss, and coaching bans because they did not uphold these basic standards. These rules are not just about protection. They are about accountability, transparency, and safeguarding the trust placed in us by over 25,000 families across the five boroughs.
For club leaders, administrators, and coaches, here are your next steps:
Audit your GotSport player accounts immediately
Replace all club, coach, or placeholder emails with valid parent or guardian addresses
Confirm each minor account is compliant before the start of the season
Remind families that this step is required for their child’s participation
If we want to continue building the strongest youth soccer ecosystem in the city — a place where players thrive, clubs grow, and the game gets better year after year — then we must all play our part.
The safety of our players cannot be optional. It is the foundation for everything else.
