And then to think this is just the beginning, it is really exciting.” This is great for the stature of the sport and fans. This agreement provides standardization that is going to significantly enhance our collective ability to grow our soccer communities. “Players and clubs are partners in growing the sport. “The importance of this agreement cannot be understated,” USLPA executive committee member Connor Tobin told The Athletic. Also included in the provision is the standardization of a per diem for team travel to cover the cost of meals and incidentals. Currently, some USL clubs have drafted contracts with their players for just seven months out of the year - representing the length of a season. This is a significant win over what has historically been in place. The new CBA will now establish a mandatory 10-month minimum length for player contracts. Additionally, clubs are allowed up to six “flex contracts” at lower pay rates for certain players. The minimum compensation allows for a combination of a player’s wages, bonuses, team-provided housing, and medical insurance. According to The Athletic, the drafted CBA establishes minimum pay for Championship players at $2,700 per month next season. This was a nearly three-year long negotiating process in which the key elements of the agreement are a minimum compensation structure along with minimum contract lengths. Most importantly, this agreement in principle recognizes our players’ work and sets expectations that everyone can respect and plan for accordingly.” “Establishing these new standards will help our Clubs attract, sign, and retain top talent, both domestically and internationally. “Together with our players, we celebrate this historic agreement, which further solidifies the USL Championship as one of the top professional sports leagues in North America,” said USL President Jake Edwards in an official release. This agreement between the USL and its players association (USLPA) represents the first of its kind for a professional second division men’s soccer league in the CONCACAF region. The five-year collective bargaining agreement will run through the end of the 2025 season. But how does the pay compare against the stark reality of players who are still paid to play but chose a completely different route? It is being touted as a landmark achievement for the league. The USL and its players association reached an agreement in principle on a collective bargaining agreement for the second-division USL Championship.
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