U SPORTS Draft FAQ

When will the 2024 CPL – U SPORTS Draft take place?

The 2024 CPL – U SPORTS Draft will take place on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Full broadcast details will be announced in December.

Who is eligible to be drafted?

Any undergraduate, domestic, or international student athlete who participated in a U SPORTS men’s soccer program in 2023 is eligible to be drafted, provided they are enrolled in and pursuing sufficient credit hours to maintain U SPORTS eligibility for the 2024-25 academic year.

How do I sign up to be drafted?

Any draft eligible student athlete can declare for the draft here: https://canpl.ca/cpl-draft-declaration/

To declare for the draft. student athletes must fill out a declaration form and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. Both can be found at the link above.

Can I be drafted as a graduating senior?

Student athletes who are graduating or have used all their U SPORTS eligibility and will not be returning to their varsity program for the 2024-2025 academic year are not eligible to participate in the draft.
Outgoing U SPORTS athletes can sign a Standard Player Contract with any Canadian Premier League team as a free agent.

How many rounds in the 2024 CPL-U SPORTS draft?

The 2024 CPL – U SPORTS Draft will consist of two (2) rounds, for a total of 16 selections overall.
Each Canadian Premier League Club will make two selections. The draft order for the 2024 CPL – U SPORTS Draft will be:

Valour FC
Vancouver FC
Atlético Ottawa
York United FC
Halifax Wanderers FC
Pacific FC
Cavalry FC
Forge FC

What happens if I get drafted?

Players selected in the 2024 CPL – U SPORTS Draft may be invited to a preseason trial with their prospective club.
Player and club will work together to determine a suitable time frame for a preseason trial.
Clubs have until 20 days before kickoff of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season to offer the drafted player a U SPORTS contract or a Standard Player Contract.

What happens if I am not selected in the 2024 CPL – U SPORTS Draft?

Each Canadian Premier League club may invite one (1) undrafted player to a preseason trial, provided the player identified and declared for the 2024 CPL-U SPORTS Draft.
Player and club will work together to determine a suitable time frame for a preseason trial.
Clubs have until 20 days before kickoff of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season to offer the undrafted player a U SPORTS contract or a Standard Player Contract.

What happens if I am not offered a U SPORTS contract by my prospective club?

If a player, drafted or undrafted, on preseason trial with a prospective club is not offered a U SPORTS contract by 20 days before kickoff of the 2024 Canadian Premier League season, the player is eligible to go on trial with another Canadian Premier League club and potentially sign a U SPORTS contract elsewhere in the league.

What happens if I decline a U SPORTS contract offer?

If a player, drafted or undrafted, declines a U SPORTS contract offer following a preseason trial, that player cannot sign another U SPORTS contract until they re-enter the 2025 Canadian Premier League – U SPORTS Draft.

What happens if I am offered a Standard Player Contract by my prospective club but would like to retain my U SPORTS eligibility?

If a player is offered a Standard Player Contract by a Canadian Premier League club but wishes to retain his U SPORTS eligibility, the player is free to trial, and potentially sign with, any other Canadian Premier League club, upon invitation, after 20 days before kickoff of the 2024 Canadian Premier League Season.

What is the difference between signing a Standard Professional Contract and a U SPORTS Contract?

Signing a Standard Player Contract means the Player will be charged with one year of U SPORTS eligibility and is prohibited from U SPORTS participation for 365 days from his last appearance on a Canadian Premier League game sheet due to his new status as a professional in an identified North American professional league.
Signing a U SPORTS Contract permits a Player to compete in the Canadian Premier League without compromising their eligibility to compete in subsequent U SPORTS competitions, provided the U SPORTS Contract has been complied with and provided the Player has otherwise complied with the rules, regulations, and policies of U SPORTS.

If I sign a U SPORTS Contract how much can I earn?

An academic educational grant for a U SPORTS eligible student athlete who signs a U SPORTS Contract cannot exceed $10,000 CAD.
Additional housing and food allowance for the Player can be provided beyond the grant.

How can my U SPORTS Contract become a Standard Player Contract?

A U SPORTS Contract can be converted into a Standard Player Contract at any point during the season and up to one (1) month after a team’s last match, if agreed between both the Club and the Player.

What options does the Player have upon expiration of his U SPORTS Contract on Aug. 15, 2024?

The CPL Head Coach, Player and his U SPORTS Program must come to an agreement on the Player’s future with the club by Aug. 1, 2024.

Decision #1 – Retained or Released by CPL Club
The Player may be either retained or released for the following season. Both Club and the Player must agree to the retainment, whereas only one party must request the right to be released.
The Player will return to the Club the following season as long as the Player is still eligible for a U SPORTS contract and there is a mutual agreement to be retained.
Canadian Premier League clubs can retain a maximum of three (3) U SPORTS contracted players for the following season after Aug. 1, 2024.
Any released Players resulting from “Decision #1” must return to their respective U SPORTS program and may not stay with the Club until the end of the season.

Decision #2 – Return to U SPORTS Program
The Club and Player will mutually agree whether or not it is in the best interest of the Player to return to their U SPORTS program as of Aug. 15, 2024 or stay with the Club until the end of the season.
Only one (1) of the retained player(s) can stay with the Club after Aug. 15, 2024.
If the retained Player and the Club mutually agree the Player should stay with the Club until the end of the season, the Player will lose his ability to play in U SPORTS for the fall season of that year. Concurrent participation in U SPORTS and the Canadian Premier League is not permitted.
So long as the Player still has remaining eligibility for the following U SPORTS season, he is still considered eligible to play in U SPORTS for subsequent seasons moving forward.

Should you have any further questions or require further assistance, please contact Alex Saunders, Compliance Officer, Canadian Premier League, at alex.saunders@canpl.ca