The State Soccer Association determines policies and procedures for its jurisdiction, and keeps a registration for all youth players playing at both the competitive and recreational levels. Registration dues will include the cost of player insurance and administrative cost and are sent on from the local association to the state association.

The Local Association, or Home Association, is the community association where the 5 players of each team will register to play. In some cases the home association will also be the playing association, but in areas where home association and do not sponsor competitive leagues, the team or club may register with the home association and then be released to play in a "playing association", sponsoring a competitive league. The home association may provide practice facilities, game fields for "friendliest" or non-league scrimmage games, as well as game fields for leagues set up on "home and away" game play.

The Playing Association, or League Association, will have a league rule book setting out the specific guidelines pertinent to that league and competitive play. These rules will generally follow all of the higher governing bodies' rules with additions necessary to organize and police their own member teams.