There are 16 teams in Major Leage Soccer.
The rules governing Major League Soccer are decided in an agreement between the league and MLS Players Union. This collective bargaining agreement is similar to those in other professional sports and outlines every action between a player and team, including the benefits of being a member of the pro soccer league. The most recent collective bargaining agreement was approved in March 2010 and is good for five years.
Contracts and Salary
Players who have spent three years or more with one of the 16 MLS teams are signed to guaranteed deals, according to ESPN. This will apply to most of the players in the league and guarantees a player’s salary for a set amount of time. The minimum salary for a senior roster player is $40,000 in 2010 and each player is guaranteed a five percent pay increase each year. Players also earn extra salary benefits based on tenure in the league and playing time. For example, a player that makes less than $125,000 has a minimum increase in base salary of 10 percent if he plays in two-thirds of the team’s games; that increases to 12.5 percent if he plays in 75 percent of the team’s games.
Health Care, Insurance and Expenses
Each MLS player is offered a 401(k) retirement plan by the league. Players also receive health insurance benefits at no cost. These benefits also extend to a player’s family. Players also receive compensation when on the road in the form of daily stipends and reimbursements.
Game Tickets
Players receive four tickets for each home game and two tickets for each game on the road as part of their contract with the team. Up to four tickets are also available to players participating in All-Star and postseason games. These tickets can be used however the player wishes.
Vacation and Time Off
Players earn six weeks of vacation each year but it can only be taken during the league's off-season, according to the collective bargaining agreement. (The regular season runs from June to October.) Each player is also guaranteed five days off every two months at the discretion of each team.
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