 The allocation ranking is the mechanism used to determine which MLS club has first priority to acquire a U.S. National Team player who signs with MLS after playing abroad, or a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee.The allocation rankings may also be used in the event two or more clubs file a request for the same player on the same day.The allocations will be ranked in reverse order of finish for the 2011 season, taking playoff performance into account.