2. U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiative Mandate
Information for Parents and Families

3. Who is making these decisions?
U.S. Soccer, the National Governing Body for soccer in the USA
Mandated = every youth soccer org. will comply
e.g. U.S. Youth Soccer (incl. MYSA), U.S. Club Soccer, AYSO, etc.
Not an MYSA or club decision IF it will happen, just HOW to manage changes
Clubs

4. What is changing?
Switch from Aug-Jul to Jan-Dec (“Birth-year”) registration
New Small-Sided Game Standards
7v7 at U9/10 and 9v9 at U11/12 (currently 6v6 and 8v8)
Offside added at U9/10
Field size and Goal size changes
Build-out line to encourage playing out of the back, i.e. “good” soccer

5. When is this happening? Fall 2016 – Birth-Year Registration
All 55 U.S. Youth Soccer state associations
MYSA Leagues, State Cup, MRL, Regionals, U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship
Fall Small-Sided Game Standards
MYSA (other states may implement earlier)

6. Why the changes?
U.S. Soccer wants to improve the youth soccer environment
More individual development focus vs. a team result culture
Fully implement small-sided games across USA with consistent standards
Align player registration with international standards
Simplify identification of “relative age effect” bias
RAE = Selecting players born earlier within a group due to physical maturity

7. MN-Specific Birth-Year Chart
Age Group
Grade
Birth Month
Birth Year
2016 Fall
2017 Summer
2017 Fall
2018 Summer
Game #'s
U19
Coll
Aug-Dec
1996
Jan-Jul
1997
U18
12th
1998
U17
11th
Gr 12
1999
U16
10th
Gr 11
2000
U15
9th
Gr 10
2001
U14
8th
Gr 9
2002
U13
7th
11v11
2003
U12
6th
2004
U11
5th
2005
U10
4th
2006
8v8/9v9 U9
3rd
2007 U8
2nd
2008
6v6/7v7 U7
1st
2009 U6 K
2010
4v4
2011
MN-Specific Birth-Year Chart
Complication: The soccer year and registration cutoff no longer align.
Example
In MN, players could play in a younger age group in the fall, since that season ends before the calendar flips. Then they would move up an age group (after Jan. 1) for the spring/summer season, or any tournaments.
2007 = U9 in 2016 and U10 in 2017.
(Current year – Birthyear = Age group)
This adds flexibility and challenges for clubs and MYSA, for both player development and league integrity.

8. What can parents/families do?
Be accurately informed - Chain of communication
Families Club leaders MYSA U.S. Youth Soccer and U.S. Soccer
Keep the big picture in mind
National standardization affects individuals, clubs, and states differently
Be supportive of club leadership – no easy solutions
Control what you can (and accept what you can’t)
Reassure your child that s/he can adapt to these changes

9. Tryouts December 4th, 9th, 11th in the RCTC Dome
Why move? To help parents with vacations during the short window of end of the spring / summer season and the start of the fall / HS season
Why December? RCTC will not put the dome up until Thanksgiving week.
Closed Tryouts
Why not allow parents in? Space requirements will be at a minimal.