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

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

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

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 2017 - Small-Sided Game Standards MYSA (other states may implement earlier)

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

MN-Specific Birth-Year Chart 2015-16 Age Group 2015-16 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.

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

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.