Age Pure and Small-Sided - US Soccer Official Announcement

Anyone feel the earthquake in US Soccer today?  Read about it here: http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/08/24/18/07/150824-coaching-player-development-initiatives-rel



CHICAGO (Aug. 24, 2015) – In another step towards its commitment to long-term player development, U.S. Soccer is phasing in new standards related to small-sided games and birth-year registration.

U.S. Soccer will standardize small-sided game participation and field size based on player age groups, while also aligning birth-year registration calendars with the start of the calendar year and run from January to December.

The coaching initiatives, which will be mandated by August of 2017, are focused on advancing youth players’ individual skill and intelligence, and providing players with the best opportunity to improve.

“Our number one goal is to improve our players down the road and these initiatives will help us do that,” said U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team head coach and Youth Technical Director Tab Ramos. “With small-sided standards what we’re trying to do is to help players develop by putting them in an environment where they are constantly involved in the play and our changes in birth-year registration will make age groups easier to understand, while aligning our calendar with the international calendar.”  

SMALL-SIDED STANDARDS
The small-sided standards are focused at players from the U-6 to U-12 age groups. The field size is based on age groups, providing a more age appropriate environment that will allow players with a better opportunity to develop heightened soccer intelligence and on-the-ball skills.

The field dimensions and number of players on the pitch will increase in size from 4v4 to 7v7 to 9v9 as players age, up until they reach the U-13 age group and begin to play full 11v11 matches.

“Now you’re playing 4v4, 7v7, and 9v9 at a young age and chances are the players are involved a lot more in those types of games,” said Ramos. “Over a period of 10 years, there are thousands of more times that you’ve been involved in certain plays and that will speed up the process of players getting more comfortable. The players, by being involved in the play constantly, will learn how to make important plays, and make plays individually that can break down teams.”

For more detailed information on the new small-sided standards and to view field size progression by age group, click here.

BIRTH-YEAR REGISTRATION
Birth-year registration calendars will now align with the start of the calendar year and run from January to December, rather than August to July as it had previously. For example, a U-15 player (players 15 years old or younger) would have a birth year of 2000 (Jan. 1 through Dec. 31) for the 2015 registration year.  In 2016, U-15 players would be born in 2001 or earlier. Birth-year registration applies to all player age groups and not just players age 12 and younger.

The initiative will align registration with the international standard, while simultaneously providing clearer information on player birth dates to combat ‘relative age effect’.

Relative age effect refers to the selection bias related to players that are more physically mature than their peers due to being born earlier in the year. U.S. Soccer seeks a balance of players that are born throughout the year so that all players, those born in the earlier months, and those born later have equal opportunity to grow and develop as soccer players.

“I think the birth registration changes make everything easier,” Ramos said. “Over the years you go through coaching youth and people are confused about what age group they’re in, if they’re supposed to be u-15 versus U-14, because they’re born in such-and-such year, but they’re born in June. This new calendar makes things easier for everyone. If you’re born in a certain year you belong in that certain age group. It also gets us on the same calendar with the rest of the world, so now it becomes easier to identify for U.S. National Teams and everything else when it comes to international soccer.”

The birth-year registration initiative will not cause the dissolution of age-group based teams that already play together, but will rather give players the opportunity to ‘play up’ with older age-groups.

For more information on the new birth-year registration initiative, click HERE.

And US Youth Soccer followed that up with this:  http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/changes_coming_to_youth_soccer_in_2016/  

Changes Coming to Youth Soccer in 2016

Age Group and Small-Sided Games Mandate from U.S. Soccer
Click to view official press release from U.S. Soccer

FRISCO, Texas (August 24, 2015) — Next year, the world of youth soccer will continue its evolution as all members of U.S. Soccer will begin to transition on two key factors to encourage further youth development. The first change will be the nationwide adoption of Small-Sided Games and the second will be a shift from school-year to calendar year for the age grouping of teams.

"With these initiatives, we’re more likely to have players better prepared down the road," said Tab Ramos, U.S. Youth Technical Director and U-20 Men’s National Team head coach. "With small-sided standards, what we're trying to do is to help players develop by putting them in an environment where they are constantly involved in the play, and our changes in birth-year registration will make age groups easier to understand, while aligning our calendar with the international calendar."

US Youth Soccer, the largest member of U.S. Soccer, will assist members with information on these changes through the national office and our 55 member State Associations.

US Youth Soccer director of coaching education and long-time advocate of Small-Sided Games, Sam Snow acknowledged, “Since the mid 1980’s US Youth Soccer has been an advocate for Small-Sided Games. Why? The many benefits to the players and even to novice coaches are clear. With fewer players on the field making quick tactical decisions is easier. Players are in the vicinity of the ball more often which engages them in all four components of the game. The players are realistically exposed to the principles of play frequently. In short, Small-Sided Games will accelerate the development of American soccer players.”

Small-Sided Games


Small-Sided Games will be mandated come August of 2017, with specific changes occurring in regard to alterations to the field size, goals and rules. The result will be a decrease in 11-vs-11 competitions in lieu of more 9-vs-9 and 7-vs-7 competitions. U.S. Soccer will encourage the adoption of Small-Sided Games best practices in August of 2016. US Youth Soccer has been encouraging Small-Sided Games for more than 20 years and most of the 55 member State Associations have adopted the philosophy during that time.

The benefits of Small-Sided Games for players include more fun, more touches on the ball and more tactical decisions. The style of play will allow players to learn different positions, learn tactics quicker, increase fitness and allow players to be more emotionally and socially involved — creating a more fun and enjoyable game.

Small-Sided Games FAQ: [Download PDF]
Small-Sides Games USSF Standards Chart: [Download PDF]

"What we’re trying to do is to help players develop by putting them in an environment where they are constantly involved in the play," Ramos said. "That could be with the ball and that could be without the ball, but when you make things small-sided, everyone is somehow involved in the play, whether that’s in defending, in cutting angles, in cutting the ball back, you’re always in the play."

Calendar Year


Effective August 2017, the grouping of players will also change nationwide, with encouraged adoption of best practices in August of 2016. U.S. Soccer will go back to calendar birth years to align with international standards and Youth National Team programs.

US Youth Soccer will implement the best practice of calendar year age grouping for player registration beginning with the 2016-2017 soccer year for US Youth Soccer programs and competitions.

Using the school calendar for age groups is practiced only in the United States and Canada; as all other FIFA members go by the calendar year.

Previously, age groups were determined based on players born between Aug. 1 and July 31. The change to calendar year age groups will reflect the calendar year, or Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Players are still allowed to “play up” or play in an older age group.

US Youth Soccer, a respected leader in player development for more than 40 years, has seen the evolution of the game and various changes. The US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program has used the birth year for the grouping of players since it was established in 1977. In fact, the James P. McGuire Cup, the oldest trophy in youth sport, awarded at the annual US Youth Soccer National Championships also shows the history of teams named for their calendar year age group.

Calendar Year FAQ: [Download PDF]
Calendar Year Age Matrix 2016-2023 [Download PDF]

“Overall, the two things this accomplishes is it makes things easier and it gets us on the same calendar with the rest of the world," Ramos said. "So now it becomes easier to identify for U.S. National Teams and everything else when it comes to international soccer.”
Click here for U.S. Soccer's official statement on the changes. More details will be provided as available regarding specific implementation for these mandates from U.S. Soccer.

It's about time they put it out there!

I hope NTX implements spring of 2016 for Academy and fall of 2016 for select.

We moved from Dallas to Seattle this year and I still check in on this forum occasionally. Washington announced every age group is moving to the calendar year age grouping for the 2016-17 season. It's caused quite a bit of speculation already about how clubs will reform teams especially in the older age groups. Tournaments across different states and regions will be very interesting next year as some states move forward with the "best practices" and others stall. This statement from the Regional Club League is the equivalent of Lake Highlands in Washington.

http://www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org/leagues/regional_club_league/news/

I wonder how much movement this will cause next summer? Another good question is, does this change the dates of contracts that are signed from July 1st to December 1st?

I suspect the 05s will be a complete mess next summer/year...

Not just 05s

So do we know call the current 05's 2004's/U11 and the 06's 2005's/U10, etc..

That totally depends on LH approach to this. Read the Washington state release by their LHGCL equivelant... all squads simply retain their competitive spot moving forward... even allowing for duplicate jersey numbers on squads where a team added a new player from an internal team.

Similar to what was just done this year because of the rain last spring... basically a holding pattern.

So clubs would simply hold tryouts and fill the roster spots of the kids that either moved up an age group or held in their newly formed calendar squad...

Not so simple when you look at the 05s though...

Would LHGCL do the big clubs a real solid and give them a 2 for 1 deal..

For example purposes... solar pulp 05 plays this year out... earns D1 bye moving forward... their calendar 04s move into U12 holding that D1 bye... potentially their calendar 05s could be also handed a D1 by for their repeat u11 select year... and would only need to fill their vacated roster spots....

There would be lots of kids lining up to just try out for a guaranteed D1/D2/D3 spot... as much as us parents love that whole qualification rite of passage... to simply skip that and guarantee a spot...

Only time will tell what's going to roll down hill... whatever it is will stink in some manner.

Is it the 'official' part that is news? I don't see anything new.

Yes, it's the official press release from US Soccer, including video with the talking points to explain out their power point that had been circulating.

I don't think so. Let's take the team you've talked about. The 05 team keep their bye at U12 (as they would move up a year anyway) but should they reform as a new 05 team they go through QT the same as everyone else coming in as 06's but now called 05 birth year. That gives all teams a realistic shot and if they are good enough they will make it. All other teams will keep their LH bye but now will be called 04 instead of 05

I believe you had been fighting saying none of this would come to pass... at least not for the 06s, and definetly not 9v9 any time soon....

I agree with you man, make em requalify so the new 05 squads all have equal opportunity, but history shows it could go down another way...

The easy way is usually the path chosen as with most things in life sadly....

I had been saying I thought the 06's would pass through without catching any of this because I was told Grandfathered. Now with yesterday announcement they left it with no grey areas. ALL AGES going birth year so that of course impacts everyone. If you see my recent post I did say LH wanted to go 9v9 in 2016 as that's what they explained to me but had no put out anything on birth year because USSF had not made it clear, now they have. So now none of us need to make uneducated guesses because it's there
In saying that the byes will go with the teams so U13 teams will get a U14 bye

If the 05's do not do a requalifying next July. Who does?

Juice Box wrote:If the 05's do not do a requalifying next July. Who does?

Potentially no one... all speculation at this point, but is really the only thing left as unknown...

From the US Soccer website:
"This gap may result in the player born in January being more physically mature (taller, faster, stronger, etc.) than the player born in December, especially at the younger ages. Studies from a variety of sports, including soccer, show that physically mature players are often selected ahead of their more talented but less physically developed peers at the key developmental years (ages 12-15). Given the variance of growth rates, it’s important that skilled players don’t fall by the wayside just because someone is bigger or faster. This approach may be new for clubs and coaches when it comes to making teams but registering players according to birth year will help everyone understand the potential for bias."

This statement sounds like a child's excuse when caught doing something that doesn't make any sense. They are just rationalizing a decision that was made for the sole purpose of matching up with the rest of the world but with real benefits to for .0001% of the girls playing in the US. Who in their right mind thinks that going age pure is going to make coaches aware of a potential bias for the older kids. All coaches from U4 to U15 know that a kid born in Aug-Dec will probably be bigger and it hasn't changed recruiting habits. All it does is shift the BFS kids from Aug-Dec to Jan-July, and that is the age group where most girls will be recruited in the future.

QT at all ages would make the most money and benefit the big clubs. I'm fairly new to this, but isn't that what LH is about?

If US soccer wants to help they could stop putting BFS on their national teams.

Does anyone know if they will change the size of the goals? 4v4, 7v7, 9v9 really won't matter at all. It really just makes it easier for bad coaches to use BFS to dominate a game. Doing away with the oversized goals would completely change how we play. So many big kickers floating balls over little keepers heads. Hell might even be forced to make a combination play

SD69 wrote:From the US Soccer website:
"This gap may result in the player born in January being more physically mature (taller, faster, stronger, etc.) than the player born in December, especially at the younger ages. Studies from a variety of sports, including soccer, show that physically mature players are often selected ahead of their more talented but less physically developed peers at the key developmental years (ages 12-15). Given the variance of growth rates, it’s important that skilled players don’t fall by the wayside just because someone is bigger or faster. This approach may be new for clubs and coaches when it comes to making teams but registering players according to birth year will help everyone understand the potential for bias."

This statement sounds like a child's excuse when caught doing something that doesn't make any sense. They are just rationalizing a decision that was made for the sole purpose of matching up with the rest of the world but with real benefits to for .0001% of the girls playing in the US. Who in their right mind thinks that going age pure is going to make coaches aware of a potential bias for the older kids. All coaches from U4 to U15 know that a kid born in Aug-Dec will probably be bigger and it hasn't changed recruiting habits. All it does is shift the BFS kids from Aug-Dec to Jan-July, and that is the age group where most girls will be recruited in the future.

Totally agree with you. I don't know why they keep trying to put that spin on it. Everything will just shift to a different timeframe but the same recruiting practices will still be in place.

Yup, they are just trying to make it sound good.

Juice Box wrote:If the 05's do not do a requalifying next July. Who does?

The 05's will all be called 04's!
The birth year 05's will be the new qualifiers
IMO all 05 teams (that are now playing in LH)will be given a U12 (04 bye)
What would be interesting is if an 05 team can prove they are 05 age pure, bye or no bye? My guess is LH say you can have a U12 bye or if you are that good go into QT and earn it

Triumph FC wrote:

Juice Box wrote:If the 05's do not do a requalifying next July. Who does?

The 05's will all be called 04's!
The birth year 05's will be the new qualifiers
IMO all 05 teams (that are now playing in LH)will be given a U12 (04 bye)
What would be interesting is if an 05 team can prove they are 05 age pure, bye or no bye? My guess is LH say you can have a U12 bye or if you are that good go into QT and earn it

Can we quote you on that... all the calendar 05s that already qualified and are on squads currently in U11 LHGCL and decide to remain in U11 on their Calendar 05 squad will ALL be made to qualify again, on entirely new teams, that will have 2 months to prep and qualify once contracts end next summer.... thats what you are saying correct?

Do you guys really think LH will pass on the money? QTs across the board means more money!

06guest wrote:So do we know call the current 05's 2004's/U11 and the 06's 2005's/U10, etc..

Here are the new US Soccer Age Group names:
http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/assets/1/15/USYS-NEW-SOCCER-AGE-CHART-2016-BIRTH-YEAR-MATRIX%20v1.pdf