US Club Soccer announces their implementation of US Soccer m

US Club Soccer announces implementation plan for U.S. Soccer's recent coaching initiatives

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Sept. 15, 2015) - US Club Soccer has announced its implementation plan for U.S. Soccer mandates to calendar-year competition and small-sided games. US Club Soccer's Board of Directors approved the action late last week in accordance with U.S. Soccer's recent coaching initiatives:

US Club Soccer members will be required to transition age grouping of teams from school-year based (Aug. 1-July 31) to calendar-year based (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) by Aug. 1, 2016.
US Club Soccer members will be required to follow the U.S. Soccer mandates related to small-sided games, which also includes changes to field and goal sizes, by Aug. 1, 2017.

If able to do so, members are encouraged to implement these initiatives prior to the mandates coming into full effect.

The new calendar-year format is consistent with international standards and U.S. Soccer youth national team programming. Players will still be allowed to play in an older age group. Small-sided and field size standards are for U-6 through U-12 age groups.

In order to ensure the smoothest and most efficient transition, US Youth Soccer and other youth soccer organizations are also implementing these standards at the same time.

Calendar-year age chart, provided by U.S. Soccer

The National Cup XV Finals will accommodate teams constructed both from calendar-year competition (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) and school-year registration (Aug. 1-July 31).

The 2016 NPL Finals will also accommodate both roster structures. Many NPL clubs are already calendar-year based, though.

Click here for more information about impacts to upcoming US Club Soccer programming

In addition, all tournaments submitted for US Club Soccer sanctioning that will be played after Aug. 1, 2016 will only be approved if age groups are calendar-year organized.

Player passcards will continue to be issued on an Aug. 1-July 31 competition season.

Questions may be directed to your respective US Club Soccer membership services representative.

AtThePitch wrote:US Club Soccer announces implementation plan for U.S. Soccer's recent coaching initiatives

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Sept. 15, 2015) - US Club Soccer has announced its implementation plan for U.S. Soccer mandates to calendar-year competition and small-sided games. US Club Soccer's Board of Directors approved the action late last week in accordance with U.S. Soccer's recent coaching initiatives:

US Club Soccer members will be required to transition age grouping of teams from school-year based (Aug. 1-July 31) to calendar-year based (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) by Aug. 1, 2016.
US Club Soccer members will be required to follow the U.S. Soccer mandates related to small-sided games, which also includes changes to field and goal sizes, by Aug. 1, 2017.

If able to do so, members are encouraged to implement these initiatives prior to the mandates coming into full effect.

The new calendar-year format is consistent with international standards and U.S. Soccer youth national team programming. Players will still be allowed to play in an older age group. Small-sided and field size standards are for U-6 through U-12 age groups.

In order to ensure the smoothest and most efficient transition, US Youth Soccer and other youth soccer organizations are also implementing these standards at the same time.

Calendar-year age chart, provided by U.S. Soccer

The National Cup XV Finals will accommodate teams constructed both from calendar-year competition (Jan. 1-Dec. 31) and school-year registration (Aug. 1-July 31).

The 2016 NPL Finals will also accommodate both roster structures. Many NPL clubs are already calendar-year based, though.

Click here for more information about impacts to upcoming US Club Soccer programming

In addition, all tournaments submitted for US Club Soccer sanctioning that will be played after Aug. 1, 2016 will only be approved if age groups are calendar-year organized.

Player passcards will continue to be issued on an Aug. 1-July 31 competition season.

Questions may be directed to your respective US Club Soccer membership services representative.

In any age group?

US Club sanctioned leagues do not have the "can't play up into U11" rule like LHGCL has. Not yet....

i believe they do for the first year though - once you are eligible ie January 1, 2005 (for new U11's) then you can play up as an 04, 03, etc. but it doe snot allow a January 1, 2006 to play up as they are not eligible for select. anyone find fault with that?

Yes, because there are current 06s on 05 teams at primetime u11 league, it's permitted there and primetime has stated as much on this forum.

I wonder if first year ECNL will still be U14?

We allow (and will continue to allow) U10's to play on U11 teams.


We will have an announcement in the near future about the format changes for our upcoming tournaments and leagues.

SD69 wrote:I wonder if first year ECNL will still be U14?

That's a biggie right there for current 03 teams. Will 03 players actually have an ECNL year? Will 02's on 03 teams have a spot on already established 02 ECNL rosters? Will there be enough 01's "moving up" on those teams to accommodate the 02's trying to make the roster?

All sounds rather messy to me. Or is that Messi