Soccer Age Realignment - Information

Beginning with the 2016-17 travel soccer season, US Soccer has mandated a change in registration birth dates. No longer will age groups be aligned under the confusing Aug 1 to July 31 standard that we have all grown accustomed to. Instead, players will now register according to their year of birth: 2004, 2005, etc. The full details and reasoning for the change are available from US Soccer.

Because these changes go into effect for the 2016-17 season, when travel team tryouts are held in May and June 2016, players will be assigned to age groups by birth year to align with the new standard.

However, BAYS Broadneck Soccer Club recognizes that one of the primary reasons that kids play soccer—at all levels—is the fun and comradery of playing with their friends. To that end, we have amended our policy on age appropriate play for the 2016-17 season only, considering the following:

• Respect the emotional impact of this change on players and parents.
• Allow long-established teams to remain together, if desired.
• Adhere to the developmental intent of the new standards.
• Continue to encourage to age-appropriate play.

These amendments were carefully and thoughtfully constructed over the past three months. If necessary, additional amendments may be made if new direction is received from US Soccer or MSYSA, particularly with regard to roster requirements.

BAYS BSC 2016-17 Age Realignment Policy

U10 and below: All players must play age appropriately

U11, U12 and U13: Players may play up but are strongly encouraged to play age appropriate:

• Must attend tryouts for both age groups
• Must evaluate in the top 60% at tryouts
• Must be cleared by coaches at younger and older age

U14 and above: Players may play up, and established teams may remain together\

• Must attend tryouts for both age groups
• Must evaluate in the top 60% at tryouts
• Must be cleared by coach at older age

Please note that this does not change the Club's commitment to the developmental benefits of playing age-appropriate soccer.

Should My Child Play Up?

The decision to "play up" should not be a quick one, nor taken without considering all aspects of the decision, as they are significant:

• Opposing players will be older. Other clubs may force all teams to play age appropriate. Your son or daughter will very likely be playing against players as much as a year-and-a-half older than them.
• Competition levels will be higher. With older players comes a faster and more technical game. A player who was "average" on their current team may find the level of play to be too challenging in the new age groups. They will very likely find more success in their natural age group.
• Play will be more physical. With older players comes more physical play and an increased risk of injury. Parents of smaller or younger players, particularly those born towards the end of the current August-to-July cycle, should strongly consider playing their child at an age-appropriate level.
• Reduced touches in 11v11 play. For current U12 players born between January and July, the leap to full-sided play, while emotionally attractive, robs the player of one additional year of the well-documented benefits of small-sided play: exponentially higher touches, passes, and scoring opportunities.