Birth-year registration to be implemented in 2016-17
Two-year phase in to occur for Small-Sides Games
FRISCO, Texas (Sept. 1, 2015) — The US Youth Soccer Board of Directors has approved the implementation of age group registration by calendar year, as mandated by the U.S. Soccer Federation.
First announced on Aug. 24 as part of the U.S. Soccer Coaching Initiatives, the registration of youth soccer players nationwide will shift to calendar-year age grouping, as opposed to the current school-year age grouping. The board approved a motion for US Youth Soccer programs and competitions to introduce the change to calendar-year registration for the 2016-17 soccer year.
The US Youth Soccer programs and competitions that will introduce the birth-year registration in the 2016-17 soccer year include, but are not limited to, the following:
- US Youth Soccer National Championships Series — including national, regional and state competitions
- US Youth Soccer Presidents Cup — including national, regional and state competitions
- US Youth Soccer National League
- US Youth Soccer Regional Leagues
- US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program
The board is encouraging US Youth Soccer State Associations to transition as they deem necessary to accommodate their soccer landscape at the local level.
The board also approved a two-year phase in for the Small-Sides Games mandate. The 2016-17 soccer year will serve as a transition year to the U.S. Soccer specifications on the US Youth Soccer programs listed above, and the Small-Sides Games requirements will be fully implemented for the 2017-18 soccer year.
These U.S. Soccer 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.
You can read more information on the U.S. Soccer Coaching Initiatives on USYouthSoccer.org and ussoccer.com.