USSF Mandates/BRSC Implementation
Player Development Initiatives In July of 2015, US Soccer adopted player development initiatives for their vision for long term player development. These are new standards for small sided games and birth year registration. US Soccer created a video presentation to highlight reasoning and changes.
Small Sided/Birth Year Overview Small sided Unify and align younger age groups Develop technique and decision making Develop individual players over results Birth Year Align player registration with that of the rest of the world including local entities, LSA, ODP, Regional Teams, National Teams, and FIFA
BRSC s Research Discussed internally since July of 2015 Discussed with clubs and directors across the country Sat on the LSA Culture Advisory Committee that helped formulate LSA Policy Attended LSA AGM, and NSCAA Convention to further discuss/research Went through a comprehensive age group analysis based on current Academy and Competitive Membership to assess impact
LSA Policy for Intra Club Play LSA affiliated clubs may establish age groups for youth soccer players playing in an intra-club league or competitions by August 1 to July 31 seasonal year. A team with its age group calculated by any method other than birth year will be required to play at the birth year of their oldest player or players in the event they play in competitions outside their club. Recreational players may play down in age at the discretion of the LSA affiliated club in order to remain with players of the same grade level.
Implications BRSC Rec Program BRSC Recreational Program will not change to birth year. Foundation of program is built on school based teams. Kids playing with friends/classmates. Players will be allowed to play with classmates/grade regardless of birthdate. Registration will be grade based in the BRSC Recreational Program. BRSC will comply with the Small Sided Games Standards for the Fall 2016 season with the exception of goal sizes (See Chart). BRSC has been a leader in creating developmentally appropriate environments for youth players. The Small Sided Games Standards are fairly minor changes, and validate our position on small sided games.
USSF Playing Standards Chart
Implications - BRSC Academy Program BRSC Academy program will continue to use a multifaceted approach to player development bio mass, birth year, tiered, parity, and varied small sided formats. BRSC Academy will use birth year as a way to organize player pools/set practice times, but will still have flexibility for player movement based on ability and training convenience. BRSC Academy program will continue to use a varied playing format based on the Academy Player Development Pathway 3 vs. 3, 4 vs. 4, 7 vs. 7, and 9 vs. 9
Rec/Academy Invitational and Open Cup Age groups for the Louisiana Open Cup will be calculated on the basis of the calendar/birth year. Teams will be placed in Open Cup brackets based upon the calendar/birth year of birth of their oldest player or players. Play downs for invitational tournaments will be prohibited. Recreational/Academy teams interested in competing in State Cup or Invitational Tournaments will be forced to play in the age group of their oldest player s birth year.
US Youth/US Club Mandate - Competitive Baton Rouge Soccer competes and registers all competitive teams with US Youth and/or US Club Soccer LCSL, GSPL, RPL, Regionals, Presidents Cup, GSPL Nationals US Club and US Youth Soccer competitive 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 and US Youth Soccer competitive members will be required to follow the U.S. Soccer mandates related to small-sided games by Aug. 1, 2017.
LSA Policy for Competitive 2016/2017 All age groups for youth soccer players playing in any inter-club league or competitions shall be determined by birth year. A player s age group shall be determined by subtracting his or her year of birth from the year in which a seasonal year ends. Example #1 Player A is born in 2006, and next year s season ends in 2017. Player A is an 11 and under player. Example #2 Player B is born in 2003, and next year s season ends in 2017. Player B is a 14 and under player.
USSF Birth Year Chart
Grandfather Teams Debate Should we grandfather teams that have been together for a long time/had success? Our age group analysis and extensive research showed the following issues with grandfathering Created holes in age groups Force some players to play up against players 19-23 months older not good developmentally or competitively Created inconsistency how would we choose who to grandfather and who to not
BRSC Competitive PPP and 2016/17 Season Competitive players attending Player Placement in May/June of 2016 will be placed based on birth year (See handout). All players will be required to attend the PPP for their birth year. Play ups will only be allowed if it is developmentally in the best interest of the player. All play ups will be decided by the DOC/ED based on physical, technical, tactical, psychological, and player s training maturity. This will be a strict policy only for truly elite players. There may be an occasional need to merge older ages/allow play ups out of necessity due to numbers. This will be a DOC/ED decision. All BRSC Competitive teams formed for the 2016/2017 season will be formed based on birth year.
Note on Birth Year Chart Players will not lose a year of playing, but may accelerate to a different playing format. This is addressed developmentally in our curriculum/philosophy by focusing on principles of play and technique. Players can adapt to any format. As part of the BRSC competitive pathway, most players get exposed at some point to the next playing format. Ex. 8 vs. 8 teams play 11 vs. 11 friendlies. BRSC will assess the best solution for the two oldest age groups each year (1998 and 1999) for team formation. - Numbers will dictate the solution combination teams, showcase vs. more local based, separate birth year teams - This will allow 1998 seniors to have a place to play in the competitive program - Players at this age are developmentally similar (high school/components) - Natural fit as attrition occurs
Competitive PPP Flyer
Spring Birth Year Training BRSC will offer Birth Year training during the spring season. This training will be optional, but we do encourage players to attend. See handout with birth year training schedule. This will allow staff to begin evaluating each birth year, so May PPP is not as difficult. Birth Year training will give players an opportunity to get acclimated to potential new teammates/ease transition.
BRSC Competitive Playing Format BRSC will comply with the Small Sided Games Standards for the Fall 2016 season with the exception of goal sizes (See Handout). U10 4 vs. 4, 7 vs. 7, and 9 vs. 9 (flexibility in playing format) U11/U12 9 vs. 9 U13 and above 11 vs. 11 LSA passed that LCSL games will play with 7 x 21 goals for the 2016/2017 season for 9 vs. 9 Give clubs time to fund new goals, and not an impact for player development
LCSL/RPL Bracket Slots A slot earned by a team in LCSL/RPL as a result of league play throughout the 2015-16 seasonal year will belong to the team s Club. Not ideal with new team formation, but only way to have a starting point for leagues with spots that clubs own. Clubs will own spots The slot earned will only move one age group up The 50% Plus One Rule will be applied. 50% plus one of the players on a roster MUST have played for the same CLUB. This would meet the obvious need to accommodate the state-wide roster reshuffling while still dissuading teams moving from club to club. Should a team attempt to move to another club, they will be placed in the lowest division for Louisiana Competitive League.
How you can help/mindset with change Change is always difficult, but kids will adapt. - Meet new friends/teammates life lesson important in the formation of young adults - Create new experiences - Positive out comes of sport remain the same Please help be a positive example to your children on how to embrace change. Please be patient with us as we work through mandates and further changes. Please know that we are committed to achieving our mission, and providing the best possible environment for player development.