USSF Mandates and BUSA Implementation Structure Spring 2016 Update
!! In July of 2015, US Soccer adopted player development initiatives with their vision for long term player development in the United States.!! There are new standards for small sided games and birth year registrations to make our country synonymous with the rest of the world.!! US Soccer created a video presentation to highlight reasoning and changes
!! Small Sided Games Mandates: "! Unify and align younger age groups "! Develop technique and decision making "! Develop individual players over results!! Birth Year Mandates "! Align player registration with that of the rest of the world including local entities, ASA, ODP, Regional Teams, National Teams, ECNL and FIFA
!! We have discussed internally since July of 2015!! We have met and spoken with clubs and directors across the state, region and country!! Our Executive Director, Andrew Brower, has served on the ASA Technical Committee and worked directly with ASA Director Tom Condone!! Our Staff attended the ASA AGM, NSCAA Convention, ECNL League Meetings, and worked with US Soccer to further discuss/research the proposed mandates from US Soccer Federation!! We went through a comprehensive age group analysis based on current Academy, Competitive, ECNL and Recreational Membership to assess impact and form strategic implementation for the 2016-2017 season
!! BUSA Recreational Programming will not change to birth year for all of our in- house U-8 and below programs. (Sunday Soccer, U-6, U-7 and U-8)!! Our foundation of the U-8 and below programs are built on school based teams and kids playing with friends/classmates is an integral way to encourage more children to play soccer at the grassroots level.!! BUSA players participating in U-9 to U-19 Recreational Soccer and playing in the CASL Rec League will abide by new birth year mandates, as will the CASL league, sanctioned by ASA. BUSA will work with Recreational teams and players to play with classmates/ grade regardless of mandates and try to form the most sensible teams so there should be limited disruptions to their soccer experience.!! For any players who move out of the Recreational Program, the Director Staff will help guide the player into the Academy Program at U-9 through U-12 Competitive Soccer to adjust to the competitive calendar/birth year matrix.!! BUSA will work to comply with the Small Sided Games Standards for the Fall 2016 season with the exception of goal sizes, to which we will work towards the purchase of goals in this phase in period.!! BUSA 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 and the importance of teaching the game the appropriate way.
!! BUSA U-9 to U-12 Competitive Academy program will continue to use a multifaceted approach to player development bio mass, birth year, tiered, parity, and varied small sided formats.!! BUSA Academy will use birth year as a way to organize age group player pools/set practice times, but will still have flexibility for player movement based on ability and training convenience. All teams in these age groups will be organized by birth year (January 1, to December 31 st ) instead of the current school based year to comply with standards set forth across the country.!! BUSA U-9 Academy program will be a pure age group pool. BUSA U-10 and above teams will be formed as usual via tryouts, but may continue to utilize pool training for practices within each age group and gender.!! BUSA Academy Player Development Pathway will use the recommended formats for 7 vs. 7, and 9 vs. 9 in the 2016 soccer year and beyond to be in consortium with the new mandates from US Soccer. (Note some U-12 teams may play 11 vs.11)
!! BUSA competes and registers all competitive teams with USYS and/or US Club Soccer ASA, ECNL, RPL, SRPL Regionals, Presidents Cup, National League!! 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 (ASA) competitive members will be required to follow the U.S. Soccer mandates related to small-sided games by Aug. 1, 2017.
! All age groups for youth soccer players playing in any USYS (ASA) and US Club or USSSA, 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!! Any team that has qualified for RPL or SRPL will continue to have the right to play in that league for next fall. Team Age Classification will be based on the oldest player group from within that team. For example our current U-16 00 Elite Boys would qualify to play U-18 RPL as their oldest player is a 99 birth year and the 99 age group will play U-18 next fall.
!! ECNL will follow all US Soccer Mandates effective the Fall of 2016.!! There are slight differences between ECNL and USYS (see chart on next slide)!! ECNL will continue to look for strategic ways to continue to be the leader in female soccer development in the United States.!! There are also slight changes to the event requirements of each ECNL club. (see chart on next slide)
The ECNL will be organized based on calendar year age groups beginning on August 1, 2016 with the 2016-2017 competition season. This document outlines the age group cut-offs for each of the five ECNL age group, as well as the national event competition requirements for each age group. Please note there are slight differences between the ECNL and USYS age group matrix in that the ECNL consolidates the U-18 and U-19 group into one combined U-18/U-19 group.!! ECNL Birth Year Age Groups:!! ** Age Group Cut-Off is January 1 of each designated year U13, U14,U15, U16, U17/18!! 2016-17 Season 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999/1998!! 2017-18 Season 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000/1999!! 2018-19 Season 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001/2000
! 2016-2017 ECNL National Event Competition Summary:!! 1998/1999 (Juniors/Seniors) 2 Regular Season ECNL National Events!! 2000 (Sophomores/Juniors) 3 Regular Season ECNL National Events!! 2001 (Freshman/Sophomores) 3 Regular Season ECNL National Events!! 2002 (8th Graders/Freshman) 1 Regular Season ECNL National Events!! 2003 (7th Graders/8th Graders) Optional Regular Season ECNL Events Only
!! 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 teams/players: 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 -BUSA will ultimately evaluate each older age group and if there is a discernable reason for player development to keep a team and or age group in tact, and we will communicate that information to any affected age group.
! Competitive players attending Tryouts/Trials in May/June of 2016 will be placed based on birth year, except in cases where the Director Staff deems necessary.!! All players will be required to attend the tryout for their birth year unless pre-approved by a Director of Coaching/E.D.!! 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 a player s training maturity.!! 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 BUSA Competitive teams formed for the 2016/2017 season will be formed based on birth year unless communicated previously to teams, players and or age groups..
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 BUSA Competitive pathway, most players get exposed at some point to the next playing format. Ex. 8 vs. 8 teams play 11 vs. 11 friendlies in our current model. BUSA 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 as players at this age are developmentally similar (high school/components)
!! BUSA will offer Birth Year training during the spring season. Some of these will be announced sessions and some will be done during the regular weekly training sessions. Some of this has already been done on Wednesday night sessions.!! This training will be optional, but we do encourage players to attend. This will allow staff to begin evaluating each birth year, so the May/June Tryout is not as difficult for players and staff.!! Birth Year training will give players an opportunity to get acclimated to potential new teammates/ease transition.!! Directors and Coaches will be meeting with teams throughout the spring season to plan for the future.
!! BUSA will comply with the Small Sided Games Standards for the Fall 2016 season!! U-9 and U10, 7 vs. 7 is the primary format, (with flexibility in playing 9 vs 9 as we currently do with certain ability based teams) (47 x 30 yard field size)!! U11/U12 9 vs. 9 (75 x 47 yard field size)!! U13 and above 11 vs. 11 (112 x 75 yard field size)
!! Teams who earned the right to participate in RPL/SRPL/National League and or apply for RPL, SRPL and or National League will play in the age group of the oldest player from their team in the 2015-2016 season. For example a U-16 team in 2015-2016 will play to the oldest player (99 age group) and thus will be eligible for U-18 RPL (99 Age Group) in the fall of 2016.
!! All tryout information can be found on our website www.birminghamunited.com under the tryout tab on the bottom of the main page and on the front page scroll.!! We encourage all players to pre-register for tryout via the Tryout page.!! All players are also encouraged to attend the Pre Tryout Camp
!! The BUSA Director Staff will be meeting with teams and age groups throughout the spring season. We will also publish a video closer to tryouts outlining this document and some other exciting initiatives for the organization.!! If you have questions please feel free to contact the BUSA Office 205-977-9038 and or e-mail any of the following Directors:!! Ben Parks Girls DOC Ben@birminghamunited.com!! Kevin Laux- Boys DOC Kevin@birminghamunited.com!! Eric Ryan- South DOC Eric@birminghamunited.com!! Andrew Brower- Executive Director Andrew@birminghamunited.com