MINNESOTA YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION YOUTH ACADEMY PROGRAM STANDARDS Philosophy The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Youth Academy Program approach places the emphasis on the player and their individual development and not that of the team, with the main focus on technical development without the pressure of short-term, result-oriented matches. To foster an environment that focuses on player development and has a player-centered philosophy. To increase the enjoyment and retention of children playing soccer. "True player development focuses on the development of the player, not the development of the team! Up to age 12, this should be the only criteria used in designing and running youth soccer programs. Ron Quinn, leading contributor, US Youth Soccer programming More than 73% of all kids who play organized youth sports end up quitting by the time they reach the age of 13 (Time Magazine, July 12, 1999) The two major reasons children give up sports: 1. It s no longer fun 2. It s too competitive/too much pressure ''The emphasis on winning is a detriment to young players because it prevents us from developing technically proficient players. And we're not giving them the ability to make decisions. We want competition. They'll always be competition and it's not bad. The bad part is the emphasis on winning.'' John Hackworth, Former U.S. U-17 national team coach, Philadelphia Union Head Coach Mission To foster an environment that focuses on player development and has a player-centered philosophy. To increase the enjoyment and retention of children playing soccer. General The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association Youth Academy Program will be offered for the U10 U12 age groups (which can include U9 s and U11 s). The Youth Academy Program for U10 U12 players is considered introductory. In addition to these Youth Academy Program Standards, Minnesota Youth Soccer, US Youth Soccer and US Soccer Federation rules are applicable. Clubs must apply to participate in the Youth Academy Program each soccer year. Minnesota Youth Soccer staff members will be responsible for the implementation of the MYSA Youth Academy Program. The Youth Academy Directors members will provide oversight and strategic direction. Clubs Clubs will be accepted for participation in the Youth Academy Program for one (1) soccer year. They must participate for the full year (fall, winter and summer seasons). Clubs may re-apply to Minnesota Youth Soccer for acceptance the next soccer year.
Each club must appoint an Academy Director. The Academy Director acts as the liaison between the Club Academy and Minnesota Youth Soccer. The Academy Director must oversee all aspects of the Program, within their own club, including, but not limited to, the establishment of training priorities, player admittance policy, coaching and administrative staff, selection and scheduling. Subject to the jurisdiction of the club s board of directors and president, Minnesota Youth Soccer will provide assistance to those clubs needing help in curriculum planning, development, etc. Minnesota Youth Soccer requires that each Academy Director hold a National Youth License within one year of club participation in the program. Minnesota Youth Soccer requires that coaching staff working with the Youth Academy Program hold at minimum, a National E License designed for working with 9- to 12-year-old players within one year of club participation in the program. Minnesota Youth Soccer requires clubs administer an Academy Parent Education Program in accordance with the Academy philosophy established by Minnesota Youth Soccer. Minnesota Youth Soccer requires clubs promote MYSA s Parents and Coaches Together (PACT) education program. Each club must have an established yearly curriculum for its academy program that must be submitted to MYSA on a date set by Minnesota Youth Soccer. Assistance in creating an academy curriculum will be provided by Minnesota Youth Soccer, if needed. Each club will be required to have its representatives attend monthly directors meetings. Each coach must register with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association and have a valid member pass, and each participating club will follow the Minnesota Youth Soccer Risk Management Policies. Players Players must be registered with the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association and have a valid member pass. Player Transfer Deadlines: a) Intraclub Player Transfer Deadline is the last Monday in April and b) Interclub Player Transfers are only allowed if the player relocates to a different community that exceeds a reasonable travel distance. All players within a club s Youth Academy Program will be registered directly to an Academy pool with their club and will not be assigned to a specific team. An Academy player cannot be registered with two or more Affiliate Members at the same time. An Academy player is eligible to guest play in the competitive league. Only players that are U10 U12 as per US Youth Soccer Guidelines are eligible for the Youth Academy Program. Players in match attendance should play a minimum of one half of each match and preferably more. Players should experience playing all the different spots on the field during the season. It is recommended that each player receive a minimum of two evaluations per year from their Club s Academy that is approved by the Academy Director; one in the second half of the fall season and one in the second half of the summer season. Training Each club will provide its players, as part of the Youth Academy Program, with two to three training opportunities per week, on average. Training shall be conducted in a pool training format not with specific teams. Coach-to-player ratio 1:12 is recommended.
Matches Matches will follow the US Soccer modified rules for small-sided games. (7 v 7 six field players and one goalkeeper; U10). (9 v 9 eight field players and one goalkeeper; U12). During the winter season, Futsal/Indoor soccer is encouraged. Minnesota Youth Soccer, through the director meetings, will help facilitate the Youth Academy Program. Minnesota Youth Soccer will schedule matches so that all Youth Academy Programs obtain a minimum number of matches with 22-30 matches on average per year. Recommend maximum U10 26 matches/u12 30 matches. As part of the overall philosophy, Minnesota Youth Soccer requires a minimum of eight weeks of down time. Scores will not be published and standings will not be kept. It is required that a U10 Academy player not play more than 100 minutes in one day. A U12 Academy player not play more than 120 minutes in one day. Travel : o It is recommended that U10 Academies participate in festivals/showcases. o It is recommended that U10 Academies do not participate in any elimination-bracket tournaments. o For the U12 s Tournament-like events should be limited to competitions that are organized into a round robin format. Rules of Play Youth Academy Program matches shall be played according to the Laws of the Game as modified in Rule 7 of the MYSA Policies & Rules Manual, with the following exceptions: o At least one registered and certified referee must officiate each match. o The referee shall submit the Academy Match Reports to the Minnesota Youth Soccer office only when incidents occur, including injuries, red cards and irresponsible behavior. o Periods of other lengths may be used only with prior agreement by the coaches of the pools involved or when the referee must shorten the periods due to weather conditions or limited daylight. o Recommend Futsal rules apply for indoor soccer. Referees The hosting club is responsible for providing officials for each Inter-Academy match. Academy matches will be assigned one registered and certified referee. Referee fees shall be determined by agreement between the participating clubs. Laws of the Game Conform to FIFA unless otherwise noted below. (7v7 6 field players and 1 goalkeeper; U10) Law 1 The Field of Play (this applies to outdoor matches) Dimensions: The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line. Length: minimum 55 yards maximum 65 yards Width: minimum 35 yards maximum 45 yards Recommended Field Dimensions (60x40)
Field Markings: Distinctive lines not more than five (5) inches wide. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of eight (8) yards is marked around it. The Penalty Area: A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, ten (10) yards from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of ten (10) yards and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area. Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made eight (8) yards from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. Goals: Goals must be placed on the center of each goal line. They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flag posts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The maximum distance between the posts is eighteen (18) feet and the maximum distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is six (6) feet. Law 2 - Ball Size: Size four (4). Law 3 Number of Players: A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than seven (7) players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. Law 4 The Players Equipment Law 5 The Referee: Registered and certified referee. Law 6 The Assistant Referees: Not required. Law 7 - Duration of the Match: Two (2) twenty-five (25) minute halves with half-time interval of five (5) minutes. Law 8 The Start and Restart of Play: The opponents of the pool taking the kick-off are at least eight (8) yards from the ball until it is in play. Law 9 The Ball In and Out of Play Law 10 The Method of Scoring Law 11 - Offside: None. Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct: An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the center spot on the halfway line if a goalkeeper punts or drop-kicks the ball in the air from his/her penalty area into the opponents penalty area. Law 13 Free Kicks: All opponents are at least eight (8) yards from the ball. Law 14 The Penalty Kick: None - all restarts are indirect. Law 15 The Throw-In Law 16 The Goal Kick On a goal kick, all players for the opposing team need to be at midfield before the kick is taken. Once the kick is taken the players from the opposing team can play. Law 17- The Corner Kick: Opponents remain at least eight (8) yards from the ball until it is in play. (9v9 8 field players and 1 goalkeeper; U12) Law 1 The Field of Play (this applies to outdoor matches) Dimensions: The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touchline must be greater than the length of the goal line. Length: minimum 70 yards maximum 80 yards Width: minimum 45 yards maximum 55 yards Recommended Field Dimensions (70x50) Field Markings: Distinctive lines not more than five (5) inches wide. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line. The center mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of eight (8) yards is marked around it.
The Penalty Area: A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, ten (10) yards from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of ten (10) yards and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area. Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made eight (8) yards from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. Goals: Goals must be placed on the center of each goal line. They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flag posts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The maximum distance between the posts is eighteen (21) feet and the maximum distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is six (6) feet. Law 2 - Ball Size: Size four (4). Law 3 Number of Players: A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than nine (9) players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. Law 4 The Players Equipment Law 5 The Referee: Registered and certified referee. Law 6 The Assistant Referees: Not required. Law 7 - Duration of the Match: Two (2) thirty (30) minute halves with half-time interval of five (5) minutes. Law 8 The Start and Restart of Play: The opponents of the pool taking the kick-off are at least eight (8) yards from the ball until it is in play. Law 9 The Ball In and Out of Play Law 10 The Method of Scoring Law 11 - Offside: IS in effect. Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct: An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team at the center spot on the halfway line if a goalkeeper punts or drop-kicks the ball in the air from his/her penalty area into the opponents penalty area. Law 13 Free Kicks: All opponents are at least eight (8) yards from the ball. Law 14 The Penalty Kick: None - all restarts are indirect. Law 15 The Throw-In Law 16 The Goal Kick On a goal kick, all players for the opposing team need to be at midfield before the kick is taken. Once the kick is taken the players from the opposing team can play. Law 17- The Corner Kick: Opponents remain at least eight (8) yards from the ball until it is in play.