2016 Small Sided Games Changes:
Executive Summary
–
The
Governing Bodies of Soccer, US Soccer Federation, AYSA, CYSA, have mandated
some changes in both how the game is played on the field and how age groups are
determined.
Age
Groups – Currently, under the new age matrix is based upon simply the year
the child was born. In the past, age
grouping were divided from groups staring August 1st of one year and
ending July 31st the following year. Now, it runs from January 1 to
December 31. However, confusion can arise because the Age Matrix is used for
seasonal year that overlap, e.g., 2016-2017 season. In
this example, the operative year is 2017, not the current year 2016. What this means is that for fall 2016, the
oldest children we are registering were born in 2004. So, technically for the
fall playing season the oldest children will be 12, not 13. There will not be 9 year olds playing against
13 year olds in fall, because 2003 born children are considered U14. Though the Age Matrix has changed, FGYSL made
modifications in order to keep teams together, e.g., expanding to U13 so that
kids born in 2004 now in 6th grade could continue to play with their
friends.
On
Field Playing - First, for all age
groups there are no headers in a game.
This is a mandate at all ages of soccer in California due to a
settlement and consent decree (Judicial Order) filed in a lawsuit arising from
Soccer Concussions.
Otherwise, there
are no changes at the U13 (formerly known as U12) level.
There are changes
at Under 10. These involve how the
goalkeeper distributes the ball, how the defending team transitions to the
attack, and the size of the field. The
intent behind the changes is to develop both ball handling and decision making
skills.
In Under 8, the
only change is the drop from there being 5 players on the field at a time to 4
players.
There are no
changes at Under 6.
Frequently Asked Questions and Their (Sometimes Snarky)
Answers
1.
Why are these changes being made?
A.
US National Men’s Team Coach Jurgen Klinsmann is
the Director of Development for US Soccer.
He and US Soccer want to change the development of young soccer players
so that ultimately US Soccer can be more competitive internationally.
2.
Wait, What? I thought we were ranked Number 1 in
the World?
A.
Yes, although the US Women’s team is ranked
number 1 in the world, and though the development of women soccer players in
the USA is doing great, apparently US Soccer does not know that this team and
the female gender exist.
3.
So, this is all because our Men’s team is having
trouble qualifying for the Olympics and World Cup?
A.
Yes.
4.
Well couldn’t something else be done to develop
soccer players in the US?
A.
Yes, of course.
Jurgen Klinsmann has advocated the system of relegation and promotion in
the US Major League Soccer as is used in other countries. However, US Soccer essentially owns the MLS,
and they in turn don’t want to see any MLS teams being relegated. This is why Jurgen Klinsmann advocates that
our USMNT players play abroad. Of
course, by playing abroad the US Players actually stand to make more money, or
at least enough money to live on. The
other problem with MLS is the paltry compensation paid to the players. In addition, other countries like Iceland have
greatly advanced their soccer development. However, Iceland did this by investing in (1)
coaching education and (2) public soccer facilities.
5.
So, essentially what you are saying is that
there are other ways to change the US Soccer Developmental system that Jurgen
Klinsmann has recommended but US Soccer won’t do it because it would interfere
with their revenue and profits?
A.
Yes.
6.
Well doesn’t US Soccer invest in promoting
soccer locally?
A.
While US Soccer does run some grant programs,
generally the answer is No. All coaches
are responsible for paying for their coaching education. There are very few soccer facilities. In fact, although US Soccer’s small-sided
game mandates would require that local leagues have more fields and more field
space to actually implement the changes, US Soccer, AYSA, and CYSA not only
provided no funds for fields, but only have about two years to implement the
changes. So, essentially this is an
unfunded mandate.
7.
If US Soccer, AYSA, and CYSA are doing all of
these things, it seems like they do not care that much about traditional youth
recreational soccer that so many Millions of kids play?
A.
Yep.
8.
Why shouldn’t this make me angry and just quit
soccer?
A.
The Fig Garden Youth Soccer League has been
around since the early 1970’s. The children who started playing now have their
own children and grandchildren playing.
In that time, US Soccer, AYSA, CYSA have changed the age matrix and come
up with the latest, greatest in soccer theories numerous times. The people
behind those changes have all come and gone, but the Fig Garden Youth Soccer
League has remained. In that time, FGYSL
has made changes to the age matrix, and some changes to how the game is played
on the field. What has not changed is our standards: (1) We want the players,
families and coaches to have fun, (2) Along with fun, we actually teach and
play some pretty good soccer, (3) All of our Referees are nationally licensed
and regularly recognized as being the best in the central valley, (4) The
Atmosphere of our games is positive and safe, so that good memories are made.
9.
Then why are we (FGYSL) doing this?
A.
FGYSL is part of CYSA (Cal North). Our teams do, at times, play in tournaments
outside our playing league, and our registration occurs through the Cal North
online system which was re-calibrated to use the new Age Matrix. So, in order to use that system, we had to
make the change. In terms of the
small-sided games changes, many local soccer experts, including Coach Jaime
Ramirez of Fresno Pacific University, believe that it will have great benefits
on the players’ individual skills. Other
byproducts of this style of game play will be more attacking, which means more
scoring. Soccer has always been dogged by the lack of scoring, and so it might
be more fun to watch now.
10.
What is FGYSL doing to make this transition easier
on players, families, and coaches?
A.
FGYSL provides funding for all coaches to obtain
a basic “F” license via an online course.
We also provide a coaches manual for every single coach to help explain
these rules, and hold an annual coaches meeting. For the families, we are attempting to reach
out through article such as this and provide education about the changes. All of our referees, who hold at least at
National US Soccer Grade 8 license has also been educated on the changes so
that they could work with coaches and players.
We have also sought to educate our Field Commissioners, so that they can
be on-the-field resources of information to parents.
11.
What is FGYSL doing to implement the changes?
A.
We are making capital investment in new, folding
metal goals that can be used for both u10 and U13. We are attempting to expand the number of
field sites we have available for Saturday game days. In doing so, we are also trying to schedule
more games during the relatively cooler mornings. Finally, we have partnered
with Ewing Irrigation to begin field improvements and enhancements utilizing
the Organic and “SAFER” school compliant products in their catalog. We are investing in new non-aerosol field
markers, which will not only be more environmentally friendly but will create
better markings on our fields!
Small Sided Game
Initiative/Header Policy
Summary
- U6: 4v4 players, 30x20 yard pitch, No
Goalkeepers, 4'x6' goal, #3 ball, no headers, no camping line, no offside,
4 periods of 8 minutes, 5 minute breaks, limited substitutions
- U8: 4v4 players, 30x20 yard pitch, No
Goalkeepers, 4'x6' goal, #3 ball, no headers, no camping line, no offside,
3 periods of 15 minutes, 5 minute breaks, unlimited substitutions
- U10: 7v7, 47x30 yard pitch, Goalkeepers (no
punting), 6.5'x18.5' goal, #4 ball, no headers, add build out line,
offside called, 2 periods of 25 minutes, 10 minute breaks, unlimited
substitutions. The build out line, is found 14 yards from each goal line. Goal
area will extend 10 yards from goal line, and goal area will be 20 yards
wide. Punting the ball is not
allowed as this would defeat the purpose of the build out line and
reduces the opportunity to play out of the back in an unpressured setting.
After the ball is put into play, the opposing team can then cross the
build out line and play can resume as normal. Field width is a maximum of
30 yards. With goals being 18.5
feet wide, or about 6 yards, the distance to reach the goal on a corner
kick is reduced, thus the need to elevate a corner kick is reduced.
- U13 (now includes all U11
and U12) – No changes.
Header Policy
- CYSA policy is no headers
in game for U12 and under. No
practicing headers for U10 and under.
For U12 that heading training be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes
per week with no more that 15-20 headers per player, per week. Impact for
Implementation of Header Policy – Use of head is indirect free kick
Age Matrix (USSF)
2016-2017
U13 2004
U12 2005
U11 2006
U10 2007
U9 2008
U8 2009
U7 2010
U6 2011
U5 2012
FYGSL 2016 Season
Dates –
Team Listing/ Practice Game requests (U10 and U12) Due to
League Scheduler - Sept. 2, 2016
Team Listing due to Registrar – September 3, 2016
Practice games U12 and U10 – Sat. Sept. 10, 2016
Seeding Tournament U12 and U10 – Sat./Sun. Sept. 17 and 18,
2016
1st Half League Season Start – Sat., Sept. 24, 2016
FGYSL Photo Day (except SAS and Gibson) -
1st Half Season end – Sat. Oct. 15, 2016
Bye Week – Sat. Oct. 22, 2016
2nd Half Season Starts – Sat. Oct.29, 2016
2nd Half Season Ends – Sat. Nov. 19, 2016
Playoff/Championship – Sat. Dec. 3, 2016