New U.S. Soccer Coaching Initiatives
Many
of you might have heard already that US Soccer has, in an effort to
continue to develop soccer in this country and to best serve the needs
of especially the younger players, mandated two major changes to be made
to how youth soccer is ran in this country.
These changes will have a big effect on the current landscape of youth
soccer across the country. The changes coming up will also apply to
the Piscataway Soccer Club since we are, just like any other soccer
club in the US, affiliated with US Youth Soccer. They will affect every
organization as much as it does ours.
For those unaware, below a very brief explanation of the two changes coming up.
- US
Soccer recognizes that, to best serve the needs of the youth soccer
players, ages U6-U12, that it is important to mandate small sided games
for the players in these age groups. Up till now, no set standard has
been mandated. In some states, for example, players at U9 play 6v6 and
in New Jersey all U9's at the travel level, play 8v8. US Soccer is
pushing for one standard across the country, to offer all players equal
opportunities to develop. The new set up will also provide players with
the opportunity to take small steps in their development, rather than
being forced to play on a big field to soon.
Through U8 US Soccer wants all players to play 4v4 without goalkeepers.
- At U9 and U10 all teams will be playing 7v7 (6 field players and a goalkeeper)
- U11 and U12 will be 9v9 (8 and a goalkeeper)
- All teams U13 and up will continue to play 11v11.
- The
current age group definitions as outlined by US and NJ Youth Soccer
will change moving forward. Up till this season players were placed on
travel teams using a cut off starting August 1st, through July 31st.
US
Soccer is making a change to align its youth soccer teams with all
countries around the world moving forward. This means that they want to
start dividing players over teams given their year of birth. We as a
program have to move along with this as this will be mandated and affect
all programs affiliated with US and NJ Youth Soccer.
We are currently working on our Tryout Procedures to include the above, look for them to be issued by the end of this month.
NJYS
has instructed all NJ Clubs to proceed to implement these changes for
the 2016 Fall and Spring 2017 Seasons. This will effect all Travel and
Instructional Teams.
Check out our current March 2016 Newsletter and attend our General Membership Meeting this Thursday evening 700 pm in the PHS Patton Cafeteria if you have any questions.
See you on the Pitch,
Mike Majorczak
President Piscataway SC