US SOCCER CHANGES SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LEAGUES AND CLUBS · 2016. 6. 26. · 4151 S. 84 P: (402)596...

US SOCCER CHANGES

‘SURVIVAL GUIDE’

FOR LEAGUES AND CLUBS

CHANGES STARTING THIS FALL SEASON 2016

- Playing Formats - Field Sizes - Goal Sizes (where applicable – no need to buy new goals yet) - Playing Times - Heading Rules – or “NO” Heading rules – (u11 and below) - Birth Year – we will use both labels as much as possible .. i.e U15 (2002) to help assist the

transition

NOT CHANGING

- Roster sizes – WILL REMAIN DOUBLE THE # OF PLAYERS ON THE FIELD

As with any change, communication will be the key. Per US Soccer communications, our clubs do not

need to run out and buy new goals, but when the time comes to purchase new sets, they should switch

to the appropriate sizes. For the City of Omaha fields that we manage, we will do the best we can to

make the adjustments, and communicate to you which fields still have the “old” goals on them, so you

can communicate to members.

4151 S. 84th Street, Suite B Omaha, NE 68127

www.nebraskastatesoccer.org P: (402)596-1616 F: (402)596-0660

January 28, 2016

To: League and Club Leaders From: Casey Mann, Executive Director Re: Nebraska State Soccer Association Programming Changes as a result of USSF Mandates

Dear League & Club Leaders:

This communication is intended to assist our teams, clubs, and leagues in understanding and

implementing changes, as mandated by US Soccer, as efficiently and effectively as possible.

USSF has issued mandates for the 2017 CALENDAR year, but because many programs in Nebraska (i.e.

State Cup) are seasonal and played in parts of 2016, Nebraska State Soccer will begin implementing the

2017 mandates in the fall of 2016.

As a reminder, these mandates do NOT require players to play in their birth year. Current teams can

choose to stay together, but will still be required to play in the birth year division of their oldest player.

CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR REGISTRATION – EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2016

Effective August 1, 2016, teams at all age groups are recommended to be formed using a new age group

cut-off date of January 1.

The current age group cut-off of August 1 (players born on or after August 1 are eligible) was

designed to keep teams on a SCHOOL YEAR basis so that teams were generally created of

players within the same academic grade. For this reason it was referred to as ‘SCHOOL YEAR’

based registration.

The new age group cut-off of January 1 (players born on or after January 1 are age eligible) will

be consistent with the dates used internationally in forming youth soccer teams. This cut-off is

referred to as ‘CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR’ registration.

The move to CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR registration will create multiple changes in youth soccer:



Teams will generally consist of players in two different school years or grades. This is because,

generally, players born from January 1 to July 31 will be a year older in school, than the players

born from August 1 to December 31. This presents some challenges during the transition from

middle school to high school and during the transition from high school to college.

Eighth Grade/High School Freshmen (U15, birth year 2002): In this age group, U15 (birth year 2002)

teams formed based on CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR will have some players that are in eighth grade and

some players that are freshmen in high school. Clubs could implement this in the following ways:

Alternative 1, In Club A, U15 (birth year 2002) players that are in eighth grade, while some of

their teammates are in high school, may train with a younger team during this 3-4 month

period.

Alternative 2, in Club B, U15 (birth year 2002) players that are freshmen in high school may

choose not to play high school soccer during this season in order to stay with their club teams.

Alternative 3, in Club C, U15 (birth year 2002) players that are in eighth grade, while some of

their teammates are in high school, may play in a U15 (birth year 2002) team where the 2002

players join the 2003 team and that team plays in a league that allows 2002/2003 teams for the

Spring Season. Leagues may create fall options that allow for a combination year team, but

those options are yet to be decided.

Senior Year/College Freshmen (U19, birth year 1998): Teams formed based on CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR

will also have roster changes as they become U19 (birth year 1998) players. This is because a percentage

of the U19 (birth year 1998) players will actually be graduating from high school and likely will no longer

be participating in youth soccer. Clubs could implement this in the following ways:

Alternative 1, In Club A, the U18 (birth year 1999) players may play up with U19 (birth year

1998) players.

Alternative 2, In Club B, the U19 (birth year 1998) players may play with older players that are in

the same CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR and not playing college soccer.

COMPETITION FORMATS – WILL BE IN TRANSITION THIS SUMMER.

2016 Nebraska State Soccer Tryout Dates

Tryouts may not commence any earlier than Wednesday, June 15, 2016. (See website for all

team formation details)



All team, club and league try-out advertisements are recommended to advertise CALENDAR

BIRTH YEAR tryouts.

o E.g. Birth Year 2004 (U13), Birth Year 2003 (U14), etc.

State Cup

The Nebraska State Cup for boys and girls teams is currently organized on a SCHOOL YEAR based

age group competition structure. This will remain the same for the Spring 2016 Nebraska State

Cup only, but beginning in the Fall of 2016 (for the 2017 State Cup/Regionals), it will be

organized on a CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR basis.

State Cup for the 2016/2017 Seasonal year will look like this:

Fall of 2016

2002 (U15)

2001 (U16)

2000 (U17)

1999 (U18)

1998/97**(U19/20)

**The U19/20 age group will allow players born from

August 1, 1997- December 31, 1998

Spring 2017

2003 (U14)

2004 (U13)

Midwest Regional League

The MRL for 13 and Under 18 and boys and girls teams is currently organized on a SCHOOL YEAR based

age group competition structure. This will remain the same through the 2016 Spring Season of the

Midwest Regional League, but beginning with the 2016 Fall Season, it will be organized on a CALENDAR

BIRTH YEAR basis. Note that beginning in the 2016-2017 seasonal year, age groups offered in the

Midwest Regional League will be U14-U19 (birth years 2003-1998). Nebraska State Soccer will still

accept applications for MRL and base acceptance on a team’s body of work, most notably in Nebraska

State Cup and Nebraska League competition.



Nebraska State Soccer Sanctioned Tournaments

CALENDAR BIRTH YEAR bracketing is required for tournaments sanctioned by NSS scheduled on

or after August 1, 2016.

SMALL-SIDED GAMES – STARTING AUGUST 1, 2016

As communicated on July 27, 2015, our national governing body, US Soccer, has announced that the

following formats of play are to be adopted as a best practice by August 2016 and will be mandated of

all youth member organizations with US Soccer by August 2017. However, Nebraska and other US Youth

Soccer State Associations are proceeding with implementation in August 2016 and all state sanctioned

leagues will operate according to the implementation guidelines set down by USSF.

• U6-U8 (birth years 2011-2009) is 4v4 (no GK)

• U9-U10 (birth years 2008-2007) is 7v7 (including a GK)

• U11-U12 (birth years 2006-2005) is 9v9 (including a GK)

• U13 (birth year 2004) and above is 11v11 (including a GK)

We hope the above explanations help ease the transition into all the changes ahead. Should you have

questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the Nebraska State Soccer Office.

Sincerely,

Casey Mann

Executive Director

U6 U7 U8 U9 U10 U11 U12 U13

FIELD SIZE

25-35 (L) X 15-25 (W)

25-35 (L) X 15-25 (W)

25-35 (L) X 15-25 (W)

55-65 (L) X 35-45 (W)

55-65 (L) X 35-45 (W)

70-80 (W) X 45-55 (L)

70-80 (W) X 45-55 (L)

112 X 75

# OF PLAYERS

4 V 4 4 V 4 4 V 4 7 V 7 7 V 7 9 V 9 9 V 9 11 V 11

GK NO NO NO YES YES YES YES YES

PLAYING TIMES

4 X 8 MIN 4 X 8 MIN 3 X 15 MIN

2 X 25 MIN

2 X 25 MIN

2 X 30 MIN

2 X 30 MIN

2 X 35 MIN

BREAK TIMES

5 MIN 5 MIN 5 MIN 10 MIN 10 MIN 10 MIN 10 MIN 15 MIN

BALL SIZE

3 3 3 4 4 4 4 5

GOAL SIZE

4 X 6 4 X 6 4 x 6 6.5 x 18.5 6.5 x 18.5 6.5 x 18.5 6.5 x 18.5 8 x 24

OFFSIDE NO NO NO YES YES YES YES YES



To: Nebraska State Soccer Members

From: Casey Mann, NSS Executive Director

Re: US Soccer Recognize to Recover (R2R) Program – Concussion Initiatives

The Nebraska State Soccer Association has adopted the recommendations from US Soccer concerning

concussion initiatives, including providing outreach and education to our Members. As part of this

initiative, effective July 1, 2016 no intentional heading of the ball (competition or practice) will be

allowed by: (1) all U11 and lower age groups regardless of the actual age of the player, and (2) all

individual players 10 years or younger playing above the U11 age group. When such a player

deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the opposing team from

the spot of the offense. If the deliberate header occurs within the penalty area, the indirect free kick

should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the

infringement occurred. If a player does not deliberately head the ball, then play should continue.

This mandate is for all NSS affiliated activities, including but not limited to, NSS affiliated member

organization league play, practices and tournaments. As a reminder, the State of Nebraska Concussion

Protocol law remains in effect for Nebraska based schools and all organized sports in Nebraska for

athletes 19 and younger.

Note: The Nebraska State Soccer Association will post and appropriately disseminate any additional

changes to rules, policies, guidelines, etc. when determined and as timely as possible. For reference, US

Soccer’s Recognize to Recover (R2R) program describes the specific initiatives and provides guidelines,

resources and information on a variety of other player safety and health related issues.

Read US Soccer’s press release @ http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2015/12/02/20/59/151202-us-

soccer-announces-recognize-to-recover-player-health-and-safety-program

Read more about Recognize to Recover @ http://www.ussoccer.com/about/recognize-to-recover

http://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/ConcussionManage/Pages/cr0102.aspxhttp://dhhs.ne.gov/publichealth/ConcussionManage/Pages/cr0102.aspx



2016/2017 ROSTER SIZES AGE DIVISION ROSTER Format

U6/Micro Unlimited 4v4 – No Goal Keepers

U7/U8 8 4v4 – No Goal Keepers

U9/U10 14 7v7 – With Goal Keepers

U11/U12 18 9v9 – With Goal Keepers

U13 – U19 22 11v11 – With Goal Keepers

Field Ranges and Roster Sizes Below is an updated table of the field sizes for small-sided games. These standards were finalized based on the input from the Youth Members Technical Leadership Group and feedback provided by Directors of Coaching.

Age Game Field Size

Length Range Field Size

Width Range

U6 4v4 25-35 15-25

U7 4v4 25-35 15-25

U8 4v4 25-35 15-25

U9 7v7 55-65 35-45

U10 7v7 55-65 35-45

U11 9v9 70-80 45-55

U12 9v9 70-80 45-55

* 4v4 soccer is meant to be played in a less structured environment in order to maximize fun and participation; thus, players eight-years-old and younger should play without formal teams and rosters. Conducting play through in-house programs with flexible and fluid teams is the best approach.

SURIVIVAL GUIDE FOR LEAGUES FINAL UPDATED Memo l NSS Programming l USSF Mandates l 1.28.16UPDATED STANDARDS CHART FOR LEAGUESHeading Statement Release - BG2016-17 Roster SizesField RangesField Diagrams for Leagues4 v 4 field 7 v 7 field diagrambuild out lines diagram build out rules for 7 v 7 (1)build out lines 7 v 7 (2)

US SOCCER CHANGES SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR LEAGUES AND CLUBS · 2016. 6. 26. · 4151 S. 84 P: (402)596...

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