Changes for 2017
Player Development Initiatives (PDI's)The new U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives (PDI’s) mandate small sided play for all youth soccer programs up to U12. These PDI’s will apply to all youth soccer programs that are members of U.S. Soccer, including most youth soccer club programs. Minor adjustments to the AYSO rules are necessary to align with U.S. Soccer for the U5 to U8 age groups to have 4v4 play in place of 3v3 and 5v5. Otherwise, the AYSO Rules and Regulations are already mostly in-alignment with the PDI’s, and in fact, already offered more player development opportunities now being recognized by U.S. Soccer.
What are the biggest changes to the rules in AYSO and youth soccer?
The biggest changes are in the U10 division. The rule changes mandated by U.S. Soccer are to encourage passing the ball on the ground, especially from the goalkeeper up through the team. There will be a new line on the field between the half line and the top of the penalty area. These are called "build-out” lines. For more specific information on the build-out lines and how they are used, please see U.S. Soccer’s website: US Soccer PDI or the US Soccer PDI presentation at the link below.
Some Regions that do not already use small sided play will also have to change field sizes and goal sizes. Regions will be permitted to implement the field and goal changes gradually in order to conform to the US Soccer PDI mandate.
What are the new changes to the player age cutoff dates?
FIFA and other governing bodies in soccer use the calendar year for determining the age for player registration as opposed to most youth soccer organizations that have used the “school year” to form teams. That practice kept most kids in a given grade in the same age group. U.S. Soccer PDI’s now require conformity with FIFA practice. For membership year 2017, AYSO will be going to calendar year age determination.
The following factors in using the calendar year that are different from AYSO’s past practice are:
- The age of the player at the “end of competition” determines the age group division for that player. In our case, that means December 31 for that membership year.
- Players in a given age group division will now be at the age of that group or under leading to a change in terminology for age group divisions. For instance, age groups will now be referred to as 6U (age 6 and under), 8U, 10U, 12U, etc.
- See the Registration Page to determine which age division a child will play in.
- Because of the changes to the age cutoff, some players will have to move up to the next division even though they only played one season in U8 or U10, for example. Some players who played in the U5 division last season will skip the 6U division and move directly to the 8U division.
When do the rules go into effect?
Fall of 2017 for the rules of play, including the small sided games and the new age determination cutoff. For goal equipment and field sizes, U.S. Soccer acknowledges that goal sizes and field sizes will change over time.
The build-out lines are to be used in 2017. Fields that may not be painted with a new line may use flat cones, cones, flags or other means to denote the line.