Recreational Soccer Program Information
Recreational Soccer Program Information Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 Fall 2016 Registration Opens: Wednesday, June 1, 2016 Fall 2016 Registration Closes: Monday, June 20, 2016
Register at www.oyaa.org
OBJECTIVE: Mike Lentz, OYAA Director of Soccer, announced today the Recreational Soccer Program’s Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 soccer experience details. The announcement includes seasonal calendar dates, registration information, new coach education initiatives, as well as enhancements to the team formation process and game day experience. “The OYAA Recreational Soccer Program is committed to providing an outstanding youth soccer experience that reaches players, coaches, parents, spectators, and referees. Each aspect of the program is designed to foster a positive, fun and creative learning environment for the players so they can enjoy the game of soccer with their peers. Highlights of the Fall 2016 and 2017 OYAA Soccer Program Experience include:
Transition to Grade Level teams Single grade level divisions Pre-K grade level expands ages Introduction of the Small Sided Game format Increased coaching education opportunities
Transition To Grade Level Teams Historically, OYAA Soccer has organized players into teams based on the US Soccer Federation age group guidelines: August 1st through July 31st. These age group guidelines will cease to exist effective Fall 2016 when the new US Soccer Federation’s birth year mandate take effect. These new birth-year mandates do not apply to recreational soccer programs; therefore, the decision has been made to organize teams by grade level. This decision allows the soccer team experience to be consistent with other OYAA recreational sports (ie football and basketball). Grade
Ages
Gender Divisions
Pre-K *
4 and 5
CO-ED
K
5 and 6
Boys / Girls
1
6 and 7
Boys / Girls
2
7 and 8
Boys / Girls
3
8 and 9
Boys / Girls
4
9 and 10
Boys / Girls
5
10 and 11
Boys / Girls
6
11 and 12
Boys / Girls
7-8
12 and 14
Boys / Girls
9-12
14 - 19
CO-ED
* For Pre-K; child must turn 4 by th Fall 2016 – September 10 th Spring 2016 – April 15
May my child play down a grade level? - No. Players will not be permitted to play down into a lower grade level. May my child play up a grade level? All requests to “play-up” into a higher grade-level will be reviewed by OYAA Director of Soccer. Possible Accepted/ Approved Reason: play with sibling Not Accepted/ Approved Reasons: -- Play with the same/previous season’s team -- Skip the new SSG playing formats -- My child needs to play up so he/she can be challenged OYAA’s policy will remain that teams are created from scratch for the start of the Fall season. Teams do stay together from Fall to Spring. Parents will have the option of making a special request. Example, my child would like to play with coach ABC; or, my child would like to play on the same team as player XYZ.
No Combined Grade Level Divisions Beginning in the Fall 2016, there will be no combined grade-level divisions. Currently, the U9/U10 and U11/U12 age groups are combined. When OYAA started youth soccer, the total number of players participating at these age groups was less than it is today. This is no longer the case. Each age group and gender has a healthy number of players and able to sustain a standalone division for each age group gender. OYAA Director of Soccer reserves the ability to review the grade level divisions each season. Pre-K Ages expanded Each season the OYAA receives requests to allow players who are turning 4yrs old to participate in the OYAA Pre-K (U5) division. The new expanded Pre-K division will allow players who are turning 4yrs old by the second game of the season (09/10/16; 4/15/17) to participate with their peers. Introduction of the Small Sided Game Formats “What is best for the player? This is the #1 question driving my decisions for the OYAA Soccer program.” says Mike Lentz, OYAA Director of Soccer. “Kids want to be involved in the game…they want to touch the ball…maybe even score a goal! The small sided game (SSG) format changes – as recommended by US Soccer Federation, US Youth Soccer, and FIFA - are the right way to go. The SSG standards ensure children will play on soccer fields that are age, ability and developmentally appropriate. A child who touches the soccer ball, make decisions, experiences success and failure, will become better soccer players because he/she is learning. Click HERE to read an editorial by John Sullivan, the founder of Changing The Game Project, on the topic of playing. Below is a chart showing the game Grade Pre-K K
Ages 4 and 5 5 and 6
Gender Divisions CO-ED Boys / Girls
Referees No No
Small Sided Game Format 3v3 – no GK 3v3 – no GK
1 2 3 4 5 6
6 and 7 7 and 8 8 and 9 9 and 10 10 and 11 11 and 12
Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
4v4 – no GK 4v4 – GK possible 7v7 – yes GK 7v7 – yes GK 9v9 – yes GK 9v9 – yes GK
7-8 9-12
12 and 14 14 - 19
Boys / Girls CO-ED
Yes Yes
11v11 – yes GK 11v11 – Yes GK
Increased Coaching Education Opportunities The transition to the small sided game formats will be new for coaches, players and parents. To support the coaches, aid in their development and game management style, OYAA Director of Soccer will offer and ask coaches to attend 1 of 8 pre-season coaching education between July 25 and August 21. The continuing education classes will include both classroom and on-field demonstrations. Guest speakers are possible. Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 Calendar Dates Fall 2016 June 1 Registration Opens June 21 Registration Closes August 27 Opening Day September 3 No games –holiday September 10 Picture day September 17 Picture day October 22 Final game day
January 2 January 30 April 8 April 8 April 15 May 20
Spring 2017 Registration Opens Registration closes Opening Day Picture Day Picture Day Final Game Day
Register at www.oyaa.org
OBJECTIVE: Mike Lentz, OYAA Director of Soccer, announced today the Recreational Soccer Program’s Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 soccer experience details. The announcement includes seasonal calendar dates, registration information, new coach education initiatives, as well as enhancements to the team formation process and game day experience. “The OYAA Recreational Soccer Program is committed to providing an outstanding youth soccer experience that reaches players, coaches, parents, spectators, and referees. Each aspect of the program is designed to foster a positive, fun and creative learning environment for the players so they can enjoy the game of soccer with their peers. Highlights of the Fall 2016 and 2017 OYAA Soccer Program Experience include:
Transition to Grade Level teams Single grade level divisions Pre-K grade level expands ages Introduction of the Small Sided Game format Increased coaching education opportunities
Transition To Grade Level Teams Historically, OYAA Soccer has organized players into teams based on the US Soccer Federation age group guidelines: August 1st through July 31st. These age group guidelines will cease to exist effective Fall 2016 when the new US Soccer Federation’s birth year mandate take effect. These new birth-year mandates do not apply to recreational soccer programs; therefore, the decision has been made to organize teams by grade level. This decision allows the soccer team experience to be consistent with other OYAA recreational sports (ie football and basketball). Grade
Ages
Gender Divisions
Pre-K *
4 and 5
CO-ED
K
5 and 6
Boys / Girls
1
6 and 7
Boys / Girls
2
7 and 8
Boys / Girls
3
8 and 9
Boys / Girls
4
9 and 10
Boys / Girls
5
10 and 11
Boys / Girls
6
11 and 12
Boys / Girls
7-8
12 and 14
Boys / Girls
9-12
14 - 19
CO-ED
* For Pre-K; child must turn 4 by th Fall 2016 – September 10 th Spring 2016 – April 15
May my child play down a grade level? - No. Players will not be permitted to play down into a lower grade level. May my child play up a grade level? All requests to “play-up” into a higher grade-level will be reviewed by OYAA Director of Soccer. Possible Accepted/ Approved Reason: play with sibling Not Accepted/ Approved Reasons: -- Play with the same/previous season’s team -- Skip the new SSG playing formats -- My child needs to play up so he/she can be challenged OYAA’s policy will remain that teams are created from scratch for the start of the Fall season. Teams do stay together from Fall to Spring. Parents will have the option of making a special request. Example, my child would like to play with coach ABC; or, my child would like to play on the same team as player XYZ.
No Combined Grade Level Divisions Beginning in the Fall 2016, there will be no combined grade-level divisions. Currently, the U9/U10 and U11/U12 age groups are combined. When OYAA started youth soccer, the total number of players participating at these age groups was less than it is today. This is no longer the case. Each age group and gender has a healthy number of players and able to sustain a standalone division for each age group gender. OYAA Director of Soccer reserves the ability to review the grade level divisions each season. Pre-K Ages expanded Each season the OYAA receives requests to allow players who are turning 4yrs old to participate in the OYAA Pre-K (U5) division. The new expanded Pre-K division will allow players who are turning 4yrs old by the second game of the season (09/10/16; 4/15/17) to participate with their peers. Introduction of the Small Sided Game Formats “What is best for the player? This is the #1 question driving my decisions for the OYAA Soccer program.” says Mike Lentz, OYAA Director of Soccer. “Kids want to be involved in the game…they want to touch the ball…maybe even score a goal! The small sided game (SSG) format changes – as recommended by US Soccer Federation, US Youth Soccer, and FIFA - are the right way to go. The SSG standards ensure children will play on soccer fields that are age, ability and developmentally appropriate. A child who touches the soccer ball, make decisions, experiences success and failure, will become better soccer players because he/she is learning. Click HERE to read an editorial by John Sullivan, the founder of Changing The Game Project, on the topic of playing. Below is a chart showing the game Grade Pre-K K
Ages 4 and 5 5 and 6
Gender Divisions CO-ED Boys / Girls
Referees No No
Small Sided Game Format 3v3 – no GK 3v3 – no GK
1 2 3 4 5 6
6 and 7 7 and 8 8 and 9 9 and 10 10 and 11 11 and 12
Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls Boys / Girls
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
4v4 – no GK 4v4 – GK possible 7v7 – yes GK 7v7 – yes GK 9v9 – yes GK 9v9 – yes GK
7-8 9-12
12 and 14 14 - 19
Boys / Girls CO-ED
Yes Yes
11v11 – yes GK 11v11 – Yes GK
Increased Coaching Education Opportunities The transition to the small sided game formats will be new for coaches, players and parents. To support the coaches, aid in their development and game management style, OYAA Director of Soccer will offer and ask coaches to attend 1 of 8 pre-season coaching education between July 25 and August 21. The continuing education classes will include both classroom and on-field demonstrations. Guest speakers are possible. Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 Calendar Dates Fall 2016 June 1 Registration Opens June 21 Registration Closes August 27 Opening Day September 3 No games –holiday September 10 Picture day September 17 Picture day October 22 Final game day
January 2 January 30 April 8 April 8 April 15 May 20
Spring 2017 Registration Opens Registration closes Opening Day Picture Day Picture Day Final Game Day
