Local Club Adapting to the US Youth Soccer Age Group Mandate Changes

In August of 2015, US Soccer announced new mandates that change the alignment of age groups in youth soccer clubs around the country causing each of our local soccer clubs here in Loudoun County, including the Leesburg Football Club (Leesburg FC), to quickly adapt and adjust.

Since the early 1990’s, travel soccer teams in the United States were organized by age according to the school calendar year guidelines (8/1-7/31). So children played on a team with kids who were, more or less, in the same grade. For travel soccer teams throughout the US, that age grouping will be changing as soon as Fall 2016 to follow the true calendar birth year. US Soccer mandated the initiatives to further the development of the players in the US and align with international categorization.

On the US Soccer website, the US Soccer’s Youth Technical Director recently stated that this change will put US “players on the same age-playing calendar as the rest of the world so they will be used to competing in the right age group. That makes it much easier for us to scout for the National Teams and find players ready to compete internationally.”

Adjusting the age cut-off may result in children playing on teams that are comprised of players from different school grades. This transition from one age grouping to another can make things difficult for existing teams who have to make accommodations for the new rule. This new rule will force many teams to split up with some players remaining in their age group, while others have to play in an older age group to meet the new mandate. Local soccer clubs are handling the mandate in different ways, depending on their own club’s philosophy.

Leesburg FC, who fields approximately 20 teams (boys and girls) that compete in the WAGS, ODSL and NCSL leagues, is proactively addressing the age group mandate issue. With this mandate in mind, Leesburg FC’s goal as a club is to carefully balance the benefits of teams remaining intact versus player development and competition. The club is working through this challenging transition with each individual player’s best interest in mind.

On one hand, Leesburg FC is affording it teams and coaches the opportunity to stay together by allowing play-ups. This allows players to continue to develop individually and as part of a team under their current coaches and with established teammates. Many of the club’s players have bonded with their teammates from a social and developmental perspective over the years. Leesburg FC has always encouraged teams to stay together to reap the advantages of establishing long-term team chemistry. Successful examples of this “ stay together” philosophy include the LFC Tornado, (U16G) formed in 2008 has moved from the ODSL to WAGS Division 1 and the LFC Rangers (U16B) formed in 2010 as a rising U11 team has moved from ODSL Division 2 to NCSL Division 1.

The age mandate has also provided Leesburg FC the opportunity to create brand new teams for age groups where they have a larger pool of birth year players. “There are many things to consider when allowing players to play up such as player safety, competitive and developmental advantages / disadvantages to playing against older players, enjoyment and success playing against older/stronger opponents, to name a few,” explains Jim Casey, Leesburg FC Girls Commissioner. “We have encouraged all of our current coaches to consider all of these factors and make the best decision for our players and teams.”

In addition to our existing teams, the Club is creating several new teams to ensure current and prospective players have options come tryout time. Information about tryouts can be found at: http://leesburgfc.com/.