SYSI Age Groups for Indoor 2017/18 June 21st, 2017
Age Classifications:
SYSI approved to change the age grouping of our leagues:
|
Age Group |
U5 |
U7 |
U9 |
U11 |
U13 |
U15 |
U17 |
U19 |
|
Birth Years |
2013 |
2011/12 |
2009/10 |
2007/08 |
2005/06 |
2003/04 |
2001/02 |
1999/ 2000 |
|
Field Size (Yds) Approx. |
13 x 30 |
15 x 26 |
28 x 35 |
26 x 60 (Boarded) 33 x 55 (Family Focus) 32 x 52 (1/4 Turf) |
26 x 60 (Boarded) 32 x 52 (1/4 Turf) 52 x 69 (1/2 Turf) |
26 x 60 32 x 52 52 x 69 |
26 x 60 32 x 52 52 x 69 |
26 x 60 32 x 52 52 x 69 |
|
Facility or facilities used. |
Gymnasi um |
Henk Ruys |
STSC |
STSC |
STSC/Henk Ruys |
STSC/Hen k Ruys |
STSC/He nk Ruys |
STSC/H enk Ruys |
|
# Players |
3v3 Indoor |
4v4 Indoor |
5v5 Indoor |
6v6 Indoor |
6v6 or 9v9 Indoor |
6v6 or 9v9 Indoor |
6v6 or 9v9 Indoor |
6v6 or 9v9 Indoor |
|
GK |
No |
Rotating |
Rotating |
Yes (Rotating) |
Yes (Intro. to specialization) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Playing Time |
2 x 16’ |
2 x 20’ |
2 x 20’ |
2 x 25’ |
2 x 25’ |
2 x 25’ |
2 x 25’ |
2 x 25’ |
|
Break Time (Min) |
3’ |
3’ |
3’ |
3’ |
3’ |
3’ |
3’ |
3’ |
|
Ball Size (Recommen ded) |
3 |
3 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Goal Size (W x H) Approx. (Ft’Inch) |
8’ x 5’ |
8’ x 5’ |
12’ x 6’6 |
12’ x 6’6 |
12’ x 6’6 13 x 6’6 18’6 x 6’6 |
12’ x 6’6 13 x 6’6 24’ x 8’ |
12’ x 6’6 13 x 6’6 24’ x 8’ |
12’ x 6’6 13 x 6’6 24’ x 8’ |
|
Offside |
No |
No |
No |
No |
1/3 Line |
Halfway Line |
Halfway Line |
Halfwa y Line |
|
Sideline Restart |
Dribble or Pass |
Dribble or Pass |
Dribble or Pass |
Modified Throw In |
Throw In |
Throw In |
Throw In |
Throw In |
|
Goal Kick Restart |
Dribble or Kick |
Dribble or Kick |
Dribble or Kick |
Retreat Line Division 3 |
Goal Kick Top of Penalty Box |
Goal Kick |
Goal Kick |
Goal Kick |
|
Corner Kick |
No |
No |
Dribble or Kick |
Short Corner (Recommend ed) |
Corner Kick |
Corner Kick |
Corner Kick |
Corner Kick |
|
Training Games |
1v1 – 3v3 |
1v1 – 3v3 |
4v4, 5v5, 3v1, 2v1 |
3v2, 2v2, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, |
6v6 – 9v9 |
6v6-11v11 |
6v6- 11v11 |
6v6- 11v11 |
|
Gender Specific |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Standings/S tats |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
City Champs |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Tiered Divisions |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
D League** |
No |
No |
Yes |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
This change would involve community soccer being grouped with the U5-U9 age groups, with a U9 D- League, and youth soccer being grouped with the U11-U19 age groups.
Maturational Development
Height, size and weight are not the only considerations. We must consider total developmental or maturational age, considering chronological age, height, weight, conceptual development, social development and psychological development. The size of fields and format of play are important in ensuring that players are matched to their developmental capabilities. For example, pre-pubescent children do not have the cardio-vascular development necessary to cover large distances required when they play on full-sized fields. We must also further embrace the use of maturational age over chronological age and encourage late developers to remain in lower age brackets where necessary. It is also important that developmental age be considered with puberty at the core. Ultimate decision will be decided by a medical professional.
Reasoning:
Selecting game formats and field sizes that are congruent with LTPD best practices is a matter that requires a great deal of though, applied knowledge and careful consideration of the following factors.
- The age and developmental levels of the players.
- Seasonal factors and facilities available.
- Administrative requirements.
- What sells the game to parents?
- What is it that children in each development group enjoy most?
- What level on knowledge do the decision makers have relevant to youth development?
Peak Height Velocity (PHV) in girls occurs at about 12 years of age. Usually the first physical sign of adolescence is breast budding, which occurs slightly after the onset of the growth spurt. Shortly thereafter, pubic hair begins to grow. Menarche, or the onset of menstruation, occurs rather late in the growth spurt, after PHV is achieved. Peak Strength Velocity (PSV) comes immediately after PHV, or at the onset of menarche (usually a year after PHV). The sequence of developmental events may normally occur two or even more years earlier or later than average.
PHV in boys is more intense than in girls and, on average, occurs about two years later. Growth of the testes, pubic hair and penis are related to the maturation process. PSV comes 12 to 18 months after PHV. Thus, there is pronounced late gain in strength characteristics of the male athlete. As with girls, the developmental sequence for male athletes may occur two or more years earlier or later than average.
Early maturing boys may have as much as a four-year physiological advantage over their late-maturing peers. Eventually, the late maturing individuals will catch up when they experience their growth spurt. (Ross & Marfell-Jones, 1982)
Selling the Game to Parents
Parents often play a big part in helping children decided on a sport. The large majority of parents see soccer only as a competitive activity. Largely present amongst parents also is the myth that ‘playing up’
or demanding to play in the most advanced group is the only way to improve. The truth is that development comes from deep, deliberate practice. Restructuring of game formats and field sizes needs to be complimented with formal parental education campaign, designed by SYSI and channeled to parents, both directly and through the zones. A recent survey conducted by a professional company for ASTRA revealed that less than 5 percent of parents had read or understand LTPD. This is a major concern that we need to correct.
Defining Enjoyment for Players
We should recognize that we are selling a product to a diverse set of customers. Coaches play an important role in keeping practices and games enjoyable and interesting. Many of our coaches may have certification (the science of coaching), but often lack the ability to make the experience enjoyable (the art of coaching). Futsal is fast cutting into the soccer market because of their ability to make it exciting and enjoyable. These changes will align better with player development and make the game more enjoyable. Many older players who recognize that they will never be elite just want to have fun and exercise and are not about to attend multiple practices.
Additional items:
With CSA changing its age grouping, it only makes sense to follow suit. When clubs attend national events, it puts them at a disadvantage as teams are forced to not play together, or play one year above.
This change would align with the current PSL format set by SSA and soccer for life provincial competitions.
Submitted by:
Aaron Wright,
SYSI Youth Program Coordinator