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Annandale Boys & Girls Club

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8

Feb, 2016

Age Change Information & FAQ

ENCO United Soccer Club
Age Change Information and F.A.Q.

 In August 2015 US Soccer Announced:
“In another step towards its commitment to long-term player development, U.S. Soccer is phasing in new standards related to small-sided games and birth-year registration.” . 

The new standards mandate a change from school year based age groupings to birth year age groupings.  The changes are recommended for 2016 but not mandated until 2017.  However, ENCO has already been notified by Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association that they are implementing the new mandates beginning Fall 2016.  Additionally, ENCO has been notified by the leagues that we participate in that they are following these changes as well and that all state competitions are moving to this age change. 

The ENCO Board of Directors and our Director of Coaching have weighed the pros and cons of following the recommended birth year age groupings or keeping existing teams intact, which results in numerous players “playing up”, and after careful consideration and discussion ENCO has decided that we will follow the recommended guidelines and move to birth year age groupings beginning in Fall 2016.  We feel having players play up against opponents that may be up to 18 months older is not in the best interest of the players or the teams in the majority of cases. 

ENCO fully understands that this will certainly change the dynamic and make-up of almost every team in the club and we understand the anxiety that may present to both the players and their parents.  However, this is a change that is being adopted by most clubs in the area that we have spoken to, so keeping our current teams intact would not be in the best interest of the teams or the club from a competitive standpoint. 

ENCO will be hosting an open house meeting on February 24, 2016 from 7:00-8:30 pm at Easton Area High School (in the Senior Cafeteria).  We will use this time together to discuss the age changes, upcoming tryouts, and our ongoing field development project.  We will also provide a time for parents to ask any questions they may have about the club and the changes for Fall 2016. 

Directions: Entering off of 25th st.  Once you are enter the parking lot.  Take left and go around and behind the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  Cafeteria is 1st entrance on the right.  Park in any of the 3 tiered parking lot off of William Penn Highway.

Ahead of the February 24th meeting we wanted to provide you a F.A.Q. that may answer many of your questions. Note:  These changes have no affect on current teams for the Spring 2016 season. 

 F.A.Q.:

My son/daughter was born in what age group will they be for Fall 2016?
Click this Link to see the official age group chart

My son/daughter has a late Fall birthday.  Based on these age changes a good portion of their age group will be in High School (or graduated from HS), but my child will only be in 8th grade (or a senior in HS).  What will my child do that Fall Season?
This seems to be the most contentious question regarding these changes and unfortunately there has not been a definitive answer given by US soccer.  We continue to press this question to our state organization and will provide information as we receive it.  As a club we will look very closely at these age groups.  If there are adequate #’s for a team and we can find a league offering play for U15 in the Fall we will make every effort to provide that opportunity (including partnering with some of our affiliate clubs for that season).  If there are not adequate #’s for a team we will provide regular training opportunities for all of the affected players. 

Who will coach my son/daughters team for Fall 2016?
Academy Boys and Girls – Fernando Carrizo

08 Boys – Bob Ehrlich

08 Girls – Bryce Parkhurst

07 Boys – Dave Cartwright

07 Girls – Christiana Nielsen

06 Boys – Chuck Romfo and Ryan Foley (two teams expected)

06 Girls – Tim Hall

05 Boys – Derek McCarthy

05 Girls – Rick Agretto

04 Boys – Bob Pipech

04 Girls – Steve Gorski

03 Boys – Dave Cartwright and Bob Ehrlich (two teams expected)

03 Girls – Rick Agretto


HS Aged Boys 02, 01, 00 – Steve Gorski, Dennis Bohn, Mark Wilson

HS Aged Girls 02, 01, 00 – Rick Agretto (additional staff will be added if multiple teams can be formed)

Note:  HS aged teams will participate in our Showcase program.  Each age group will attend the same tournaments and follow the similar training schedules.  We are still working through the planning and details for next year.  We appreciate your patience.  This program does not begin until November of 2016 and Tryouts will be hosted sometime in June. 

Link to Coaches Bio’s:

Will there be enough players for my child who is born in to have a team after these changes?
Based on current registration from Fall 2015 there are adequate #’s at each birth year to form teams at every age that we currently have teams.  This is prior to hosting tryouts which may likely bring out additional players as well.

What is happening to the Academy Program for Fall 2016?
The mandated changes from US soccer have changed the U6-U8 age groups to 4 v 4 format on smaller fields.  U9 and U10 players will be moving to a 7 v 7 format for Fall 2016 and will participate in the LVYSL league. 

What format are u11 and u12 teams playing as a result of these changes?
U11 and 12 teams are moving to a 9 v 9 format. 

What is happening with Uniforms now that the make-up of the teams is changing?
The entire club was slated to move to new uniforms for Fall of 2016 as we have reached the end of the 3 year cycle with the Under Armor Kits.  Some teams have already moved to new Adidas uniforms this past fall, these players will be able to keep their current kit.  In the event that two players both in the new kit have the same player # the club will exchange one of the players jerseys to an alternate # at no cost.  Any players not currently in Adidas will be purchasing a new uniform kit for Fall and will be assigned a non-conflicting player # for their team

I have heard that US Soccer is allowing players to play up.  Why isn’t ENCO allowing teams to stay together and just have players play-up?
We are not allowing this because we do not feel it is in the best interest of the players or the club.  We have based these decision on discussions with other clubs regarding their approach and the fact that keeping current teams together could result in players “playing up” up as much as 18 months.  Even in the current format there are very few players in ENCO who are “playing up” and that is generally only permitted if the player is in the top third of the age group above them and needs to play up because they are clearly that far ahead of their natural age group. 

These changes stink… I am really mad… this is unfair… etc
ENCO fully understands that this may seem like unfair changes for your child.  However, these are US Soccer changes and not decisions made by ENCO.  Feel free to contact US soccer and express your concerns or sign one of the numerous petitions floating around on the internet.
 

I am unable to attend the February 24th meeting and have a question.
Please email your question to
[email protected] or to Tim Hall (Director of Coaching) [email protected]

When will tryouts for Fall 2016 teams be held?
U9-U14 age group tryouts will be held the weeks of May 16th and 23rd.
High School Aged Tryouts – T.B.D. 

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