U10-U14 BAYS League

Starting at U10 (typically 4th grade) you must be age eligible. Note there is an exception to this rule to sometimes allow a child to play with their grade. Contact Medfield Soccer for more specific info.

The 'soccer year' in Massachusetts starts on August 1. You must be age eligible on July 31st to play in an age group for the next soccer year(that fall and following spring).

To determine your BAYS age group for the next soccer year ask yourself this question:

How old will I be next July 31st?
If you are 11 on that date, then you are eligible for U12 for the upcoming soccer year.

Medfield Soccer -- April 28, 2005
Combining U13/U14 age group
This document is a review of the discussion related to combining the U13 and U14 age groups. It is intended as an overview to help people who are discussing the issue understand how we have moved in this direction. It is not meant to discuss every possible point in detail.

Policy Change:
The soccer board has voted to combine the U13(grade 7) and U14(grade 8) age groups. Teams will be mixed, select and balanced. U13 and U14 players will tryout together. The number of select teams at combined U14 will use this formula:

5 or more teams - 3 select teams, 4 teams - 2 select, 3 teams - 1 select.

Starting point:
BAYS has voted (February 05) to completely eliminate the U13 age group starting with the fall 2005 season. The U13 div 1 level had already been eliminated for the 2004-2005 season.

The soccer board was aware this change was in the works in the prior months and individuals had the chance to consider this issue on their own. When the BAYS vote was finalized it presented a milestone that was a good point to review what we do to form teams in general and how it works in the context of BAYS. Something we should periodically do in any case.

Travel Committee report:
The discussion of how our program is doing at U13/U14 produced these two statements:

Soccer is an athletic activity first and a social activity second.
There should be a ‘B' team option available to the U14 player.

Current Logistics:

Medfield Soccer already fields combined age group teams at U13/U14 on a regular basis. In the current system this only affects ‘balanced' teams. We have had some number of combined teams regularly every spring for years.
U13 is no longer an option. For planning purposes we can not guarantee that U13s will not be playing against U14 players.
BAYS is expanding U14 back to a 4 division system to help place teams.

Current System review:
The current single age group system has made it very unlikely (you need 4 teams) to see a 'B' team at U14. We have not had one for many years. This year due to the low numbers there is no ‘B' team at the U13 level for boys or girls.

New System Review:
A combined U13/U14 system will create a ‘B' option (and now a 'C' team) for the last 2 years of the program. Players at different levels can see a goal to work for. Players will be placed with more players in the same skill range. It will give kids a reason (a challenging soccer experience) to keep playing in their last years in the program and should help the numbers stay up in the U14 age group in particular. More kids will be placed at the level of competition they belong at.

The REASONS to do this:
A list of the reasons to do this based on the logistics and the tryout committee points:

We already do it.
We will apply the process to all players not just balanced. We will be better able to get back to our goal of forming a team in the fall and keeping it together into the spring.
The league we play in is using this system.
We will be playing against combined age group teams. Placing a U13 only balanced team will become a problem.
More kids will be better placed.
That is the goal of our program, to get as many kids as possible playing at a level that gives them a challenge and a good soccer experience. The combined age group numbers (a larger number) gives us more flexibility in creating teams.
Fairness to all
We should not treat the select and balanced players differently in regards to combining.
A path for all players.
The ‘B' player now has a clear path through the whole program. Before this change there was no ‘B' opportunity at U14 and sometimes no ‘B' opportunity at U13. Every kid will now see a level they can see as a goal. They have a reason to stay with the program to the end, and hopefully the numbers will improve.

Reasons versus Consequences:
The following are a list of things that will happen when this change is made. They are not considered reasons to do it per se. The reason list is short because the only goal is simple: give as many kids as possible a good experience.

We are a developmental and recreational program. We are NOT about MTOC. If they cancel MTOC the soccer board will lead the parade. This change will make the ‘A' teams in theory stronger. What that means is more actual ‘A' kids are on the ‘A' team, more kids are better placed, a good thing. IT IS NOT ABOUT A STRONGER ‘A' TEAM. That is a consequence NOT a reason.

As a 'developmental/recreational' program the "‘A' team or bust" culture will be minimized. A smaller number of players will play ‘A' team all 4 years. It will spread kids out more and see them play with more teammates and coaches over the years broadening the experience.

Tryouts for U13(and hopefully U14) will carry less pressure. The need to make the ‘A' team is minimized. U13 players should know they have a year ahead of them to improve and advance (rec to ‘C', ‘C' to ‘B', ‘B' to ‘A') there are goals for all levels.

Coaches will be better distributed. Now we have a system where the lower teams are wanting for coaches, the majority of coach volunteers associated on the ‘A' team. With the ‘B' players distributed differently we should have more coaching options.

It is less likely a player will have the same coach for the 4 select years. On balance, we know people like the idea of players seeing different styles of coaching and interaction. A good thing soccer and social wise.

The board and coaches will need to work harder with the balanced teams to insure a good experience. This is a very good thing. Our current system where we put a few ‘B' players on the team and say things will be OK has demotivated the 'B' player, accelerated their dropout rate, and not provided a demonstrated benefit to the rec players. It is the GROWNUPS responsibility to create a good experience for the ‘rec' players NOT other kids.
Players with similar levels of motivation will be placed together. The kids who want to compete will be with other kids who want to compete. The social issues can be argued. It is proposed a kid would rather play with a like player as opposed to a classmate who is not as motivated.By placing kids at the same skill level together practices should be better focused and more productive.

A larger group of players means the travel committees have more flexibility in setting the number of teams and the number of players on a team. We will not as often be locked in by the numbers.

Transition:
People don't like change, it is human nature! There will be a transition no matter when we do it. If it is a good idea, it is a good idea today, not just years from now. This year is an excellent year to do this since the current 6^th and 7^th grade levels have a number of experienced coaches who are also board members and they can see that the transition year is carefully constructed and monitored. As it should be in any case.