MASS YOUTH SOCCER
POLICY REGARDING PLAY AT UNDER 8
Travel and tournament play at the Under 8 level has been the subject of discussion at Mass Youth Soccer Board of Directors’ meetings and at League Presidents’ meetings for the past year. The Mass Youth Soccer Technical Department and the Board of Directors oppose traditional “travel” soccer programs and leagues, as well as tournament play, for U8 players. Mass Youth Soccer does not sanction tournament play at the Under 8 level and, at this time, discourages our member organizations from including Under 8 divisions in any tournament format. We do not believe that this level of competitive play is developmentally appropriate for children at the Under 8 age level.
Mass Youth Soccer does recognize that there are instances where limited inter-town/club play can be important in creating viable soccer opportunities for children at the Under 8 level. In situations where contingent towns/clubs need to play each other to provide ample game opportunities for Under 8 players, we completely understand and support towns/clubs working together to achieve this end. Therefore the Mass Youth Soccer Technical Department, Mass League Presidents and the Mass Youth Soccer Board of Directors has adopted the following exception policy:
Inter-Town/Club Play
1. Towns/Clubs with less than 60 registered U8 players (10-player rosters; 6 teams; 5+ games) may combine with (travel to) adjacent towns/clubs to enjoy inter-town/club play.
2. U8 players/teams will not be required to travel more than 20 miles.
Tournament Play
U8 teams can participate in jamboree type competitions with the following requirements:
a. No scores or standings will be kept or posted.
b. U8 players/teams will not be required to travel more than 20 miles.
c. U8 teams will not be charged fees to participate.
Playing Up
a. NO more than 3 of a town’s/club’s U8 players may play up in a town/club program.
b. U8 player has birthday after August 1, but will be a 3rd grader in the current school year, so player can play on a U9 or U10 team with classmates.
c. Small town/club soccer program needs additional players to have a viable U10 team, so it places strong U8 players on the team.
d. Town/club promotes dominant U8 player(s) to U10 team for spring season.
Playing numbers
The format for U8 game competitions should be 4v4 (no goalkeepers) per US Youth Soccer National Recommendations. 8 players to 1 ball is developmentally appropriate for these young players, who are attempting to improve their technical skills and basic decision making. The USSF technical leadership is overwhelmingly opposed to having goalkeepers at this age level. We believe that it is more developmentally important for all players in this age group (and younger) to focus on their field player skills.