To the parents of Fargo Soccer Club Competitive Players:

This is in regards to the US Soccer mandate which is the biggest change that youth soccer has ever had in player development initiatives. Click here for information on the US Soccer mandate and changes that will be occurring.

The mandate is scheduled to occur in two parts with the largest part coming in the fall of 2016.

1.  Age group changes with new birth year registration (August 1, 2016)

2.  U9-U12 organization changes (August 1, 2017)

Please note that this is not a North Dakota Soccer, Minnesota Soccer or Fargo Soccer Club program.  It is being driven by US Soccer. The changes affect every current competitive youth team in the country in terms of changing eligibility in each age group and, unfortunately, for some players this means missing out a year of youth soccer.  Those that will miss a year of youth soccer are those born between August 1 and December 31 who are currently U9-U18.  US Soccer has said the “plus side” is that we will be aligned with the rest of the world in terms of soccer age groups.  The “plus side” seems to driven entirely for national team consideration and not for the 99.999% of players who will never play on the national team.

BIRTH YEAR REGISTRATION   

The Effect on all of the USA

The current team formation rules are August 1 to July 31 for a team.  For example, a U12 player is one born between August 1, 2003 and July 31, 2004.  Naturally, a plyer born after July 31, 2004 could “play up” from their younger age group to the U12 age group.  Starting August 1, 2016, players on that same U12 team will either be U14 or younger.  The new rules on August 1 state that a U13 player is one born between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2004.  A U14 player is one born between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2003.  While the current team formation rules revolve closely around school grade, the new rules will ignore school grade.  Teams could stay together but be at a disadvantage when playing in tournaments and in leagues against teams from other clubs which will almost assuredly have older players on their team, taking advantage of the new rules.

Can my team stay together?

Club President Matt Noah, team coaches and possibly team managers will meet to decide each team’s roster.  This is not different from what we have done in the past.  We welcome parental input.  We will have to make decisions based on all teams in the club and how each decision ripples through every team in the club.  We anticipate that the dissolution of teams, followed by the formation of new teams will not be an easy transition for players, parents or coaches.  We anticipate, through little or no fault of our own, that players will drop out of soccer.  The club’s position is clear.  We do not favor the US Soccer mandate but we have no choice but to follow the rules imposed nationwide.  The rules do not affect our recreational in-house program.  Naturally, as teams change, the assignment of coaches may change.

How can I help in the transition?

The biggest test to the age group change is change in itself. Players have gained comfort from playing with a certain coach or with certain teammates. These changes will test a lot of the players commitment to play for no other reason than for the love of the game.  Some players play, in part, due to the friendships they have with players on their current team. I believe that Fargo Soccer Club families will come through this and we can maintain  strength in both numbers and level of play!

It is also clear that we need to recruit players from all over the area to fill roster spots on newly-formed teams.  Those players may or may not be playing at other clubs.  Your positive impression with the Fargo Soccer Club is your best recruiting tool for new players from other clubs.  There are also plenty of great athletes who will want to start playing soccer, athletes that have little to no soccer experience.  You know them from school, church and other activities.  Invite them to try-outs!  Invite them to watch a practice!