Coaches and Parents,

United States Soccer Federation, our national affiliate, has mandated changes for the 2016-2017 Season. These changes are in turn being required by Washington State Youth Soccer Association (WSYSA) and Pierce County Soccer Association (PCSA) -previously known as Tacoma Pierce County Junior Soccer Association (TPCJSA). Fircrest Soccer Club is affiliated under WSYSA (state level) and PCSA (county level).

The biggest change is in regards to Registration for the 2016-17 Season. Players will be grouped based on BIRTH YEAR (January to December) instead of the present system of school year (August to July).

What does that mean? It means that many players will be registering at a different age group than one may have thought. This grouping will have a direct impact on how teams will be organized.

Below is the new age division chart for 2016-2017 which details what age group your child will register for based on their birth year.

Season / 2016-17 / 2017-18 / 2018-19 / 2019-20 / 2020-21 / 2021-22 / 2022-23 / 2023-24 / 2024-25
Birth Year
2020
2019 / U6
2018 / U6 / U7
2017 / U6 / U7 / U8
2016 / U6 / U7 / U8 / U9
2015 / U6 / U7 / U8 / U9 / U10
2014 / U6 / U7 / U8 / U9 / U10 / U11
2013 / U6 / U7 / U8 / U9 / U10 / U11 / U12
2012 / U6 / U7 / U8 / U9 / U10 / U11 / U12 / U13
2011 / U6 / U7 / U8 / U9 / U10 / U11 / U12 / U13 / U14
2010 / U7 / U8 / U9 / U10 / U11 / U12 / U13 / U14 / U15
2009 / U8 / U9 / U10 / U11 / U12 / U13 / U14 / U15 / U16
2008 / U9 / U10 / U11 / U12 / U13 / U14 / U15 / U16 / U17
2007 / U10 / U11 / U12 / U13 / U14 / U15 / U16 / U17 / U18
2006 / U11 / U12 / U13 / U14 / U15 / U16 / U17 / U18 / U19
2005 / U12 / U13 / U14 / U15 / U16 / U17 / U18 / U19
2004 / U13 / U14 / U15 / U16 / U17 / U18 / U19
2003 / U14 / U15 / U16 / U17 / U18 / U19
2002 / U15 / U16 / U17 / U18 / U19
2001 / U16 / U17 / U18 / U19
2000 / U17 / U18 / U19
1999 / U18 / U19
1998 / U19

Keep in mind that the mandates are coming from US Soccer, our state association and our local association (Pierce County Soccer) and will apply to ALL CLUBS. These changes affect all of us as parents, coaches and administrators. Fircrest Soccer Club is committed to helping coaches, parents and players with this transition.

How Does This Affect Your Child, Your Teams and Fircrest Soccer Club?

There are 3 groups to consider below and rules within each group are specific to that group. These allowances are in place to lessen the impact of the changes on well-established teams. At the club level, we are working with our current rosters to help facilitate putting our players into the correct age brackets.

·  All teams U12 and below: FSC will have players grouped by Birth Year. The FSC board will, were practical keep portions of teams intact, but there will be minimal play ups allowed (for example U11 playing at U12) unless there is a very compelling reason to allow it as determined by the FSC Registrar and President. An example would be to form a viable team or to place a player when no other roster spots are available.

·  U13-U15 – The FSC board will were practical keep portions of teams intact based on Birth Year. It is the goal of the Club to re-align each of the teams in this age group to meet the birth year registration requirements. There will be minimal play ups allowed as we work to meet the mandate of age appropriate competition. We will work with the coaches for teams in this age group to identify the best path forward for the club and teams.

Additional requirements for U13 –U15

·  The team will be required to play in the age group of the oldest age player on the team

·  New players placed by the registrar are required to be age appropriate to that highest age

·  NO players allowed to play two years up

·  U16 and above- FSC board will be using the birth year registration, however there will be more flexibility to playing up one year. Players requesting to play two years up will require FSC Registrar and President approval before being assigned to a team on a case by case basis. FSC will work with the coaches for teams in this age group to identify the best path forward for the club and teams while encouraging players to keep the birth year mandate. Previous HS teams will be allowed to stay intact if this is their final year.

One important thing to remember as a coach and a parent, if you choose to go forward with a team “as is”, you will likely end up playing teams that have a full team of max age players. Prior to allowing this team to register for competition, coaches will have to sign a letter of intent and understanding that will be provided by the league. There will be no special allowances made for realignment of play should this team be over matched. Also, for your consideration there will be NO Home league for these age groups. All teams U13 and above will be playing in the South Sound United League (SSUL).