Birth Year Tryout Details
As most of you know, U.S. Soccer has announced two important changes as part of their new player development initiatives. These changes have been mandated by U.S. Soccer and have been approved by U.S. Youth Soccer for implementation in all states. The major change which affects tryouts is the change to birth year registration as opposed to the current school year registration. These are mandates from U.S. Soccer and have to be followed by all soccer clubs across the nation. These are not policy changes created by Tonka United.
What you need to know:
- Teams will be formed based on birth year
- Players MUST attend the tryout for their birth year (Except for 2001 & older birth years - See below)
- Players who are currently playing U15-U17 (next years 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 age groups) are allowed to attend either the tryout of their birth year or the one year older.
- Players cannot play “down” a year
- Current teams will not be “grandfathered” up a year to accommodate younger players
- Play-ups are only allowed per Tonka United’s Play-up policies. **See below
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Tonka United Play-Up Policy
10.3 Play-ups - administrative
Our policy is that Players participate with the age level defined by USYS, with the following exceptions, subject to concurrence by the parents and player:
- All Players must attend tryouts at their own age group.
- Where numbers dictate a move of players up to form a team.
In all cases, play-ups must be approved by the Director of Coaching.
10.4 Play-ups – skill based
The goal is to have players play with their USYS age guidelines. If it is decided by the Age Group Directors along with the Director of Coach and Player development that a player is significantly hindered in his/her growth and development due to a lack of challenge in their current age group a player may be considered for a skill based play-up.
10.5 Guest Play-ups
A player may temporarily play up on a higher age-group team on an as needed basis, consistent with USYS rules, as long as the player fills the roster spot on the players age group team, the players first obligation will always be to the team the player was selected for. Guesting arrangements are to be made through the two coaches involved. The involved coaches must honor the player’s obligation to represent the team for which he/she is rostered.
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MYSA will now offer a new U14+ Fall League for 2002 8th Graders
In the past, MYSA U14 Leagues have served the vast majority of Minnesota 8th graders. High School soccer opportunities generally begin in 9th grade (freshman). New Birth Year rules would otherwise affect some 8th graders. A new 14+ league (in lieu of U14), will also allow those born between August and December (near all 8th graders) to play the fall prior to the High School Soccer experience.
Tonka United plans to offer a Blue Team (at the C1 or C2 level) for the U14+ 2016 Fall Season. Teams formed for the 2017 Season will be independent of the Fall Season.
U19/U20 Age Groups
New Birth Year rules would affect some current U18 players and take away their opportunity to play a final season at U19 next summer. To accommodate players born in August through December of 1998, MYSA is offering a U19+ Summer Season in 2017. Teams in this league will be eligible for the Minnesota State Cup and other MYSA and US Youth Soccer sanctioned events in 2017.