In order to attract, develop and retain players and to align with International standards for youth development, U.S Soccer has mandated specific standards for all members of U.S. Soccer which are known as Player Development Initiatives (PDI). As a member of U.S. Soccer, AYSO has implemented PDI as outlined below.

Birth Year Registration

• Players are registered according to a January 1 to December 31 calendar year:

	6U 6 Years old and younger	8U 8 Years old and younger	10U 10 Years old and younger	12U 12 Years old and younger	14U 14 Years old and younger
2017-18 Season	Born in 2012	Born in 2010/2011	Born in 2008/2009	Born in 2006/2007	Born in 2004/2005
2018-19 Season	Born in 2013	Born in 2011/2012	Born in 2009/2010	Born in 2007/2008	Born in 2005/2006
2019-20 Season	Born in 2014	Born in 2012/2013	Born in 2010/2011	Born in 2008/2009	Born in 2006/2007
2020-21 Season	Born in 2015	Born in 2013/2014	Born in 2011/2012	Born in 2009/2010	Born in 2007/2008

Small Sided Games

• Develop improved skills with the ball
• Players improve confidence and comfort with basic ball skills (dribbling, trapping, passing, etc.) 
• Develop intelligence with and without the ball
• Promote faster decisions and better awareness 
• Develop partnerships within the team   

	6U 6 Years old and younger	8U 8 Years old and younger	10U 10 Years old and younger	12U 12 Years old and younger	14U and above (Full Size)
Field Size Ranges  (yards)	Length: 25 - 35 Width: 15 - 25	Length: 25 - 35 Width: 15 - 25	Length: 55 - 65 Width: 35 - 45	Length: 70 - 80 Width: 45 - 55	Length: 100 -130 Width: 50 - 100
Maximum Goal Size (feet)	Height: 4 Width: 6	Height: 4 Width: 6	Height: 6.5 Width: 18.5	Height: 7 Width: 21	Height: 8 Width: 24
Ball Size	3	3	4	4	5
Players	4v4 No GK	4v4 No GK	7v7 (with GK)	9v9 (with GK)	11v11 (with GK)
Game Time (minutes)	4x10	4x10	2x25	2x30	14U - 2x35 16U - 2x40 19U - 2x45
Offside	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes

Player Development Philosophy 6U and 8U

• Results and standings should not be recorded
• Travel should be limited as much as possible
• Players should not be participating in events (tournaments, showcases, festivals, etc.)
• Remember that safety and fun are the top priorities so make adjustments as needed to ensure both are being promoted

Concussion Initiative 6U and 8U

• Per U.S. Soccer’s Concussion Initiative, if a player is suspected to have a head injury the referee* is instructed to stop play to allow for treatment/evaluation as needed
• If the player leaves the field of play for additional evaluation, a substitution can be made in that moment
• The player with the suspected head injury may not return to the game unless a Health Care Professional (HCP) or Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) has cleared the player
• Any coach or parent insisting on returning the player to the game without approved clearance will result in the referee* ending the game
  *Since there is no referee in 6U and 8U, this responsibility falls to the coaches and parents involved
• Deliberate heading is not allowed in 6U and 8U games
• If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense
• In a controlled and individual environment (where heading is an isolated skill being taught away from any form of opposition or other aspects of the game), the use of lightweight balls (foam, balloon, etc.) would be acceptable for teaching heading technique

Player Development Philosophy 10U

• The training-to-game ratio should be 2-3 training sessions per game played
• Rosters should include no more than 12 players
• Players should participate in no more than 20 games per calendar year and in no more than one game per day
• Every player should play a minimum of 50% of the time in each game
• Results and standings should not be recorded
• Players should have a minimum of 2 rest days per week during the season along with planned breaks from organized soccer during the calendar year
• Any travel should be limited to no more than an hour away
• Events (tournaments, showcases, festivals, etc.) should provide a predetermined number of games with no advancement, placement games or champions

Concussion Initiative 10U

• Deliberate heading is not allowed in 10U games
•  Per U.S. Soccer’s Concussion Initiative, if a player is suspected to have a head injury the referee is instructed to stop play to allow for treatment/evaluation as needed
•  In a controlled and individual environment (where heading is an isolated skill being taught away from any form of opposition or other aspects of the game), the use of lightweight balls (foam, balloon, etc.) would be acceptable for teaching heading technique
•  If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense
•  If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred
•  If the player leaves the field of play for additional evaluation, a substitution can be made in that moment
•  The player with the suspected head injury may not return to the game unless a Health Care Professional (HCP) or Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) has cleared the player
•  Any coach or parent insisting on returning the player to the game without approved clearance could result in the referee ending the game

Build Out Line 10U

• The build out line promotes playing the ball out of the back in a less pressured setting
• When the goalkeeper has the ball in his or her hands during play from the opponent, the opposing team must move behind the build out line until the ball is put into play
• Once the opposing team is behind the build out line, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed)
• If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense
• If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred
• After the ball is put into play by the goalkeeper, the opposing team can cross the build out line and play resumes as normal
• The opposing team must also move behind the build out line during a goal kick until the ball is kicked
• The build out line will also be used to denote where offside offenses can be called
• Players cannot be judged to be in an offside position between the halfway line and the build out line
• Players can be judged to be in an offside position between the build out line and goal line

Build Out Line Practical Applications 10U

• Ideally, the goalkeeper will wait to put the ball into play once all opponents are past the build out line
• However, the goalkeeper can put the ball into play sooner but he or she does so accepting the positioning of the opponents and the consequences of how play resumes
• To support the intent of the development rule, coaches and referees should be mindful of any intentional delays being caused by opponents not retreating in a timely manner or encroaching over the build out line prior to the ball being put into play
• Coaches are responsible for addressing these types of issues with their players
• Referees can manage the situation with misconduct if deemed appropriate
• Referees should be flexible when enforcing the 6 second rule and counting the time of possession should only begin when all opponents have moved behind the build out line

Player Development Philosophy 12U

• When the goalkeeper has the ball in his or her hands during play from the opponent, the goalkeeper can pass, throw or roll the ball into play (punts and drop kicks are not allowed)
• If a goalkeeper punts or drop kicks the ball, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense
• If the punt or drop kick occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred
• The training-to-game ratio should be 2-3 training sessions per game played
• Rosters should include no more than 16 players
• Players should participate in no more than 30 games per calendar year and in no more than one game per day
• Every player should play a minimum of 50% of the time in each game
• Players should have a minimum of 2 rest days per week during the season along with planned breaks from organized soccer during the calendar year
• Events (ex: tournaments, showcases, festivals, etc.) should provide a predetermined number of games with no advancement, placement games or champions

Concussion Initiative 12U

• Deliberate heading is not allowed in 12U games
• If a player deliberately heads the ball in a game, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the opposing team from the spot of the offense
• If the deliberate header occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the nearest point to where the infringement occurred
• Per U.S. Soccer’s Concussion Initiative, if a player is suspected to have a head injury the referee is instructed to stop play to allow for treatment/evaluation as needed
• If the player leaves the field of play for additional evaluation, a substitution can be made in that moment
• The player with the suspected head injury may not return to the game unless a Health Care Professional (HCP) or Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) has cleared the player
• Any coach or parent insisting on returning the player to the game without approved clearance could result in the referee ending the game
• In a controlled and individual environment (where heading is an isolated skill being taught away from any form of opposition or other aspects of the game), the use of lightweight balls (foam, balloon, etc.) would be acceptable for teaching heading technique