In the late 1990s, US Soccer, the governing body of soccer in the United States, mandated that all play under the jurisdiction of US Soccer member organizations in U-10 and younger age groups would be small-sided, involving no more than eight (8) players per team. Following this mandate, MSYSA established its policy that in Maryland, the format for U-10 and younger age groups would be 7 v 7, the most common small-sided format found throughout the world.  

Since US Soccer imposed its small-sided mandate, the merits of small-sided play in the development of young players has become nearly universally accepted, and promoted, worldwide. The additional number of "touches" by each player afforded by the small-sided format cannot be disputed, nor can the benefit derived by players when they have more opportunities with the ball during training and a game. Coupled with the fact that younger players simply cannot kick the ball significant distances, with fewer players on the field, there is more space for individual players to "play," thereby affording more time for decision-making and opportunities to have a positive impact on play. As a result of the recognition of the benefits of small-sided play in the development of young players, the move to establish small-sided play at older age groups has gained rapid acceptance.

Several years ago, US Youth Soccer issued its recommendations for extending small-sided play to the U-11 and U-12 age groups.  While not "mandating" adoption of its recommendations, US Youth Soccer has, in more recent times, strongly urged state associations and leagues to implement small-sided play at these age groups. In 2006, Region 1 established an 8 v 8 format competition at U-12 at the Region 1 Championships. This is being continued for 2007 and while there will also be an 11 v 11 competition for U-12 at the Regional Championships, the clear implication is that within a few years the only competition at U-12 will be the 8 v 8.

MSYSA was one of the first state associations to promote the benefits of small-sided play, going back over 20 years, and numerous recreation organizations in Maryland have had a small-sided format up to and including U-12 for many years. The movement to this format at the travel level has been slower, but two years ago, WAGS became the first travel league to establish 8 v 8 for its U-11 age group.  The move was extended to U-12 this past year with NCSL joining WAGS in making 8 v 8 the only format of play at both U-11 and U-12.

For the past year, MSYSA has been examining the best way to formally recognize the player development benefits of small-sided play and implement the US Youth Soccer recommendations. With the direction of the movement adopting small-sided play clear and no longer in doubt, the MSYSA Executive Board concluded that the only appropriate action would be to simply adopt a policy making small-sided play (maximum 8 v 8 format) as the only acceptable format for play at U-11 and U-12. Recognizing the practical implications if existing teams were required to reduce their current roster size, the Board’s decision was to implement the policy in stages.  Accordingly, the policy adopted will establish 8 v 8 as the maximum format for U-11 play starting with the fall 2007 season, with 8 v 8 being the maximum format for U-12 starting the following year with the fall 2008 season.  Since next season’s U-11 teams are currently playing small-sided (7 v 7) as U-10’s, with maximum roster sizes of 14 or less, no team moving to U-11 will have to reduce its roster size.  Likewise, no roster size reduction will be required when this group moves to U-12 in the 2008/2009 seasonal year.

The full MSYSA Adopted Policy is as follows:

Starting with the fall 2007 season, all play in the U-11 age group will be no more than 8 v 8 format, with a maximum roster size of 14 players..

Starting with the fall 2008 season, all play in the U-11 and U-12 age groups will be no more than 8 v 8 format, with a maximum roster size of 14 players.

With respect to field and goal size, MSYSA has adopted the recommendations of US Youth Soccer, as follows: 

Field Size:  Width - 45 yds - 55 yds;   Length - 70 yds. - 80 yds;  Goal Size:   6’  x 18’ - These are recommendations only.

The existing Policy of 7 v 7 play at U-10 and younger age groups remains.