MSYSA and most leagues are moving to school-year age groups to match the structure used by local school systems.

Beginning with the 2026–2027 season:

• Players born between August 1 and July 31 will be grouped together
• These groupings are called Age Bands
• Age Bands map directly to competitive Age Groups (U8–U18)

Benefits of the Change

• Adapted from national best practices and widely adopted youth soccer standards:
• Reduces “trapped player” scenarios, where players were separated from their classmates due to the previous calendar-year cutoff.
• Aligns soccer with school-year cycles, making age placement simpler for families and more socially appropriate for players.
• Improves developmental alignment, especially as players move into later elementary, middle, and high school years.
• Ensures consistency across U.S. youth soccer, as major governing bodies (US Club, US Youth Soccer, AYSO) are adopting the same approach.
• Creates more balanced and equitable participation, allowing for more natural competitive and social groupings.

Below are definitions to help families understand the new structure:

Definitions

Birthdate Range

• The exact dates (Aug 1 – July 31) that determine eligibility for each Age Band.

Age Band

• The two-year grouping of players based on their Birthdate Range.
• Example: “2016–2017” refers to children born between August 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017.
• This does not change year-to-year.

Age Group (U8–U18)

• The competitive category in which teams play.
• Players move up one Age Group every year (e.g., U10 → U11), while their Age Band stays the same.

These sessions:

• Are not tryouts
• Include all players from the same scholastic Age Band
• Are led by potential coaches for that Age Group
• Allow players to meet peers and experience next year’s environment
• Reduce uncertainty and help families understand the path forward
• Provide Technical Staff insight into developmental needs at each age

Phase Leads will attend to answer questions and support families.

Placement decisions will be made by MSI Technical Staff, using:

• Coach notes
• Conversations with coaches
• Insights from the Age Group Team Builder Sessions

Players will be placed where we believe they will thrive developmentally.

Key placement considerations (not the only ones):

1. Competitive Challenge

•     Will the player benefit from training and competing with this new group of players?

2. Curriculum Fit

• Are the ideas, themes, and soccer concepts the coach will work on next season the appropriate level of challenge for the player?

Additional clarity for families

• Coaches will not discuss individual placements (no speculation, no promises) This helps ensure consistent and accurate communication.
• Individual placement information may not be available until the start of the spring season.
• Families should direct questions to their Phase Lead.

Your Phase Lead:

• 4v4 / 7v7: Nassim Abbouchi
• 9v9: Gary Malebranche
• 11v11: Lance van Winter

Coaches have been instructed not to discuss individual placement or coaching assignments so that all families receive consistent and accurate information.

Virtual all-family meetings that cover:

• The new scholastic age-group structure
• The purpose and role of Team Builder Sessions
• How MSI will manage the transition
• Case-by-case evaluation for players with unique needs
• The coaching slate process and timeline

Dates:

• January 11 – 7v7 & 9v9 families (6 PM)
• January 18 – 11v11 families (6 PM)

Families will have multiple chances to ask questions and get clarity:

Individual Team Q&A Meetings

• Between January 12 and February 28, Phase Leads and Club Directors will visit each team once.
• These brief meetings will take place at the beginning or end of a regularly scheduled practice.
• Purpose: give each team a chance to ask age-group and placement questions in person.

Team Builder Q&A Sessions

• During Age Group Team Builder Sessions (January 16–March 13), Phase Leads will be available on site.
• Purpose: answer questions related to the Age Group sessions, explain what coaches are looking at, and help families understand next steps.

The 2026–2027 Coaching Slate will be released on April 3.

Return-to-Club letters follow April 3–15.

MSI’s Coaching Philosophy

MSI believes players benefit from learning under multiple coaches over time.

Our goal is to rotate coaches every 2–4 years so players can receive diverse perspectives while still experiencing:

• A shared mission
• A unified coaching culture

What qualities does MSI look for in coaches?

Kid-First Mentality

• Prioritizes player safety and well-being, and focuses on building strong relationships with children.

Be a PRO (Punctual, Reliable, Organized)

• Shows up prepared and professional, communicates clearly, and manages logistics effectively.

Growth-Oriented

• Actively seeks feedback, models a learning mindset, and embraces continuous improvement.

Classroom Commander

• Manages a group well and creates an engaging, structured learning environment.

Player Developer (primary driver for coach selection)

• Creates real growth in *players* and prioritizes player development over team results.

Soccer Obsession Generator

• Inspires joy, curiosity, and long-term love for soccer.

Adult Leadership

• Models professionalism and helps adults (assistants and parents) work as a cohesive group for the benefit of players.

Club-Oriented

• Works cohesively with the club, aligns with our methodology, and actively supports and promotes club-wide initiatives.
• Coaches have been instructed not to speculate about assignments.

• Attend Town Halls and Q&As
• Attend Age Group Team Builders
• Stay on top of club communication
• Encourage effort, adaptability, and curiosity
• Reinforce that placement decisions are made with developmental intent