For players in grades 5-8, NYSA teams play teams from surrounding towns in the Essex County Youth Soccer Association (ECYSA).  Unlike the NYSA in-town program, ECYSA maintains all the administrative scheduling and team and roster management. For information on schedules, rules, etc. please visit the full schedule here.

Overview
The goal of the NYSA U12/U14 program is to continue the player development process, helping to build individual and team skills. Unlike younger levels, players are placed on teams according to skill level through a thorough player evaluation process articulated in detail below. All teams are travel teams and half of the games are home games and are played on Saturdays in Newburyport, while the remaining games are away games in towns throughout Essex County.

Each team is placed in a tiered division based on an assessment of the team's overall ability. This gives all players the opportunity to play against competition similar to their own ability.

Practices are generally 2 times per week in the early evening. The practice days for each team are determined by each team's coaching staff.

Seasons run in the fall and spring and include playoff games at the end of the spring season. Fall and spring seasons require separate registrations and no player is required to play both. Teams frequently change from one season to the next.

Player Placement
NYSA has implemented a multi-step, fair, objective, data-driven process for assessing player abilities and skills in order to place each player onto a team that will best match their current ability. There are no "cuts" and every player will be placed on a team. The process is outlined below:

• Coach Evaluation:  All current NYSA players that register for the program will be evaluated by their current and recent coaches. Written player evaluations are submitted to the travel directors at the conclusion of each season. These include feedback on the player's ability, attitude, athleticism, best position, and fit on their current team's level.

• In Person Evaluation (aka try out): Players are evaluated in person during a one time evaluation session. Teams of evaluators (neutral third parties, not coaches or parents) rate players on performance during a series of stations that showcase a variety of soccer skills and abilities. Players wear numbered pinnies and are not identified by name or current team. Parents are not permitted to attend the session. Players are required to attend this session. If players do not attend the evaluation, they will still be placed on a team but may not be eligible for the highest level team. Players must register online for the appropriate league prior to evaluations. Players that do not plan to play in the fall but may play in the spring should also attend the tryout.

• Scoring system: Once all of the data has been collected, it is run through NYSA's scoring system and a numerical rating is generated for each player.

• Based on team structure, roster sizes, position distribution, additional coach feedback, and player score, initial teams are created by the travel directors and submitted to the board for approval.

• Rosters are released a few weeks before the start of the season.

We understand that no process is perfect, however NYSA believes this process results in a fair and unbiased evaluation player evaluation.

Important Notes

• U12 plays a 9 v 9 format with a size 4 ball. U14 players a 11 v 11 format on a full size soccer field with a size 5 ball.

• Being placed on a tiered team can be an emotional process for kids. Remind them that no matter what team they land on, they get to play the game they love with current and new friends at a level where they can make a meaningful contribution.

• Placements are not forever. Players mature, grow, and progress at different rates. Teams change from season to season including from fall to spring. Players will be moved up and down based on coach evaluations and roster sizes.

• Playing on a club soccer team does not impact a player's placement in any way. There are many levels of club soccer so being on a team does not indicate a level of ability.

• Players will not be moved up or down based on a parent being a coach. Player placement is completely independent from coach placement.

• All players are placed on the highest possible team unless NYSA is contacted prior to team creation with a request to play on a lower level team.

• Teams may me a mixed grade or grade specific format. The format used is dependent on registration numbers and feasibility of teaming players with similar abilities.