This page provides Colts policy information regarding:

• Registration and Evaluation
• Age Guidelines
• Team Composition
• Fair Playing Time

Each May, we invite all age-eligible Yarmouth youth to register for the following fall season. In June we hold a player evaluation for U10-U12 players, conducted by a staff lead by YHS soccer coaches. We evaluate U13 and U14 players at Colts Camp in July (note that players who do not attend Camp are evaluated in June with the younger players). Every year the number of teams in each division will depend on the number of children registered in the program.

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Age Guidelines

The age guidelines are set by Soccer Maine and are best explained by example: A child is eligible to play on the 2007 Fall U-12 team, for instance, if his/her 11th birthday falls after July 31, 2006 and before August 1, 2007. The same date restrictions apply to all divisions. This has created situations where a few players, because of the happenstance of their date of birth, have had to play on teams made up mostly of kids in the school grade below them. Beginning this fall, the Colts will allow players in this situation the choice to “play up” with their grade or remain with their designated age group. It should be noted that that incoming fourth graders who turn 9 after August 1, 2007, will also be eligible to “play up” with their classmates at U-10 level if they choose.

Players eligible to exercise the above option must state their choice at the time of registration. They will remain with the age group of their choosing throughout their Colts career. All subsequent requests of eligible players to change his/her initial choice must be approved by the Colts Board. (Requests for change should be made to the Board on or before registration for the season in question.)

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Team Composition

It is the Colts philosophy to place every child from U-10 to U-12 on a team. The U-10 division plays a 6 v 6 format, while the U-11 and U-12 divisions move up to play 8-a-side. The talent on teams in these divisions will be balanced, based upon the evaluations conducted in June. At U13 and U14, Colts recognizes that all players have the opportunity to play five days a week on their middle school teams. As such, Colts offers one team in each division, with a maximum roster of 18 players. Parents and players need to understand that the level of competition and commitment steps up at the U13 level. If more than 18 players register to play, then player cuts will be made, based on their evaluation. (2005 EXCEPTION: If an incoming seventh-grader, of U-12 age, tries out for and is cut from the U-13 team, he/she may then elect to play on a U-12 team.)

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Fair Playing Time

Yarmouth Colts soccer program is a recreational league. That means the primary goals are participation, sportsmanship and the fun of being part of a team. Skill development is important along with winning games. To meet these goals one of the mandatory requirements of coaches is fair playing time.

So what exactly is fair playing time?

• At the younger ages, as defined by Soccer Maine and adopted by Colts, each player must play a minimum of 50% per game of the total playing time. For more details, see U10, U11 and U12 Playing Time Guidelines.
• At U13 and U14 levels, playing time varies more depending upon the competitive situation. At a minimum, each player will play in each half of every game. For more details, see U13 and U14 Playing Time Guidelines.