Dear ASA Families,
We appreciate you and thank you for the feedback and open lines of communication over the past several weeks and months on the field, in writing, and through our survey.
This message is a follow up to our previous communication regarding Amherst Soccer Association’s (ASA’s) implementation plan regarding U.S. Youth Soccer’s reversion to a “School Year” Age Matrix (birthdays from August 1 – July 31) meant to align with the school grade level age parameters in many other states in the country. This is a departure from the Birth Year Age Matrix (BYAM) (birthdays from January 1 – December 31) that is currently used to define soccer age levels. This change is referred to as the New Age Matrix (NAM) in this communication.
ASA will be implementing the New Age Matrix (NAM), but will allow “impacted” players, born between August 1st and December 31st, entering U9 and higher, the choice to try out for either (a) their new age level under the NAM or (b) their prior birth-year age level. U8 teams will be formed under the NAM.
A full breakdown of our implementation plan, rationale, and FAQs can be found here: https://amherstsoccer.com/new-age-matrix/
Thank you for your continued support of Amherst Soccer.
Sincerely,
Steve McDonald
President – Amherst Soccer Association (ASA)