U9 Player Information

My child is turning 9 years old this year - what do I need to know?

Soccer players between the ages of four and eight are classified as “Mini” soccer players.  The program details and options for these players are different when they turn nine years old and enter the "Developmental" or “Recreational” program. 

Please note the following if your child is turning nine (U9):

Note #1:

• They have the option of registering in the “Developmental League” or the “Recreational League”.

The Developmental League:

-Focuses on individual & team development through practice and training with the intention to prepare a player for a more competitive level of soccer as they progress through the U9-U12 developmental and U13+ premier programs

-Organized thru FC Northwest (FCNW) under the auspices of the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association (WYSA)

-All teams are considered district teams

-All team coaching staff is under the supervision of FCNW and the Club Head Coach and may be subject to WYSA guidelines

-There are parent and player guidelines & policies in regard to: attendances, conduct, uniforms, commitment and tournaments & travelling

-The One Season runs February to July with a small break and then resumes mid-August and runs until the end of October. Games are 1 - 2 times a week and practices are typically scheduled to meet a 2 or 3 to 1 game ratio

-Players must first attend an assessment and confirm their spot on a roster by registering online before they will be confirmed on a team; assessments are held in order to create balanced teams

-U9 players play 6 vs. 6 and there are 12 players to a team

-Player fees are confirmed on a season-by-season basis; generally the developmental fees are 30-40% more than a recreational fee

The Recreational League:

-Focuses on individual & team development through practice and game sessions with the intention to prepare a player for the next level of soccer as they progress through the program

-Organized thru the home community club (CC) and FC Northwest (FCNW) under the auspices of the Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association (WYSA)

-All teams are considered community teams

-Players are directed to their home CC to register

-Transfer guidelines as per the home CC, FCNW and WYSA

-Team coaching staff is under the supervision of the home CC, FCNW & WYSA

-There are parent and player guidelines and policies in regard to registration, age-advancing and conduct; for more information please visit www.winnipegyouthsoccer.com and/or view the “Policies & Procedures” document found under the recreational tab

-Outdoor soccer runs May and June with a season-ending Jamboree in early July

-One additional practice session is recommended and is at the discretion of the coaching staff

-U9 players play 6 vs. 6 and there are 12 players to a team

-Player fees are confirmed on a season-by-season basis; generally the recreational fees are 30-40% less than a developmental fee

Note #2:

• When a player turns nine and plays community club soccer they are now a part of the team formation and player placement process used at the district transfer meeting.
• All players’ register with their home CC and a team transfer meeting is held with all CC’s within the FCNW district to confirm teams.
• There are eleven CC’s within the FCNW district; East St. Paul, Garden City, Luxton, Maples, Northwood, Red River, Sinclair Park, Tyndall Park, Vince Leah, West Kildonan and West St. Paul.
• Teams are determined primarily by player numbers and confirmed coaching staff for each age group.
• Any requests submitted to the CC soccer convener and presented at the meeting are considered at this time.
• Transferred players placed on a transfer team are considered a transfer player for that CC for one season only.
• Players are transferred based on any one of the following: whichever CC confirms they can host the team, whichever CC confirms they have coaching staff, however many players there are in the age group, player requests submitted in writing and brought to the transfer meeting and/or where players were placed the previous season.

Note #3:

• FCNW organizes all the U9 season details including schedules.

Note #4:

• FCNW follows all WYSA guidelines, but may make changes when necessary.

Note #5:

• Player requests (includes age advancing) are more difficult to process because the whole age group is considered when teams are formed and this formation may include combining players from other CC’s.

Note #6: 

• All players are required to register with their HOME club.
• If a player registers with another club they will be given a refund and asked to re-register with the appropriate CC.
• This may result in a late registration fee and be subject to a different placement process.

Note #7:

• There is a late-registration process when a player registers past the team formation meeting date.
• A player is considered and processed as a late registration if their registration is received after the team formation & player placement meeting has taken place.
• At this time teams have been formed and players are generally placed according to team numbers. 
• Requests are very difficult to process when a player is late and are most often not met.
• Players will be placed with their home CC or transferred home CC players if there is room on the team AND if it does not create an imbalance with any other team registered within the district in that same age group.
• It can take up to two weeks to process a late registration so this may mean the start of the season beginning before a player is confirmed on a team.  
• Players cannot attend or participate with any team (practices, games, etc.) until the convener and/or coach have confirmed them on a roster.
• Players will not be transferred to another district at this time if a spot can be provided on a team within the FCNW district.