Scottsdale Soccer is a pure age / gender soccer club for players nine years old and younger. Nearly all children are best served by playing soccer in their proper age / gender group for reasons of safety and skills development. Consistent with the practices of the US Youth Soccer organization, Scottsdale Soccer determines a player's age as of July 31st of the seasonal year.
Proof of age consists of a birth certificate, valid drivers license, or birth registration issued by an appropriate governmental agency; board of health records, passport, alien registration card issued by the United States government; a Certificate issued by the Immigration and Naturalization Service attesting to age; or a Certification of an American Citizen born abroad issued by the governing agency. Hospital, Baptismal or religious certificates will not be accepted. The proof of age policy is consistent with current Arizona Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) policy. Any change to AYSA policy in this regard shall supersede Scottsdale Soccer policy.
The Board of Directors of Scottsdale Soccer will request proof of age to be established. Failure to respond to such request shall result in the immediate suspension of the player involved. A Discipline and Rules Committee Hearing may be convened on the matter.
Playing Up or Down
No child at Scottsdale Soccer will be considered to play in an age group younger without a written request from a licensed medical doctor. The Director of the Recreational Program must receive a written request from a parent, prior to Team Formation, with a doctor’s note attached. The Director or the Director's designee will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis, although it is not Scottsdale Soccer’s intent to allow children to "play down" in age.
Players are allowed to "play up" to their grade level if the player just misses (by a month or two) the soccer age cut off. As an example, most first graders are soccer age six. If a player is in first grade and is an "old five year old" soccer age (as of July 31), that player is allowed to play at that player's grade level, with the other six year olds who are in first grade.
Other than the above grade level exception, no child in the Recreational program may play in an age group older without the permission of the Scottsdale Soccer Director of Recreation program. This permission must be requested and obtained during the registration process, as early in the process as possible. The Director of Recreation is the sole authority at Scottsdale Soccer who may approve or disapprove of such play. The Director may consult others within Scottsdale Soccer, including the Blackhawks professional training staff, if desired, but the decision rests solely with the Director of Recreation. Areas considered in making the decision may include: What is the benefit to the child? Is the child sufficiently skilled and otherwise properly matched to play up in age? Why has the child not availed himself / herself of the Blackhawks competitive program?