The BAYS grade/age groups shall be as follows:
|
BAYS Grade/Age Group |
Definition |
Game Play Style |
|
Grade 12/PG* |
Players who are "20 and younger" AND in the 12th grade plus one year (PG) and lower ** See Note about roster limits |
11 v 11 |
|
Grade 10 |
Players who are "17 and younger" AND in the 10th grade and lower |
11v11 |
|
Grade 912 |
Players who are "20 and younger" AND in 12th, 11th, 10th, or 9th grade |
7v7 |
|
Grade 8 |
Players who are "15 and younger" AND in the 8th grade and lower |
11v11 |
|
Grade 6 |
Players who are "13 and younger" AND in the 6th grade and lower |
9v9 |
|
Grade 5 |
Players who are "12 and younger" AND in the 5th grade and lower |
9v9 |
|
Grade 4*** |
Players who are "11 and younger" AND in the 4th grade and lower |
7v7 |
|
Grade 3*** |
Players who are "10 and younger" AND in the 3rd grade |
7v7 |
*As an Adult, any athlete who is "18 or older "or turns 18 during the current playing season and playing with players "17 or younger" must follow the SafeSport and U.S. Soccer Adult Athlete Requirements (as of January 1, 2022) https://www.mayouthsoccer.org/about/adult-athlete-safesport-information
** Effective Spring 2024, on 11 v 11 Grade 12/PG teams, there is a roster limit of 2 players who are post High School. (Effective date change approved Feb 2023 BAYS BOD).
***A player must be in the 3rd grade or higher to participate in BAYS. “Nine years old and younger” players are not permitted on BAYS teams unless in the third grade. They may play in Grade 3 or Grade 4 only at the club’s discretion. “Eight years old and younger” may not play in BAYS. (USSF Age definition noted in paragraph below)
USSF defines and denotes an age group by a number and the phrase “and younger” which is any child born during the calendar year who is that many years from the year of the end of the competition. For example, for a competition that ends in Spring of 2017 an 11 and younger eligible player would be born during calendar year 2006 (2017 -11 years). For Grade Group Leagues, Mass Youth Soccer requires that the player both be born during the calendar year specified (or later years) and be in the maximum grade or lower.
Homeschooled children may play with their calendar year peers without a grade restriction.
In compliance with US Youth Soccer and Mass Youth Soccer requirements, no exceptions will be approved to permit players older than the specified age to play in any grade/age group except those mentioned in Match Rule 4 Player Waivers Eligibility.