BRYC Recreational Soccer Player Eligibility Policy

Age Eligibility

Player eligibility is determined by the player’s date of birth and completion of the required registration process. BRYC follows the official Age Group Guidelines, which align players to age groups based on their age as of August 1. This approach mirrors the school-year calendar and supports age-appropriate development and balanced team structures.

Gender Placement

Players are assigned to leagues based on gender as indicated on their government-issued birth certificate. BRYC Recreational Soccer offers male and female divisions. This policy is applied consistently for all players and is used strictly for league placement purposes.

For Under 5, Under 6, and Under 7 divisions, coed teams may be formed when registration numbers are insufficient to support separate boys' and girls' leagues. This determination is made by the Junior Division Deputy Commissioner (DC), with approval from the Commissioner.

High School Participation

Players may participate in both high school soccer and BRYC Recreational Soccer during the same season. However, players should manage their commitments to both teams responsibly and communicate with coaches regarding scheduling conflicts.

One Team Per Season Rule

A player may only play and/or practice on one (1) BRYC Recreational Soccer team per season. Dual team participation within the same season is not permitted.

Travel Soccer Player Restriction

Players who are actively rostered on a travel soccer team—whether within BRYC or with another organization—are not permitted to participate in BRYC Recreational Soccer during the same season. However, players not currently rostered to a travel team are eligible to register for Rec.

Play-Up Requests

BRYC recognizes that, in rare cases, a player may be developmentally prepared to compete at a higher age group. Requests for a player to "play up" will be evaluated under the following structured criteria to ensure player safety and balanced team competition.

• Coach Recommendation: The player’s current BRYC Recreational Coach must submit a written recommendation supporting the request to play up.
• Prior Experience: The player must have demonstrated advanced ability through prior experience in travel soccer, club-level competition, or an equivalent development program.
• Skill and Maturity Assessment: The Deputy Commissioner and League Director will assess the player’s skill level, physical readiness, and emotional maturity to ensure the play-up placement supports their development and team safety.
• Age Cutoff: The player’s date of birth must be within 60 days of the age group cutoff for the higher division unless exceptional circumstances are presented.
• Two-Age Play-Ups: If a player is requesting to play up two or more age groups, final approval must be granted by the League Director and confirmed by the Commissioner.

Play-up requests are reviewed carefully and are not guaranteed. This process is intended to ensure fairness, safety, and appropriate player development across all divisions.

Play-Down Requests

Requests for a player to "play down" in a younger age group are only considered in exceptional cases. The purpose of this policy is to accommodate players with physical, developmental, or medical conditions that would place them at risk in their age-assigned group.

• Medical Documentation: The request must include recent and relevant documentation from a licensed medical provider outlining the condition and the reason for requesting age accommodation.
• Developmental Evaluation: In some cases, BRYC may request an additional evaluation or recommendation from an educational or developmental specialist.
• Approval Process: All play-down requests must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Coaching (DC) or the Commissioner. This ensures consistency, fairness, and the safety of all players involved.

This policy applies strictly to recreational league placement and does not affect All-Star eligibility. Approved play-downs are granted only for the current season and must be renewed if needed in subsequent seasons.

Graduated Players in U19

Youths who have graduated from high school may participate in the U19 recreational league, provided they are under the age of 19 as of August 1 and agree to fully comply with BRYC’s code of conduct and team policies. This exception supports continued player engagement while maintaining a safe and developmentally appropriate playing environment.

Contact Information

For questions about player eligibility or age placement, please refer to the Age Group Policy or contact us directly.

BRYC General Inquiries
Email: recsoccer@bryc.org