Age Groups for Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
Our table for age group eligibility is available below. Youngest players eligible must have been born on or before 04/06/2021. Oldest players eligible must have been born on or after 01/01/2009. Age groups change prior to each Fall season.
OVSL encourages all players to play within their natural age group. “Move-ups” of one or two years will only be accepted with approval from the OVSL Board and a waiver signed by a parent or guardian. NO players may move up more than three years. Move-up considerations prioritize the development and competition-level of the age groups and players, not family convenience.
**U4 players must turn 3 years old prior to start of season. Some 2021-born players will be eligible in Spring.
U4 Age Group
(must turn 3 years old prior to start of season)
Group Coordinator: Jesseca Dodd
OVSL’s U4 age group consists mostly of 3-year-olds. The group meets once per week for a practice+game event. All U4 activities take place on our primary field space in Barlow/Vincent.
- Ball: Size 3
- Format: 4 vs 4, no goalkeeper
- Periods: 8 minute quarters (or coaches’ discretion)
- Referees: none (coaches on field with players)
- Rule Modifications: loose observance of “out-of-bounds”. Do not stop play, but guide players back to the field
U6 Age Group
Group Coordinator: Caitlin Evans
OVSL’s U6 age group consists mostly of 4 and 5-year-olds. These teams typically meet once per week for practice and have a single game on Saturday morning/early afternoon. All U6 activities take place on our primary field space in Barlow/Vincent.
- Ball: Size 3
- Format: 4 vs 4, no goalkeeper
- Periods: 8 minute quarters
- Referees: none (coaches on field with players)
- Rule Modifications: all out-of-bounds restart with a “kick-in”. No defending inside of the goal area ahead of the ball.
U8 Age Group
Group Coordinator: John Evans
OVSL’s U8 age group consists mostly of 6 and 7-year-olds. These teams meet once or twice per week for practice and have a single game on Saturday morning/early afternoon. All U8 activities take place on our primary field space in Barlow/Vincent.
- Ball: Size 3
- Format: 5 vs 5, including goalkeeper
- Periods: 10 minute quarters
- Referees: one Center Referee
- Rule Modifications:
- goal kicks, corner kicks, and throw-ins all observed
- “Unlimited” attempts at legal throw-ins
- All free-kick restarts are taken indirect
- Goal Area and Penalty Area are combined
- No intentional heading of the ball
- Opposing team must move back behind the center line for goal kicks
- Pass-back to goalkeeper violation not enforced
- Offsides violation not enforced
U10 Age Group
Group Coordinator: Amber Hoyt
OVSL’s U10 age group consists mostly of 8 and 9-year-olds. These teams meet once or twice per week for practice and have a single game on Saturday morning or afternoon. All U10 activities take place on our primary field space in Barlow/Vincent, with the exception of the occasional game at coordinating area rec leagues in the Mid-Ohio Valley area.
- Ball: Size 4
- Format: 7 vs 7, including goalkeeper
- Periods: 25 minute halves
- Referees: one Center Referee, two Assistant Referees
- Rule Modifications:
- No intentional heading of the ball
- Two throw-in attempts before change of possession
- Opposing team must move back behind the center line for goal kicks
U12 Age Group
Group Coordinator: Kylee Evans
OVSL’s U12 age group consists mostly of 10 and 11-year-olds. These teams typically meet twice per week for practice and have a single game each weekend, usually Saturday afternoons. U12 practices and most games take place on our primary field space in Barlow/Vincent. U12 often participates with coordinating area rec leagues in the Mid-Ohio Valley area, and may play one or two Sundays in a season.
- Ball: Size 4
- Format: 9 vs 9, including goalkeeper (may play 7 vs 7 some seasons)
- Periods: 30 minute halves
- Referees: one Center Referee, two Assistant Referees
- Rule Modifications: No intentional heading of the ball.
U15 Age Group
Group Coordinator: John Evans and Steven Hollis
OVSL’s U15 age group consists mostly of 12, 13 and 14-year-olds. These teams typically meet twice per week for practice and have one or two games each weekend. U15 practices take place on our primary field space in Barlow/Vincent, but games are played with coordinating area rec leagues in the Mid-Ohio Valley area. Teams are expected to travel within Washington and Wood County each weekend, and will play some Sunday games. Because U15 contains three years of ages (U13, U14 and U15), no players may play up into U15 early.
- Ball: Size 5
- Format: 11 vs 11, including goalkeeper
- Periods: 30 or 35 minute halves
- Referees: one Center Referee, two Assistant Referees
- Rule Modifications: host-league rules apply