In the standard primary program offering of Tustin AYSO, we have leagues for 4 to 19 year-old's split into 18 divisions (U5,U6,U7,U8,U10,U12,U14,U16,U19 - all ages have a separate boys and girls division). This 15-year program is designed to allow for the development of the player through four stages as defined by the US Soccer Federation:
Initial stage: 4 years of introductory soccer in U5 - U8, also known as 'clinic play'. In this stage, the players play short sided 3v3 to 5v5 games without the distraction of standings or goalkeepers (The English FA is implementing no season standings up through U11). An age-specific program is provided and taught to the coaches to teach essential technical skills to the players to best introduce them to soccer without complicating the game.
Basic stage: 4 years from U9 - U12 where we begin using the full Laws of the Game, maintain standings and a playoff structure. This is the age where we also introduce goalkeepers and further expand the skills taught to the players with a beginning of tactics, but training continues to be primarily concentrated on techniques. Techniques and other basic movements like balance and coordination have a much greater lasting effect when learned prior to age 12 and so we teach our coaches to concentrate on these aspects.
Intermediate stage: 2 years of transition playing the full-sided game where tactics are increasingly taught and techniques are reinforced.
Advanced stage: 5 years finishing their youth career playing divisions U16 and U19.