was recently asked about merging divisions as a benefit to everyone!

 Is it really a benefit to everyone ? 

If we were to reduce the number of teams by adding players to teams because of the lack of volunteers,  regardless of single gender or co-ed teams at the 8U Level the game is at minimum 4 v 4 or 5 v 5.  

Therefore if we were to double the size of the teams from 6 to 12 and existing coaches from both divisions would be co-coaching - there is no benefit to everyone.

1. The game would increase to 6 v 6 or more.    Our AYSO / United States Soccer Federation guidelines indicate that 4 v 4 or 5 b 5 is best at the 8U level for the amount of time each player touches the ball in a game or training session.
Increasing the number of players in a game reduces the number of touches on the ball.   ( touch meaning foot to ball, and not " kickball !" )

2.   We cannot be even close to 7 v 7 as that is the 10U Game.     5 v 5 is the most we can do.    If we go 7 v 7 in 8U we might as well add a GK which makes it 8 v 8 ~ for which this goes against current AYSO / USSF guidelines.   Back in 2000-2004 the game was this large and players did NOT develop well because of reduced chances on the ball.    We taught positioning at such a young age that the player progress from 8U thru 12U is that if a player was a defender (a back) in 8U, their behavior in 14U was still a back for which the residing in 1/3 of field was consistent,    we want the player to grow from using 1/3 of the field to a transitional play 1/3 to 2/3 of field.      Building in this process is only "learned" when playing the game with lesser number on the field - because players are challenged with the game of transition from 4 v 4 , 7 v 7 , 9 v 9 and 11 v 11.

3.  Everyone Plays!    If the team size were to double 12 players!  (and) if the game is 4 v 4 or 5 v 5, everyone will be playing half of the game or less before anyone gets to play 3/4 of a game.     So when parent observe the game, there will be at least one family that would state,   we are only here for the half ( 2 qtrs ) because that all we have to play based on 12+ player on a team.     I can see literally a family say the player is playing the half and we have to move on to the next activity.