Maine became the first U.S. state to offer 8-person high school varsity soccer last fall, to help keep smaller programs afloat during a time of single-sport specialization and historically low enrollment numbers.
Sixteen boys teams and 19 girls teams from around the Pine Tree State initially made the switch from 11-person soccer — which has a minimum roster size of 17 players — to 8-person in 2023, and nine more teams have joined their ranks this offseason.
In Piscataquis County, the Dexter girls soccer team and Piscataquis Community boys soccer team are making the switch. Down East, the George Stevens Academy girls soccer team and both the Calais boys and girls are jumping two classes down from Class C to 8-person. In the Waterville area, both Temple Academy teams are transitioning to 8-person. Finally, the Wiscasset boys and Penobscot Christian girls programs are back online as 8-person teams after being canceled for multiple years.
“Like any small town community, our numbers fluctuate year to year,” Dexter Athletic Director Adam Gudroe said. “No decision like that comes easy, [but] the writing was on the wall when we graduated seven or eight players and only brought in one or two. Athletics is an extension of the classroom, and our number one priority is to offer the opportunity to play sports.”
The Lady Tigers finished 5-9 last season in Class C North, and the boys finished 6-7-1 in 8-person North. Dexter has an enrollment of approximately 261 students, and also offers football, field hockey, co-ed golf and co-ed cross country during the fall.
Gudroe is hopeful that both soccer teams will move back to 11-person in 2025.
“The feeder programs have an ebb and flow, and it wouldn’t surprise us to move back [to 11-person],” Gudroe said. “We hope the teams will grow in the next few years.”
Up the road from Dexter in Guilford, the Piscataquis Pirates’ boys team haven’t had any incoming freshmen join their squad this summer, yet graduated a “big” senior class last spring. They finished with a 5-8-1 record in Class D North.
Head coach Trey Gilbert has prepared himself to coach 8-person by watching last year’s Piscataquis girls team live, and other games on film. Eight-person soccer is played on a full-size field, making short, quick passes much less common.
“There’s more space, and one-on-one situations. Dribbling and athleticism takes precedence, because no one’s in your face pressing you right away,” Gilbert said. “I kinda like [8-person]. It teaches them to use the space better.”
The Pirates have a total enrollment of approximately 157 students, and also offer field hockey in the fall — some students travel to Dexter after school to play football or golf with the Tigers.
The Maine Principals’ Association typically only permits reclassification every odd year, with the exception of reclassification to and from 8-person soccer or football. Similar to Gudroe, Gilbert is optimistic his team will make the return to 11-person next year.
“We have just one or two seniors and eight eighth-graders coming in next year,” Gilbert said. “It all depends year to year. It’s good that they’re letting us go back and forth.”
