Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all! I know there are various opinions as to what different clubs will do with the Aug/Sept kids, but I am wondering if anyone in the DMV area knows what Mclean plans to do. Has Mclean announced anything?

What's the soccer problem for Aug/Sept kids if the cutoff date moves to 8/1?

I'll explain...

The SY eligibility window is 8/1-7/31. What this means is if your school district started before 8/1. (Not very common) Or if your kid is younger than 8/1-7/31 eligibility window but in the grade up. (happens a lot typically Aug/Sept birthdays) There are some players who are a grade up but technically eligible to play on a grade down team.

Clubs that dont care about players future will allow young Aug/Sept players to play down for wins. Clubs that do care about players future will group these players with their correct grade in school team so they're not out of alignment when it comes to college recruiting.

Don't let anyone try to convince you that playing down is no big deal and that college recruiters dont care about it. They do care and they will ignore players playing down a grade.

If the cutoff is August 1st, doesn't that make August, September and October kids the 1st Quarter and Oldest kids in each age group?
Same like January, February, March in Jan 1st cutoff?

How can they, Aug/Sep be at a soccer disadvantage being the oldest U-Whatever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all! I know there are various opinions as to what different clubs will do with the Aug/Sept kids, but I am wondering if anyone in the DMV area knows what Mclean plans to do. Has Mclean announced anything?

Haven't heard or seen anything yet.

Spoke too soon reading the McLean link...
https://mcleansoccer.org/age-group-change/

Looks like McLean is taking the we'll take advantage of players for short term wins over long term development and preparation for college recruiting.

Says a lot about a club + how they view players and parents.

[Anonymous]

You're judged on your age and skills.

I have never seen or heard of a 10th Grade Bracket at a tournament

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all! I know there are various opinions as to what different clubs will do with the Aug/Sept kids, but I am wondering if anyone in the DMV area knows what Mclean plans to do. Has Mclean announced anything?

What's the soccer problem for Aug/Sept kids if the cutoff date moves to 8/1?

I'll explain...

The SY eligibility window is 8/1-7/31. What this means is if your school district started before 8/1. (Not very common) Or if your kid is younger than 8/1-7/31 eligibility window but in the grade up. (happens a lot typically Aug/Sept birthdays) There are some players who are a grade up but technically eligible to play on a grade down team.

Clubs that dont care about players future will allow young Aug/Sept players to play down for wins. Clubs that do care about players future will group these players with their correct grade in school team so they're not out of alignment when it comes to college recruiting.

Don't let anyone try to convince you that playing down is no big deal and that college recruiters dont care about it. They do care and they will ignore players playing down a grade.

If the cutoff is August 1st, doesn't that make August, September and October kids the 1st Quarter and Oldest kids in each age group?
Same like January, February, March in Jan 1st cutoff?

How can they, Aug/Sep be at a soccer disadvantage being the oldest U-Whatever?

When players get older they start playing in things like Showcases and games dont mean as much because individuals are typically playing selfishly to try and impress recruiters. In this enviornment you need to be playing at your grade level team to get seriously looked at by recruiters. You have to remember College coaches might have over 100 players to choose from for every position if you include transfer portal players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all! I know there are various opinions as to what different clubs will do with the Aug/Sept kids, but I am wondering if anyone in the DMV area knows what Mclean plans to do. Has Mclean announced anything?

What's the soccer problem for Aug/Sept kids if the cutoff date moves to 8/1?

I'll explain...

The SY eligibility window is 8/1-7/31. What this means is if your school district started before 8/1. (Not very common) Or if your kid is younger than 8/1-7/31 eligibility window but in the grade up. (happens a lot typically Aug/Sept birthdays) There are some players who are a grade up but technically eligible to play on a grade down team.

Clubs that dont care about players future will allow young Aug/Sept players to play down for wins. Clubs that do care about players future will group these players with their correct grade in school team so they're not out of alignment when it comes to college recruiting.

Don't let anyone try to convince you that playing down is no big deal and that college recruiters dont care about it. They do care and they will ignore players playing down a grade.

If the cutoff is August 1st, doesn't that make August, September and October kids the 1st Quarter and Oldest kids in each age group?
Same like January, February, March in Jan 1st cutoff?

How can they, Aug/Sep be at a soccer disadvantage being the oldest U-Whatever?

When players get older they start playing in things like Showcases and games dont mean as much because individuals are typically playing selfishly to try and impress recruiters. In this enviornment you need to be playing at your grade level team to get seriously looked at by recruiters. You have to remember College coaches might have over 100 players to choose from for every position if you include transfer portal players.

If you think about college recruiting as a foot race. Things like grades, club, team, how fast you can run, already in college, etc. All define how close to the finish line you start. If everyone begins the race at the same time and the player that gets a roster offer gets past the finish line first. When you're kid is playing down they're starting the race 100m behind eveyone else in their grade. Sure theyre still in the race. But the chances of them winning is very low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all! I know there are various opinions as to what different clubs will do with the Aug/Sept kids, but I am wondering if anyone in the DMV area knows what Mclean plans to do. Has Mclean announced anything?

What's the soccer problem for Aug/Sept kids if the cutoff date moves to 8/1?

I'll explain...

The SY eligibility window is 8/1-7/31. What this means is if your school district started before 8/1. (Not very common) Or if your kid is younger than 8/1-7/31 eligibility window but in the grade up. (happens a lot typically Aug/Sept birthdays) There are some players who are a grade up but technically eligible to play on a grade down team.

Clubs that dont care about players future will allow young Aug/Sept players to play down for wins. Clubs that do care about players future will group these players with their correct grade in school team so they're not out of alignment when it comes to college recruiting.

Don't let anyone try to convince you that playing down is no big deal and that college recruiters dont care about it. They do care and they will ignore players playing down a grade.

If the cutoff is August 1st, doesn't that make August, September and October kids the 1st Quarter and Oldest kids in each age group?
Same like January, February, March in Jan 1st cutoff?

How can they, Aug/Sep be at a soccer disadvantage being the oldest U-Whatever?

When players get older they start playing in things like Showcases and games dont mean as much because individuals are typically playing selfishly to try and impress recruiters. In this enviornment you need to be playing at your grade level team to get seriously looked at by recruiters. You have to remember College coaches might have over 100 players to choose from for every position if you include transfer portal players.

Colleges have recruiting Freshman classes that are limited. Most probably less than 10

They know who they're already looking at for 2026 and it's not 100 kids
Nor are they confused about Graduation Year because they Have All The Prospects Information

In BY, today, Sep to Dec kids are getting recruited being in a different grade year than most of their team
You folks are making up a non existent problem

[Anonymous]

So it seems that Mclean is putting kids by birthdate and not keeping grade in consideration? I'm not looking to debate the merits of this decision just to understand what they actually plan to do with the Aug/Sept kids who are grade below.

We think Arlington is keeping these kids on grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all! I know there are various opinions as to what different clubs will do with the Aug/Sept kids, but I am wondering if anyone in the DMV area knows what Mclean plans to do. Has Mclean announced anything?

What's the soccer problem for Aug/Sept kids if the cutoff date moves to 8/1?

I'll explain...

The SY eligibility window is 8/1-7/31. What this means is if your school district started before 8/1. (Not very common) Or if your kid is younger than 8/1-7/31 eligibility window but in the grade up. (happens a lot typically Aug/Sept birthdays) There are some players who are a grade up but technically eligible to play on a grade down team.

Clubs that dont care about players future will allow young Aug/Sept players to play down for wins. Clubs that do care about players future will group these players with their correct grade in school team so they're not out of alignment when it comes to college recruiting.

Don't let anyone try to convince you that playing down is no big deal and that college recruiters dont care about it. They do care and they will ignore players playing down a grade.

If the cutoff is August 1st, doesn't that make August, September and October kids the 1st Quarter and Oldest kids in each age group?
Same like January, February, March in Jan 1st cutoff?

How can they, Aug/Sep be at a soccer disadvantage being the oldest U-Whatever?

When players get older they start playing in things like Showcases and games dont mean as much because individuals are typically playing selfishly to try and impress recruiters. In this enviornment you need to be playing at your grade level team to get seriously looked at by recruiters. You have to remember College coaches might have over 100 players to choose from for every position if you include transfer portal players.

Colleges have recruiting Freshman classes that are limited. Most probably less than 10

They know who they're already looking at for 2026 and it's not 100 kids
Nor are they confused about Graduation Year because they Have All The Prospects Information

In BY, today, Sep to Dec kids are getting recruited being in a different grade year than most of their team
You folks are making up a non existent problem

It is not 'you folks'. It is literally one insane individual known, board wide, as the Delusional August Guy (DAG).

But yes, you are correct. At the showcase I was at this weekend the teams were all mixed, zero were all one class. The coaches know exactly who they are looking at. DAG is just, well, delusional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like Rush understand that if young Aug/Sept birthdays plan to get recruited and play in college that they need to "play up" with their grade. Thats a lot of words to address something that isnt a big deal.

Its like going into a tire shop at the end of summer and the salesperson keeps pushing you to the snow tire section. Sure they'll sell you anything you want but they're also trying to gently hint that with winter coming you would probably want to buy snow tires.

The more parents understand that you cant get recruited for college while playing down a grade the more they'll demand that their kid plays on the correct grade team.

Fomo is just how soccer moms work and because of it they wont want their kid playing down a grade. Unless their kid literally has no chance at playing in college. In that case it doesnt matter. But it will piss off A team parents that are playing the correct grade. Which will eventually out your kid on the B team and playing down.

You are 100% correct. I dont know what's going on with that other person but what you describe is what is going to happen.

Thank you for the kind words.

I know I'm correct because what Im describing is how things worked before everyone switched to BY in 2017. One thing thats different today is there's a large group of parents that are actually looking for situations where their kid can play down so they can be the oldest ones on the team. It used to be that everyone wanted to play up. I dont know when or why this changed. My gut tells me its the Private Schhol parents that get sold reclassing then their kid is screwed for everything else so they fight the system as a square peg in a round hole.

LOL this is a new low, even for you Delusional August Guy! Complimenting yourself? We all know you think you're correct. Take your meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it seems that Mclean is putting kids by birthdate and not keeping grade in consideration? I'm not looking to debate the merits of this decision just to understand what they actually plan to do with the Aug/Sept kids who are grade below.

We think Arlington is keeping these kids on grade?

Are you speaking of Arlington Middle School team?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it seems that Mclean is putting kids by birthdate and not keeping grade in consideration? I'm not looking to debate the merits of this decision just to understand what they actually plan to do with the Aug/Sept kids who are grade below.

We think Arlington is keeping these kids on grade?

No, Arlington has this published:

Can players play up an age group?

A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like Rush understand that if young Aug/Sept birthdays plan to get recruited and play in college that they need to "play up" with their grade. Thats a lot of words to address something that isnt a big deal.

Its like going into a tire shop at the end of summer and the salesperson keeps pushing you to the snow tire section. Sure they'll sell you anything you want but they're also trying to gently hint that with winter coming you would probably want to buy snow tires.

The more parents understand that you cant get recruited for college while playing down a grade the more they'll demand that their kid plays on the correct grade team.

Fomo is just how soccer moms work and because of it they wont want their kid playing down a grade. Unless their kid literally has no chance at playing in college. In that case it doesnt matter. But it will piss off A team parents that are playing the correct grade. Which will eventually out your kid on the B team and playing down.

I love when Delusional August Guy responds to himself. The clubs are telling you what they are going to do. Yet you continue to skip your meds, put your fingers in your ears, act a fool and blabber.

The person you keep going after is 100% correct. You're the only one that doesnt get it. Why would a club play players on a grade lower team? Especially if they want them to play in college. It doesnt make any sense.

It's because they want to put together the best teams, they need to compete with teams that will play everyone on age, they want simple rules to follow, they are following the advice of leagues, they only want the very best kids playing up regardless of grade, they know putting kids a year up puts them at a disadvantage for playing time/positions and the big one is that kids leave teams every year so teams aren't realistically going to keep a kid for more than a few years. Clubs know what they are doing on this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems that Mclean is putting kids by birthdate and not keeping grade in consideration? I'm not looking to debate the merits of this decision just to understand what they actually plan to do with the Aug/Sept kids who are grade below.

We think Arlington is keeping these kids on grade?

No, Arlington has this published:

Can players play up an age group?

A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.

Going to be plenty of moving around at Arlington next year due to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it seems that Mclean is putting kids by birthdate and not keeping grade in consideration? I'm not looking to debate the merits of this decision just to understand what they actually plan to do with the Aug/Sept kids who are grade below.

We think Arlington is keeping these kids on grade?

No, Arlington has this published:

Can players play up an age group?

A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.

GFR guidance came out. Right to play up is case by case also so playing on age is the default.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like Rush understand that if young Aug/Sept birthdays plan to get recruited and play in college that they need to "play up" with their grade. Thats a lot of words to address something that isnt a big deal.

Its like going into a tire shop at the end of summer and the salesperson keeps pushing you to the snow tire section. Sure they'll sell you anything you want but they're also trying to gently hint that with winter coming you would probably want to buy snow tires.

The more parents understand that you cant get recruited for college while playing down a grade the more they'll demand that their kid plays on the correct grade team.

Fomo is just how soccer moms work and because of it they wont want their kid playing down a grade. Unless their kid literally has no chance at playing in college. In that case it doesnt matter. But it will piss off A team parents that are playing the correct grade. Which will eventually out your kid on the B team and playing down.

I love when Delusional August Guy responds to himself. The clubs are telling you what they are going to do. Yet you continue to skip your meds, put your fingers in your ears, act a fool and blabber.

The person you keep going after is 100% correct. You're the only one that doesnt get it. Why would a club play players on a grade lower team? Especially if they want them to play in college. It doesnt make any sense.

It's because they want to put together the best teams, they need to compete with teams that will play everyone on age, they want simple rules to follow, they are following the advice of leagues, they only want the very best kids playing up regardless of grade, they know putting kids a year up puts them at a disadvantage for playing time/positions and the big one is that kids leave teams every year so teams aren't realistically going to keep a kid for more than a few years. Clubs know what they are doing on this one.

What's funny about this person's concern with players playing with kids a grade younger than them is that it is way way way more common right fricking now, under the current system! Every top team I am aware of has kids from multiple grades on it, and no one cares.

But somehow, under the seasonal system, wherein far fewer players will be playing with kids a grade younger than them, it is a major issue worth spending 50 pages on. Plus, we have link after link after link with clubs explicitly saying they are forming teams by age range, not grade, and the dude still won't stop.