ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what else do we need to talk about to make it to 1000?

Can we talk about GA/MLS?? Would that help

It would. Are people worried that it is unclear what path GA will take? Do you run a significant risk of having your kid go ECNL SY and then that clubs converts to GA and is BY? Lot’s of people trying out right now with any real clear picture. Seems like a lot of risk. Or is the general sense that if your kid can make an ECNL team SY then they can make GA BY? I am seeing firsthand how difficult it is to break into teams during seasons when they aren’t significantly expanding the roster. Curious how others are thinking about this as they navigate tryouts. Especially the u13/ u14s who aren’t quite as settled into these teams.

Yes my daughter is a Q4 2013 so will be U13 next year and then again the following year. We are switching clubs so I hate that we will have 2 different teams for the next 2 years. I wish the bandaid would come off for this year. We are not ECNL or GA level

But that’s the thing, you dont know if you will repeat, it depends on what GA does, right? Also, have you considered just continuing to have your kid play up or anticipating most clubs will level you out if you can? It seems like getting an extra year of 11v11 is a lot more beneficial than 9v9, but curious if others feel differently.

Different poster, but they will be U13 fall 2025 playing 11v11 if 2013. No playing "down" then, unless leagues come out with more details.

Not we would not play down- stay U13 for 2025 and then U13 again in 2026. Its great to have an extra year of development. Just hate to have teams switch twice when we need to make the switch for fall. Playing up is not an option- my daughter is the smallest 5th grader in her class so playing with 6th/7th graders who have already hit puberty is not in the cards for us

ECNL already has an exception for late year kids to play down during their trapped year. I would imagine there will be exceptions that allow each team to have some SeptQ4 players play down next season.

If the guidance is going to be that Q4 players are permitted to play down next year, doing a limit on how many can do that could lead to strange result. People being competitive, the best Q4 players would play down - if there was a limit - leaving the not as good Q4 players on their BY team. If they're going to permit playing down for Q4s, probably needs to be open to all. Go big or go home.

Or, the opposite. Better Q4 players stick with the older team and those not as strong might get shifted to the younger team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone list what each league governing body is? I’m confused about GA…USSSA? MLSN is MLS? What about MLSN completion/mlsn2? ODP? Id2?

GA, MLSN, USCS, USYS, AYSO are all member organizations of the USSF. They will all have the ability to choose which registration works best for their clubs and players. We have seen the cards of 3 of those organizations, they will be changing to SY. ODP, ID2 are ID programs for our youth national teams one is USYS, and the other is USCS. They have said that national team players will need to be scouted in their birth year to align with international standards.

GA is governed by MLSN as I understand it, which is why most think GA wont change. However, ECNL G would have a material advantage over GA. Hopefully announcements come out soon. I really hope that all just follow the same path to keep it simple. ODP and ID2 can do whatever, but for league play, this would get really messy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what else do we need to talk about to make it to 1000?

Can we talk about GA/MLS?? Would that help

It would. Are people worried that it is unclear what path GA will take? Do you run a significant risk of having your kid go ECNL SY and then that clubs converts to GA and is BY? Lot’s of people trying out right now with any real clear picture. Seems like a lot of risk. Or is the general sense that if your kid can make an ECNL team SY then they can make GA BY? I am seeing firsthand how difficult it is to break into teams during seasons when they aren’t significantly expanding the roster. Curious how others are thinking about this as they navigate tryouts. Especially the u13/ u14s who aren’t quite as settled into these teams.

Yes my daughter is a Q4 2013 so will be U13 next year and then again the following year. We are switching clubs so I hate that we will have 2 different teams for the next 2 years. I wish the bandaid would come off for this year. We are not ECNL or GA level

But that’s the thing, you dont know if you will repeat, it depends on what GA does, right? Also, have you considered just continuing to have your kid play up or anticipating most clubs will level you out if you can? It seems like getting an extra year of 11v11 is a lot more beneficial than 9v9, but curious if others feel differently.

Different poster, but they will be U13 fall 2025 playing 11v11 if 2013. No playing "down" then, unless leagues come out with more details.

Not we would not play down- stay U13 for 2025 and then U13 again in 2026. Its great to have an extra year of development. Just hate to have teams switch twice when we need to make the switch for fall. Playing up is not an option- my daughter is the smallest 5th grader in her class so playing with 6th/7th graders who have already hit puberty is not in the cards for us

ECNL already has an exception for late year kids to play down during their trapped year. I would imagine there will be exceptions that allow each team to have some SeptQ4 players play down next season.

If the guidance is going to be that Q4 players are permitted to play down next year, doing a limit on how many can do that could lead to strange result. People being competitive, the best Q4 players would play down - if there was a limit - leaving the not as good Q4 players on their BY team. If they're going to permit playing down for Q4s, probably needs to be open to all. Go big or go home.

Agree completely, but then what is the point in waiting until 2026-2027?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what else do we need to talk about to make it to 1000?

Can we talk about GA/MLS?? Would that help

It would. Are people worried that it is unclear what path GA will take? Do you run a significant risk of having your kid go ECNL SY and then that clubs converts to GA and is BY? Lot’s of people trying out right now with any real clear picture. Seems like a lot of risk. Or is the general sense that if your kid can make an ECNL team SY then they can make GA BY? I am seeing firsthand how difficult it is to break into teams during seasons when they aren’t significantly expanding the roster. Curious how others are thinking about this as they navigate tryouts. Especially the u13/ u14s who aren’t quite as settled into these teams.

Yes my daughter is a Q4 2013 so will be U13 next year and then again the following year. We are switching clubs so I hate that we will have 2 different teams for the next 2 years. I wish the bandaid would come off for this year. We are not ECNL or GA level

But that’s the thing, you dont know if you will repeat, it depends on what GA does, right? Also, have you considered just continuing to have your kid play up or anticipating most clubs will level you out if you can? It seems like getting an extra year of 11v11 is a lot more beneficial than 9v9, but curious if others feel differently.

Different poster, but they will be U13 fall 2025 playing 11v11 if 2013. No playing "down" then, unless leagues come out with more details.

It would be guidance - not a mandate. Any organization is free to do what they think is in the best interest of their organization.



Not we would not play down- stay U13 for 2025 and then U13 again in 2026. Its great to have an extra year of development. Just hate to have teams switch twice when we need to make the switch for fall. Playing up is not an option- my daughter is the smallest 5th grader in her class so playing with 6th/7th graders who have already hit puberty is not in the cards for us

ECNL already has an exception for late year kids to play down during their trapped year. I would imagine there will be exceptions that allow each team to have some SeptQ4 players play down next season.

If the guidance is going to be that Q4 players are permitted to play down next year, doing a limit on how many can do that could lead to strange result. People being competitive, the best Q4 players would play down - if there was a limit - leaving the not as good Q4 players on their BY team. If they're going to permit playing down for Q4s, probably needs to be open to all. Go big or go home.

Agree completely, but then what is the point in waiting until 2026-2027?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what else do we need to talk about to make it to 1000?

Can we talk about GA/MLS?? Would that help

It would. Are people worried that it is unclear what path GA will take? Do you run a significant risk of having your kid go ECNL SY and then that clubs converts to GA and is BY? Lot’s of people trying out right now with any real clear picture. Seems like a lot of risk. Or is the general sense that if your kid can make an ECNL team SY then they can make GA BY? I am seeing firsthand how difficult it is to break into teams during seasons when they aren’t significantly expanding the roster. Curious how others are thinking about this as they navigate tryouts. Especially the u13/ u14s who aren’t quite as settled into these teams.

Yes my daughter is a Q4 2013 so will be U13 next year and then again the following year. We are switching clubs so I hate that we will have 2 different teams for the next 2 years. I wish the bandaid would come off for this year. We are not ECNL or GA level

But that’s the thing, you dont know if you will repeat, it depends on what GA does, right? Also, have you considered just continuing to have your kid play up or anticipating most clubs will level you out if you can? It seems like getting an extra year of 11v11 is a lot more beneficial than 9v9, but curious if others feel differently.

Different poster, but they will be U13 fall 2025 playing 11v11 if 2013. No playing "down" then, unless leagues come out with more details.

It would be guidance - not a mandate. Any organization is free to do what they think is in the best interest of their organization.



Not we would not play down- stay U13 for 2025 and then U13 again in 2026. Its great to have an extra year of development. Just hate to have teams switch twice when we need to make the switch for fall. Playing up is not an option- my daughter is the smallest 5th grader in her class so playing with 6th/7th graders who have already hit puberty is not in the cards for us

ECNL already has an exception for late year kids to play down during their trapped year. I would imagine there will be exceptions that allow each team to have some SeptQ4 players play down next season.

If the guidance is going to be that Q4 players are permitted to play down next year, doing a limit on how many can do that could lead to strange result. People being competitive, the best Q4 players would play down - if there was a limit - leaving the not as good Q4 players on their BY team. If they're going to permit playing down for Q4s, probably needs to be open to all. Go big or go home.

Agree completely, but then what is the point in waiting until 2026-2027?

This 💯

[Anonymous]

I can pretty much guarantee most parties didn't want to wait, but it was the only way to get so many organizations to agree. Every single announcement so far starts - No change for 2025-2026....but

The US is big and there are many competing interests in the youth sports world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what else do we need to talk about to make it to 1000?

Can we talk about GA/MLS?? Would that help

It would. Are people worried that it is unclear what path GA will take? Do you run a significant risk of having your kid go ECNL SY and then that clubs converts to GA and is BY? Lot’s of people trying out right now with any real clear picture. Seems like a lot of risk. Or is the general sense that if your kid can make an ECNL team SY then they can make GA BY? I am seeing firsthand how difficult it is to break into teams during seasons when they aren’t significantly expanding the roster. Curious how others are thinking about this as they navigate tryouts. Especially the u13/ u14s who aren’t quite as settled into these teams.

Yes my daughter is a Q4 2013 so will be U13 next year and then again the following year. We are switching clubs so I hate that we will have 2 different teams for the next 2 years. I wish the bandaid would come off for this year. We are not ECNL or GA level

But that’s the thing, you dont know if you will repeat, it depends on what GA does, right? Also, have you considered just continuing to have your kid play up or anticipating most clubs will level you out if you can? It seems like getting an extra year of 11v11 is a lot more beneficial than 9v9, but curious if others feel differently.

Different poster, but they will be U13 fall 2025 playing 11v11 if 2013. No playing "down" then, unless leagues come out with more details.

Not we would not play down- stay U13 for 2025 and then U13 again in 2026. Its great to have an extra year of development. Just hate to have teams switch twice when we need to make the switch for fall. Playing up is not an option- my daughter is the smallest 5th grader in her class so playing with 6th/7th graders who have already hit puberty is not in the cards for us

ECNL already has an exception for late year kids to play down during their trapped year. I would imagine there will be exceptions that allow each team to have some SeptQ4 players play down next season.

If the guidance is going to be that Q4 players are permitted to play down next year, doing a limit on how many can do that could lead to strange result. People being competitive, the best Q4 players would play down - if there was a limit - leaving the not as good Q4 players on their BY team. If they're going to permit playing down for Q4s, probably needs to be open to all. Go big or go home.

Agree completely, but then what is the point in waiting until 2026-2027?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what else do we need to talk about to make it to 1000?

Can we talk about GA/MLS?? Would that help

It would. Are people worried that it is unclear what path GA will take? Do you run a significant risk of having your kid go ECNL SY and then that clubs converts to GA and is BY? Lot’s of people trying out right now with any real clear picture. Seems like a lot of risk. Or is the general sense that if your kid can make an ECNL team SY then they can make GA BY? I am seeing firsthand how difficult it is to break into teams during seasons when they aren’t significantly expanding the roster. Curious how others are thinking about this as they navigate tryouts. Especially the u13/ u14s who aren’t quite as settled into these teams.

Yes my daughter is a Q4 2013 so will be U13 next year and then again the following year. We are switching clubs so I hate that we will have 2 different teams for the next 2 years. I wish the bandaid would come off for this year. We are not ECNL or GA level

But that’s the thing, you dont know if you will repeat, it depends on what GA does, right? Also, have you considered just continuing to have your kid play up or anticipating most clubs will level you out if you can? It seems like getting an extra year of 11v11 is a lot more beneficial than 9v9, but curious if others feel differently.

Different poster, but they will be U13 fall 2025 playing 11v11 if 2013. No playing "down" then, unless leagues come out with more details.

Not we would not play down- stay U13 for 2025 and then U13 again in 2026. Its great to have an extra year of development. Just hate to have teams switch twice when we need to make the switch for fall. Playing up is not an option- my daughter is the smallest 5th grader in her class so playing with 6th/7th graders who have already hit puberty is not in the cards for us

ECNL already has an exception for late year kids to play down during their trapped year. I would imagine there will be exceptions that allow each team to have some SeptQ4 players play down next season.

If the guidance is going to be that Q4 players are permitted to play down next year, doing a limit on how many can do that could lead to strange result. People being competitive, the best Q4 players would play down - if there was a limit - leaving the not as good Q4 players on their BY team. If they're going to permit playing down for Q4s, probably needs to be open to all. Go big or go home.

Agree completely, but then what is the point in waiting until 2026-2027?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what else do we need to talk about to make it to 1000?

Can we talk about GA/MLS?? Would that help

It would. Are people worried that it is unclear what path GA will take? Do you run a significant risk of having your kid go ECNL SY and then that clubs converts to GA and is BY? Lot’s of people trying out right now with any real clear picture. Seems like a lot of risk. Or is the general sense that if your kid can make an ECNL team SY then they can make GA BY? I am seeing firsthand how difficult it is to break into teams during seasons when they aren’t significantly expanding the roster. Curious how others are thinking about this as they navigate tryouts. Especially the u13/ u14s who aren’t quite as settled into these teams.

Yes my daughter is a Q4 2013 so will be U13 next year and then again the following year. We are switching clubs so I hate that we will have 2 different teams for the next 2 years. I wish the bandaid would come off for this year. We are not ECNL or GA level

But that’s the thing, you dont know if you will repeat, it depends on what GA does, right? Also, have you considered just continuing to have your kid play up or anticipating most clubs will level you out if you can? It seems like getting an extra year of 11v11 is a lot more beneficial than 9v9, but curious if others feel differently.

Different poster, but they will be U13 fall 2025 playing 11v11 if 2013. No playing "down" then, unless leagues come out with more details.

Not we would not play down- stay U13 for 2025 and then U13 again in 2026. Its great to have an extra year of development. Just hate to have teams switch twice when we need to make the switch for fall. Playing up is not an option- my daughter is the smallest 5th grader in her class so playing with 6th/7th graders who have already hit puberty is not in the cards for us

ECNL already has an exception for late year kids to play down during their trapped year. I would imagine there will be exceptions that allow each team to have some SeptQ4 players play down next season.

If the guidance is going to be that Q4 players are permitted to play down next year, doing a limit on how many can do that could lead to strange result. People being competitive, the best Q4 players would play down - if there was a limit - leaving the not as good Q4 players on their BY team. If they're going to permit playing down for Q4s, probably needs to be open to all. Go big or go home.

Agree completely, but then what is the point in waiting until 2026-2027?

Hahaha Exactly, this gives MLSN or whoever else, time to figure out if they even want to stay BY and if they want to create the infrastructure to support that. I'm betting they would rather focus that time, energy, and capital somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

📢 Important Update 📢
A Message from CSA President, Mike Schrad:
Hello Colorado club leaders,
As I’m sure you are aware, at the end of last year US Soccer made the decision to allow its member organizations to make the decision on the choice between birth year or seasonal year registration for the leagues and competitions that they sanction. This led concerns that the youth landscape may further fracture, with some sanctioning bodies choosing to stay with birth year, while others moved to seasonal year, or chose seasonal year with different cutoff dates. Over the past year, as this issue has developed, CSA leadership has attended numerous meetings and communicated with national leadership continuously to advocate for Colorado concerns.
On Friday, February 28th at the Youth Council meeting, which was held at the USSF Annual General Meeting, USYS, US Club Soccer, and AYSO made the joint announcement that they will be moving to a seasonal year registration (similar to school year) with the cutoff date of September 1st.
This will go into effect for the 2026-2027 season. Meaning the 2025-2026 season (and upcoming team formation cycle) will remain with the current birth year registration system. We know that this decision raises additional questions, and we will be working through these in the coming months. We will continue to provide guidance as it becomes available through the national offices and we will work with you all to develop our own guidance specific to our Colorado teams, clubs and leagues.
Mike Schrad
President, Colorado Soccer Association.

https://www.facebook.com/coloradosoccer/posts/pfbid0u37CQFUkDtWGEiZwfkec448eufgtmqcePcxReKjmrrbQ83pm4faVMkese1v39Qybl?rdid=VWnyy1VcCOUOKWo9#

[Anonymous]

There you go…lame duck year full steam ahead. As dumb as it is, we need to move on from holding out hope for accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There you go…lame duck year full steam ahead. As dumb as it is, we need to move on from holding out hope for accommodations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There you go…lame duck year full steam ahead. As dumb as it is, we need to move on from holding out hope for accommodations.

There is still some time left for them to provide a transition plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:📢 Important Update 📢
A Message from CSA President, Mike Schrad:
Hello Colorado club leaders,
As I’m sure you are aware, at the end of last year US Soccer made the decision to allow its member organizations to make the decision on the choice between birth year or seasonal year registration for the leagues and competitions that they sanction. This led concerns that the youth landscape may further fracture, with some sanctioning bodies choosing to stay with birth year, while others moved to seasonal year, or chose seasonal year with different cutoff dates. Over the past year, as this issue has developed, CSA leadership has attended numerous meetings and communicated with national leadership continuously to advocate for Colorado concerns.
On Friday, February 28th at the Youth Council meeting, which was held at the USSF Annual General Meeting, USYS, US Club Soccer, and AYSO made the joint announcement that they will be moving to a seasonal year registration (similar to school year) with the cutoff date of September 1st.
This will go into effect for the 2026-2027 season. Meaning the 2025-2026 season (and upcoming team formation cycle) will remain with the current birth year registration system. We know that this decision raises additional questions, and we will be working through these in the coming months. We will continue to provide guidance as it becomes available through the national offices and we will work with you all to develop our own guidance specific to our Colorado teams, clubs and leagues.
Mike Schrad
President, Colorado Soccer Association.

https://www.facebook.com/coloradosoccer/posts/pfbid0u37CQFUkDtWGEiZwfkec448eufgtmqcePcxReKjmrrbQ83pm4faVMkese1v39Qybl?rdid=VWnyy1VcCOUOKWo9#

Meh its a PR statement, we know they won't be changing registration this year.

[Anonymous]

No one is waiting if were being honest. Expect to see many 3/4Q kids added to every level.