ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

Depends on your kid’s goals. If they want to play in college then option 2 would seem to be the better choice even though you’re at a disadvantage since your grad year won’t align with the team. Sophomore showcases are really junior showcases for you, and your kid would likely miss out on an entire year of recruiting since no scouts will come watch their freshman team when they are the only sophomore.

Option 1 is the obvious choice if they have no desire to play in college.

[Anonymous]

Maryland United sent email to the entire club today stating, “starting in 2026-2027, teams will be formed based on age groups running from September 1 to August 30.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not judging, just wondering the thought process…why the best Q4 to play down?

Lots of soccer podcasts and talks on this subject. The benefits of playing up/down(with age group).

If a kid is too dominant for their age group then going up definitely can have some added benefits.

I would say it depends on the skill level of each team at their club and if the player can now handle having even older kids competing against them.There is a reason we have age groups for sports after all.

I would try for my kid to play showcases and about with my recruited age group and split league games with each team depending on the level of team you would play against.

Lots of parents (and kids) obsess over “playing up”, but there are many documented cases of a player benefitting greatly from playing down a year. In fact, several current and former members of the English NT played down when they were 15, 16 years old.

If you happen to be a very late developer (e.g., a 15 year old with the body of a 13 year old) with top technical and tactical skills, playing up or even at your age group could be detrimental to your development.

I once watched an MLS Next U15 match where one team was filled with very developed players. They had multiple 6+ feet +
170+ lbs + muscular players with a HORRIFIC touch and ball control. They could get away with the bad touches because they had the physical capacity to compensate. A highly skilled underdeveloped kid would stand no chance against these players, but this doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be able to eventually compete against these players.

I think “highly skilled” and “underdeveloped” need to be defined here. But assuming “underdeveloped” means younger / smaller.

If that is the case, you’re probably watching crap soccer and highly skilled is probably, “the cream of the crap.” Will a bigger / older kid be tough for a smaller skilled kid, sure. But “stand no chance” is silly. See Barca v Man United UCL finals. See Argentina v France WC24, see Lisandro Martinez v Haaland, etc etc etc.

Many truly “highly skilled” players play up 2 years, and do just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Amazing how some poeple think being on an ECNL team with 30 players is better than getting moved to the second team....

The science says 75% of players will now be born From September 1 - January on top teams within 2 cycles.

Good luck to all.

I am so curious about this. As the parent of a child who is likely to be higher ranked team 2 player instead of lower ranked team 1 player, I have been telling myself he will get more playing time! But is that just a consolation thought?

What age group? Most of the first teams won’t be cutting or replacing existing players, just absorbing the team 1 q4 players who move down from the current age group above and losing the a few who are eligible to go to the age group below. So it will likely be relatively smooth. Obviously there are some normal movements from season to season + Naturally roster sizes grow from 7v7 to 9v9 to 11v11 so lots of age groups will still need to expand. It’s really not a big deal except trapped players won’t be trapped and the youngest age first team will be basically all q4s from the first and second team above.

Most first teams will be cutting and replacing existing players.

Nobody will get cut. It will be a big roster, then people will adjust.

It makes sense to me that competitive clubs will add SeptQ4 players -- but that's no guarantee they're better than the existing Jan-Aug ones, especially the older you go up the age groups -- the same as if they were all competing to join the HS team as freshmen.

More boys playing so the pool is deeper, will amount to a huge shake up, less so on girls side because there are fewer players but just as many "high" level teams.

Closing in on 1,000 pages says age cutoff change is going to change the youth soccer career path of all but a handful kid playing soccer going forward.

Change is fun theater!

Hey, this change was all about growing the game

🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maryland United sent email to the entire club today stating, “starting in 2026-2027, teams will be formed based on age groups running from September 1 to August 30.”

That is very proactive of them. Still waiting on any word from big MoCo club.

[Anonymous]

Maryland United sent that email because nothing is changing until then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

Another thing to perhaps consider is another club. Maybe you can find another ECNL or GA club where can be a top player/leader and on the same recruitment cycle. The current club/team dynamics and logistics, of course, are critical and you may not want to give that up. But many of the most successful players have played for multiple clubs on their journey. Just look at Chloe Ricketts youth career (a definite outlier, tho).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

Have her repeat 8th grade, problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

Have her repeat 8th grade, problem solved.

someone didn't read the new rules - it's just a 12 month window switched from 1/1 to 9/1. No redshirts (for now until we get specifics from each league)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

Have her repeat 8th grade, problem solved.

someone didn't read the new rules - it's just a 12 month window switched from 1/1 to 9/1. No redshirts (for now until we get specifics from each league)

The redshirt thing will never happen in club soccer - unless it's purely a showcase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

Have her repeat 8th grade, problem solved.

someone didn't read the new rules - it's just a 12 month window switched from 1/1 to 9/1. No redshirts (for now until we get specifics from each league)

The redshirt thing will never happen in club soccer - unless it's purely a showcase.

Yes, I get that and was trying to explain that it's not purely graduation year for that very reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

Have her repeat 8th grade, problem solved.

someone didn't read the new rules - it's just a 12 month window switched from 1/1 to 9/1. No redshirts (for now until we get specifics from each league)

This would be in reference to a kid who started school early. Have them repeat 8th grade would be to get back on track with their new soccer grade group.

So not a redshirt being the oldest just someone who started early now going back to their correct age grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not judging, just wondering the thought process…why the best Q4 to play down?

Lots of soccer podcasts and talks on this subject. The benefits of playing up/down(with age group).

If a kid is too dominant for their age group then going up definitely can have some added benefits.

I would say it depends on the skill level of each team at their club and if the player can now handle having even older kids competing against them.There is a reason we have age groups for sports after all.

I would try for my kid to play showcases and about with my recruited age group and split league games with each team depending on the level of team you would play against.

Lots of parents (and kids) obsess over “playing up”, but there are many documented cases of a player benefitting greatly from playing down a year. In fact, several current and former members of the English NT played down when they were 15, 16 years old.

If you happen to be a very late developer (e.g., a 15 year old with the body of a 13 year old) with top technical and tactical skills, playing up or even at your age group could be detrimental to your development.

I once watched an MLS Next U15 match where one team was filled with very developed players. They had multiple 6+ feet +
170+ lbs + muscular players with a HORRIFIC touch and ball control. They could get away with the bad touches because they had the physical capacity to compensate. A highly skilled underdeveloped kid would stand no chance against these players, but this doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be able to eventually compete against these players.

I think “highly skilled” and “underdeveloped” need to be defined here. But assuming “underdeveloped” means younger / smaller.

If that is the case, you’re probably watching crap soccer and highly skilled is probably, “the cream of the crap.” Will a bigger / older kid be tough for a smaller skilled kid, sure. But “stand no chance” is silly. See Barca v Man United UCL finals. See Argentina v France WC24, see Lisandro Martinez v Haaland, etc etc etc.

Many truly “highly skilled” players play up 2 years, and do just fine.

First, professionals playing at Barca are fully developed- so that is not a comparison.

The idea that a u15 team is playing great soccer is laughable. I love how parents believe their team plays smart soccer bc they pass it around the back before playing a long ball. I have watched the top MLSnext and ECNL teams in the U14-U15 age group. their soccer iq and technical ability is generally crap. Lets be honest, the smaller technical kid will not win you games, so he is not going to be played as much, if at all. Yes, in 5 years that kid will prolly be way above everyone on the team...but noone cares...and most of the kids will quit by that time or be relegated to play crap soccer. That kid will prolly be way above everyone on the team in 5 years...but noone cares...and most of the technical kids will quit by that time or be relegated to play crap soccer. Hence, why our national team always sucks. Its 'pay to play' and 'play to win'.....there is no focus on development...and no, your club is not an exception.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know this is an atypical situation but curious what others think. My DD is Sept 2012 birthday and currently is a starter on her U13 ECNL team, but she’s not a standout (middle third of roster). She started school early, so she’s already playing with kids in the same grade. With Q4 2011 players likely to move down to her team, maybe she loses her starting spot and/or falls to bottom half of squad. If so, is it better for her to try to stay with the 2011-12 team or drop to the 2012-13 team, knowing that she’d then be playing with kids a grade below her (because she started school early) and off-cycle for recruiting. She wants to play in college, but not P4 is probably not attainable or even a goal (Ivy or D3 more likely goal, depending on her academics).

We are in a similar position. I have asked the question a couple times, but no real feedback (just a “you will be fine because at least DC may have 2 options - play up or down”)…. So I hope to hear what folks have to say!!!

So your daughter is a 7th grader and her options are to play within the new age cutoff and be playing with a bunch of 6th graders and be misaligned. Or, to play “up” under the new system to be with fellow 7th graders and most of her current team but not a standout?

I think it would be harder to be the oldest and potentially one of the only 7th graders on a team because that team won’t be looked at for recruiting purposes until a year after her peers would have been. Now if she were a 6th grader on a team full of 7th graders (think Aug holdbakcs) then that’s arguably an advantage, but certainly a better spot to be in than the reverse.

I think it’s probably best to try and play “up” with her current team and stay within her same grad year. Playing with grads a year prior might be a disadvantage for recruiting and put her in a bind come her Sr year.

Does your answer to this change if it means being on a better team vs not? So the choices would be:
1. Play up and be with your graduation year, but be on a lower level team (local games, no showcases, etc)
2. Play with your age group and be on a higher level team (with more opportunities for showcases, etc), but not be with your graduation year

I’m original poster in this question. I think my DD would make an ECNL team in both cases as I believe she is good enough to “play up” with her current team even after cutoff changes. The difference will be that, if she plays up, so might not be a starter anymore as she likely falls to bottom half or even third of roster, but, if she drops down to her new age group, she’d almost certainly start and be a top player on the team, perhaps even the top player. So it’s the age old question of bigger challenge vs. bigger role, with added twist of being off recruitment cycle if she prioritizes the bigger role.

Have her repeat 8th grade, problem solved.

someone didn't read the new rules - it's just a 12 month window switched from 1/1 to 9/1. No redshirts (for now until we get specifics from each league)

This would be in reference to a kid who started school early. Have them repeat 8th grade would be to get back on track with their new soccer grade group.

So not a redshirt being the oldest just someone who started early now going back to their correct age grade.

Always an option. Some insecure people will tell you how it’s terrible, cheating, etc. but it’s not. If my kid had that option we would seriously consider it. I think it would be foolish not to, regardless of sports.