ECNL changeover--trapped older player exceptions?

[Anonymous]

Any thoughts on whether ECNL leadership will bend the spring 2026 rules in support of trapped U-19 juniors? They are caught in an unfortunate holding pattern cutting them off during a critical recruiting year. And by cut off I mean that at U-19, there are only 32 teams who make national playoffs (vs. 64 at U-17 for the rest of their junior class peers). There is also a May college showcase that excludes the U-19 teams these juniors play for because their teammates have graduated--but include the U-17 junior players.

Even if you are a top player on a top 32 team as a junior I imagine coaches have limited interest and budget to show up to May-July games where the majority of players have already graduated high school and are off the table to be recruited. It's a dead spring for the trapped juniors at the moment.

The new SY change will fix this issue which is great for future trapped juniors, but the 2008, junior trapped class will be hung out to dry without any fixes in Spring 2026 ....Given there are an average of 3-6 trapped players per U-19 team--the current guest policy really doesn't address the math of the problem for spring.... anybody have a prediction on whether there might be a fix?

[Anonymous]

So... same as it has been?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any thoughts on whether ECNL leadership will bend the spring 2026 rules in support of trapped U-19 juniors? They are caught in an unfortunate holding pattern cutting them off during a critical recruiting year. And by cut off I mean that at U-19, there are only 32 teams who make national playoffs (vs. 64 at U-17 for the rest of their junior class peers). There is also a May college showcase that excludes the U-19 teams these juniors play for because their teammates have graduated--but include the U-17 junior players.

Even if you are a top player on a top 32 team as a junior I imagine coaches have limited interest and budget to show up to May-July games where the majority of players have already graduated high school and are off the table to be recruited. It's a dead spring for the trapped juniors at the moment.

The new SY change will fix this issue which is great for future trapped juniors, but the 2008, junior trapped class will be hung out to dry without any fixes in Spring 2026 ....Given there are an average of 3-6 trapped players per U-19 team--the current guest policy really doesn't address the math of the problem for spring.... anybody have a prediction on whether there might be a fix?

NO!

[Anonymous]

And the waivers campaign has begun.

Instead is being coy and wasting everyone's time why dont you just push for Grad Year groupings. Because we all know that's what you really want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the waivers campaign has begun.

Instead is being coy and wasting everyone's time why dont you just push for Grad Year groupings. Because we all know that's what you really want.

My player graduates in 2027 so I don’t really care about grad year vs school year one bit. Grad year has zero bearing on my player.

With an early October birthday, I do care that they are not in a holding pattern missing junior year spring and summer recruiting season due to being on a U-19 team vs a U-17 team with their classmates while the great reshuffle sorts itself out for all the other younger birthyears. I don’t think that is an unreasonable expectation…and has zero to do with school year vs grad year…my player was not held back in school. They went on time …

[Anonymous]

Trapped U19 players can do spring showcases with U17 if there is no U19 group participating. I think for nationals they can play U17 also as long as the team isn’t in Champions league but I’m less sure about that rule