Junior Year + New Age Rules… What’s the Best Move for My DD?

[Anonymous]

Hey all — just trying to wrap my head around the new calendar year rule changes and what it could mean for my DD.

My DD will be a junior when the new rules kick in. Based on her birthday, she should move from U17 back down to U16. She’s always been the youngest in her school year and is currently playing top-team GA, just starting the recruiting process.

She’s a very strong U16 player right now and would probably do very well if she moved down. But since she’ll be a junior when this change happens, I’m trying to understand whether moving to U16 at that point would be a mistake from a recruiting standpoint.

What’s the best course of action here? Request to stay with the older group? Move down and impress? How are college coaches likely to view this?

Curious what the hive mind thinks. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey all — just trying to wrap my head around the new calendar year rule changes and what it could mean for my DD.

My DD will be a junior when the new rules kick in. Based on her birthday, she should move from U17 back down to U16. She’s always been the youngest in her school year and is currently playing top-team GA, just starting the recruiting process.

She’s a very strong U16 player right now and would probably do very well if she moved down. But since she’ll be a junior when this change happens, I’m trying to understand whether moving to U16 at that point would be a mistake from a recruiting standpoint.

What’s the best course of action here? Request to stay with the older group? Move down and impress? How are college coaches likely to view this?

Curious what the hive mind thinks. Thanks!

you sure? Seems like she repeats u17 vs jumping back a year.

[Anonymous]

Since you haven't started the recruitment process yet it doesnt matter what you do.

It sounds like your kid is a trapped player playing up. When BY changes to SY your kid can play on a team thats their grade or if the want they can continue playing up with their current team.

If you had already started the recruitment process you'd need to inform all the college coaches youre currently communicating with that you're changing teams and will likely have a new number, coach, and team manager.

[Anonymous]

I would have her play on the team where she will get the most playing time and be able to stand out more. Recruiting is all about standing out - on film, on the field. And by the way, that doesn’t necessarily mean play on the younger team because it depends who else is on that team. As example, if she is a goal scorer but the team doesn’t have the midfielders to get her the ball then there will be fewer scoring chances for her to stand out. College coaches will know the graduation year of the players they come to watch so that is not a problem. They deal with mixed grad years on the same fields now and it’s fine. Which team is more likely to have a playoff run? Which team is less deep at her position? Recruiting is about showcasing her in the best possible way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have her play on the team where she will get the most playing time and be able to stand out more. Recruiting is all about standing out - on film, on the field. And by the way, that doesn’t necessarily mean play on the younger team because it depends who else is on that team. As example, if she is a goal scorer but the team doesn’t have the midfielders to get her the ball then there will be fewer scoring chances for her to stand out. College coaches will know the graduation year of the players they come to watch so that is not a problem. They deal with mixed grad years on the same fields now and it’s fine. Which team is more likely to have a playoff run? Which team is less deep at her position? Recruiting is about showcasing her in the best possible way.

Under BY the mixed graduation years recruiters deal with are either the correct grade or players playing up.

Under SY the only time a recruiter will see a mixed graduation year player is young August players playing down a grade.

This is a HUGE difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have her play on the team where she will get the most playing time and be able to stand out more. Recruiting is all about standing out - on film, on the field. And by the way, that doesn’t necessarily mean play on the younger team because it depends who else is on that team. As example, if she is a goal scorer but the team doesn’t have the midfielders to get her the ball then there will be fewer scoring chances for her to stand out. College coaches will know the graduation year of the players they come to watch so that is not a problem. They deal with mixed grad years on the same fields now and it’s fine. Which team is more likely to have a playoff run? Which team is less deep at her position? Recruiting is about showcasing her in the best possible way.

Under BY the mixed graduation years recruiters deal with are either the correct grade or players playing up.

Under SY the only time a recruiter will see a mixed graduation year player is young August players playing down a grade.

This is a HUGE difference.

Actually I take that back under SY recuiters will see truely grade down players playing on a grade up team, players the correct grade playing on a correct grade team, and young august players a grade older playing on a grade down team.

In the end the first question every recruiter will ask is why is a grade up player playing on a grade down team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have her play on the team where she will get the most playing time and be able to stand out more. Recruiting is all about standing out - on film, on the field. And by the way, that doesn’t necessarily mean play on the younger team because it depends who else is on that team. As example, if she is a goal scorer but the team doesn’t have the midfielders to get her the ball then there will be fewer scoring chances for her to stand out. College coaches will know the graduation year of the players they come to watch so that is not a problem. They deal with mixed grad years on the same fields now and it’s fine. Which team is more likely to have a playoff run? Which team is less deep at her position? Recruiting is about showcasing her in the best possible way.

This! Find the best environment to stand out is everything. Repeating U17 will put her at a big advantage and if she is even younger, dropping to U16 will get her the highlights to shine.

[Anonymous]

Damn that all sounds confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Damn that all sounds confusing.

yup. Have her tryout at ecnl this year. She might outshine the current teams and punch a ticket

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Damn that all sounds confusing.

yup. Have her tryout at ecnl this year. She might outshine the current teams and punch a ticket

All depends on the team/club. You don't want to be on a team that's cannon fodder, especially if it's a strong GA team, which scouts will see. Coach, team, performance is critical nuance. Basing things solely on a badge GA or ECNL is a bad idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have her play on the team where she will get the most playing time and be able to stand out more. Recruiting is all about standing out - on film, on the field. And by the way, that doesn’t necessarily mean play on the younger team because it depends who else is on that team. As example, if she is a goal scorer but the team doesn’t have the midfielders to get her the ball then there will be fewer scoring chances for her to stand out. College coaches will know the graduation year of the players they come to watch so that is not a problem. They deal with mixed grad years on the same fields now and it’s fine. Which team is more likely to have a playoff run? Which team is less deep at her position? Recruiting is about showcasing her in the best possible way.

Under BY the mixed graduation years recruiters deal with are either the correct grade or players playing up.

Under SY the only time a recruiter will see a mixed graduation year player is young August players playing down a grade.

This is a HUGE difference.

BUT still competing vs. the same age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have her play on the team where she will get the most playing time and be able to stand out more. Recruiting is all about standing out - on film, on the field. And by the way, that doesn’t necessarily mean play on the younger team because it depends who else is on that team. As example, if she is a goal scorer but the team doesn’t have the midfielders to get her the ball then there will be fewer scoring chances for her to stand out. College coaches will know the graduation year of the players they come to watch so that is not a problem. They deal with mixed grad years on the same fields now and it’s fine. Which team is more likely to have a playoff run? Which team is less deep at her position? Recruiting is about showcasing her in the best possible way.

Under BY the mixed graduation years recruiters deal with are either the correct grade or players playing up.

Under SY the only time a recruiter will see a mixed graduation year player is young August players playing down a grade.

This is a HUGE difference.

You are lining up colleges regardless of team or grade. The huge differences are generally being able to rule the field with confidence, playing a preferred position and getting maximum playing time being in the correct age group. Don't worry about coaches randomly going to games picking girls because that isn't the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have her play on the team where she will get the most playing time and be able to stand out more. Recruiting is all about standing out - on film, on the field. And by the way, that doesn’t necessarily mean play on the younger team because it depends who else is on that team. As example, if she is a goal scorer but the team doesn’t have the midfielders to get her the ball then there will be fewer scoring chances for her to stand out. College coaches will know the graduation year of the players they come to watch so that is not a problem. They deal with mixed grad years on the same fields now and it’s fine. Which team is more likely to have a playoff run? Which team is less deep at her position? Recruiting is about showcasing her in the best possible way.

Under BY the mixed graduation years recruiters deal with are either the correct grade or players playing up.

Under SY the only time a recruiter will see a mixed graduation year player is young August players playing down a grade.

This is a HUGE difference.

You are lining up colleges regardless of team or grade. The huge differences are generally being able to rule the field with confidence, playing a preferred position and getting maximum playing time being in the correct age group. Don't worry about coaches randomly going to games picking girls because that isn't the process.

I wouldn't tecruit a player thats playing a grade down. Especially if there were 50+ more that were available and playing the correct grade. I'd be highly skeptical about how "dominating" a player playing a grade down would be against players sometimes 4+ years older than they are. At least with the BY players that are playing up I'd know they can conpete with older players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey all — just trying to wrap my head around the new calendar year rule changes and what it could mean for my DD.

My DD will be a junior when the new rules kick in. Based on her birthday, she should move from U17 back down to U16. She’s always been the youngest in her school year and is currently playing top-team GA, just starting the recruiting process.

She’s a very strong U16 player right now and would probably do very well if she moved down. But since she’ll be a junior when this change happens, I’m trying to understand whether moving to U16 at that point would be a mistake from a recruiting standpoint.

What’s the best course of action here? Request to stay with the older group? Move down and impress? How are college coaches likely to view this?

Curious what the hive mind thinks. Thanks!

Just ignore the poster trying to be deceitful to August kids trying to get them to play up an age group in every thread to help his kid get playing time on her team. Other people are offering honest feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey all — just trying to wrap my head around the new calendar year rule changes and what it could mean for my DD.

My DD will be a junior when the new rules kick in. Based on her birthday, she should move from U17 back down to U16. She’s always been the youngest in her school year and is currently playing top-team GA, just starting the recruiting process.

She’s a very strong U16 player right now and would probably do very well if she moved down. But since she’ll be a junior when this change happens, I’m trying to understand whether moving to U16 at that point would be a mistake from a recruiting standpoint.

What’s the best course of action here? Request to stay with the older group? Move down and impress? How are college coaches likely to view this?

Curious what the hive mind thinks. Thanks!

Just ignore the poster trying to be deceitful to August kids trying to get them to play up an age group in every thread to help his kid get playing time on her team. Other people are offering honest feedback.

What's unfortunate is this kid isn't even really affected by this issue by playing on age and the dude just inserts the whole thing here to take the life out of the thread (and any thread somewhat related).