Important Update: US Soccer Birth Year Change

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

According to https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_3.asp the only trapped players under a return to 8/1 cutoff would be redshirted kids. There will be some kids who are misaligned on the non-trapped side of the cutoff, requiring them to play up to stay with class, but even that group will be far less than the current trapped kids. If this changes, I'd expect leagues to recommend to clubs that they play kids up whenever possible to stay with class. The tough decision will be for clubs/parents when a kid can only make the B team with class but can make the A team below class.
Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

There may still be some trapped players but it will be reduced by a lot. Going from 4 months worth of trapped players to 1 month or less is a significant improvement. No solution is perfect but can we at least agree that having less trapped players is a good thing?

[Anonymous]

June birthday no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

There may still be some trapped players but it will be reduced by a lot. Going from 4 months worth of trapped players to 1 month or less is a significant improvement. No solution is perfect but can we at least agree that having less trapped players is a good thing?

According to https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_3.asp the only trapped players under a return to 8/1 cutoff would be redshirted kids. There will be some kids who are misaligned on the non-trapped side of the cutoff, requiring them to play up to stay with class, but even that group will be far less than the current trapped kids. If this changes, I'd expect leagues to recommend to clubs that they play kids up whenever possible to stay with class. The tough decision will be for clubs/parents when a kid can only make the B team with class but can make the A team below class.
Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my DD is born in June 2010 plays u15 but is a 8th grader not a 9th grader (started school late in K) yet. with this new rule can she try out to u15 again next year which means changing teams?

June B days will not be affected. And she will need to remain with the 9th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

There may still be some trapped players but it will be reduced by a lot. Going from 4 months worth of trapped players to 1 month or less is a significant improvement. No solution is perfect but can we at least agree that having less trapped players is a good thing?

According to https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_3.asp the only trapped players under a return to 8/1 cutoff would be redshirted kids. There will be some kids who are misaligned on the non-trapped side of the cutoff, requiring them to play up to stay with class, but even that group will be far less than the current trapped kids. If this changes, I'd expect leagues to recommend to clubs that they play kids up whenever possible to stay with class. The tough decision will be for clubs/parents when a kid can only make the B team with class but can make the A team below class.
Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

Redshirted and home school kids aren’t trapped if they’re in the wrong grade by choice. Fall birthday kids are trapped by being in their correct grade for school but a different grade for soccer. Get it now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

There may still be some trapped players but it will be reduced by a lot. Going from 4 months worth of trapped players to 1 month or less is a significant improvement. No solution is perfect but can we at least agree that having less trapped players is a good thing?

No, because I don't think trapped players are an issue. Especially on higher level competitive teams.

If you want to play SY rec with friends from school fine.

You must be REALLY afraid of some fall birthday soccer kids in your kid’s grade to be this opposed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

There may still be some trapped players but it will be reduced by a lot. Going from 4 months worth of trapped players to 1 month or less is a significant improvement. No solution is perfect but can we at least agree that having less trapped players is a good thing?

According to https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_3.asp the only trapped players under a return to 8/1 cutoff would be redshirted kids. There will be some kids who are misaligned on the non-trapped side of the cutoff, requiring them to play up to stay with class, but even that group will be far less than the current trapped kids. If this changes, I'd expect leagues to recommend to clubs that they play kids up whenever possible to stay with class. The tough decision will be for clubs/parents when a kid can only make the B team with class but can make the A team below class.
Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Exactly. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

There may still be some trapped players but it will be reduced by a lot. Going from 4 months worth of trapped players to 1 month or less is a significant improvement. No solution is perfect but can we at least agree that having less trapped players is a good thing?

No, because I don't think trapped players are an issue. Especially on higher level competitive teams.

If you want to play SY rec with friends from school fine.

You must be REALLY afraid of some fall birthday soccer kids in your kid’s grade to be this opposed.

Nope, my kid is a trapped player.

I don't think we should change from BY to SY because it just opens a different can of worms and like I said before I dont believe trapped players are an issue at the highest competitive levels.

And above all it's just a huge waste of time and resources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

Redshirted and home school kids aren’t trapped if they’re in the wrong grade by choice. Fall birthday kids are trapped by being in their correct grade for school but a different grade for soccer. Get it now?

Here's an example of a school who's grade cutoff is July 1
https://www.tildenschool.org/why-did-we-set-the-cutoff-date-to-july-1/

This school would create 1 month of trapped players if ECNL switched to SY with an Aug 1st cut off date.

There's all kinds of schools like this one.

How does ECNL plan to address July birthdays from this school? I can tell you how. Welcome to the wonderful world of waivers. Which parents will (unofficially) pay over 10k each to make happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my DD is born in June 2010 plays u15 but is a 8th grader not a 9th grader (started school late in K) yet. with this new rule can she try out to u15 again next year which means changing teams?

June B days will not be affected. And she will need to remain with the 9th graders.

doesn't that eventually create a problem for kids like that? redshirted kids I guess? her team will graduate a year younger from HS (and maybe go play college) before the June 2010 kid graduates from HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my DD is born in June 2010 plays u15 but is a 8th grader not a 9th grader (started school late in K) yet. with this new rule can she try out to u15 again next year which means changing teams?

June B days will not be affected. And she will need to remain with the 9th graders.

doesn't that eventually create a problem for kids like that? redshirted kids I guess? her team will graduate a year younger from HS (and maybe go play college) before the June 2010 kid graduates from HS.

Stop pointing out where SY logic doesn't work. You're making things hard for the SY agenda people.

And yes in that situation the player would be a freshman in high school and able to play on the freshman high school soccer team. But they'd be forced to play on the "sofhmore" ECNL team.

I'd assume ECNL would let them play down their Senior year.

[Anonymous]

US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, AYSO statement on forthcoming U.S. Soccer decision regarding age group formation by school year vs. calendar year
US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer and AYSO members and participants,



In 2017, U.S. Soccer decided to change age group formation by school year (Aug. 1-July 31) vs. calendar year (Jan. 1-Dec. 31). Since the change was made, we have been reviewing the impact on our sport, specifically for players of all ages and competitive levels.



Over the past few months, U.S. Soccer, at the request of its Technical Development Committee, has engaged in a review of that decision. We support these efforts and appreciate their approach to engage Organizational Members, leagues and clubs in collecting feedback. Additionally, US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and AYSO have solicited and shared additional feedback with one another in an effort to make the most informed and appropriate decision for our sport.



US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and AYSO have been in constant communication on the topic, recognizing the importance of consistency across the three biggest youth soccer organizations in America. US Youth Soccer’s and US Club Soccer’s leadership teams have met in person multiple times, most recently in September at the US Youth Soccer Grassroots Symposium in Salt Lake City. Additionally, we welcome the involvement of other U.S. Soccer Organizational Members.



We believe that any decisions should be made as a collective with as many youth organizations as possible, and it is our intention to do so.



As chair and vice chair of the U.S. Soccer Technical Development Committee and Youth Representatives on the Board of Directors, Mike Cullina (US Club Soccer CEO) and Louis Mateus (US Youth Soccer Board of Directors member) are directly involved in the conversation and recommendation to U.S. Soccer’s Board of Directors. As chair of the Youth Council and Youth Representative on the Board of Directors, Tina Rincon (US Youth Soccer Board of Directors chair) is also actively engaged.



The next U.S. Soccer Board of Directors meeting is Nov. 22, 2024. We expect this topic to be on the agenda for that meeting and, consequently, a formal and public decision by the end of the calendar year.



As always, thank you for your passion for the sport and commitment to our athletes.

Skip Gilbert

US Youth Soccer

Mike Cullina

US Club Soccer

Doug Ryan

AYSO National President

[Anonymous]

Smart to put out a statement and great that they gave a timeline.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School year increases participation at the youngest ages, which increases the quantity and quality of players later. School year also eliminates trapped players in the MS/HS and HS/college transitions. It was a shortsighted switch to BY and it should be corrected. It will be a headache to correct, but it will be good for players (trapped players) and good for the system in the long run.

No it is not an issue. It is not worth the effort for few the “trapped” players. Go play rec.

Why are there so few trapped players? Oh, because they all drop out and stop playing.....

And there will still be trapped players with SY.

Since you are so knowledgeable please list all the school districts that begin the school year before 8/1.

My son is an August birthday in a state where the enrollment cutoff is September 1st. He'll go from playing with his grade level to playing with the class behind him who he has no connection to.

Same here. Its so odd to me that this seems like the better solution. It just leaves a different set of kids trapped.

Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Except the school districts that start Sept 1 or any date after Aug 1. Oh and home school. and private school kids.

But don't let detailed get in the way.

There may still be some trapped players but it will be reduced by a lot. Going from 4 months worth of trapped players to 1 month or less is a significant improvement. No solution is perfect but can we at least agree that having less trapped players is a good thing?

According to https://nces.ed.gov/programs/statereform/tab5_3.asp the only trapped players under a return to 8/1 cutoff would be redshirted kids. There will be some kids who are misaligned on the non-trapped side of the cutoff, requiring them to play up to stay with class, but even that group will be far less than the current trapped kids. If this changes, I'd expect leagues to recommend to clubs that they play kids up whenever possible to stay with class. The tough decision will be for clubs/parents when a kid can only make the B team with class but can make the A team below class.
Nobody is trapped if they can play with their grade. Right now Fall birthday kids are not allowed to play with their correct grade so they’re trapped. With the change nobody will be trapped.

Saying nobody will be trapped doesn't sound accurate to me. Our club has already indicated that they will stick to the dates and not grades. My kid is Sept baby and will then be moved back based on dates. So playing with a team of mostly kids the grade below him. That sounds a bit trapped to me...please correct me cause i'm not an expert.