ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

My daughter plays GA but in my area in California most of the top clubs and teams are ECNL. There are good GA clubs and teams but the top to bottom difference between the leagues is real.

ECNL has the better players and competition overall. So it’s hard for parents to stay on a GA team if there is opportunity on a ECNL team.

It’s hard for GA clubs to recruit with ECNL around and it’s hard for GA to develop because once a parent/kid realize their Ga team isn’t at their kids level they leave which causes more kids to leave.

This long rant leads me to this GA clubs aren’t doing enough to make it worth it for kids and parents to justify staying.

My daughter plays all game never comes out and likes her teammates so it makes sense for us to stay.

My kid plays on the top GA Socal club and we're picking up ECNL players left and right.

In Socal, there is in fact one GA club who can give the run of the mill ECNL teams a decent match. but that's about it.

The true problem with some ECNL clubs is how they chew up and spit out many, many players. They are the best from their reputation/recruitment BUT the new hot player often can become the next bench player when that ECNL simply finds the next best player. With some clubs, there's not a lot of loyalty. Some of those players -- who are still plenty good -- often end up back in GA or elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

You're more ridiculous than the 2 ag up poster. They claim to also to own a GA club, so how the hell does that make them an ECNL hat?

Who in their right mind would own a GA club but have their kid play on an ECNL team? It doesn't make sense + is an ECNL hats fever dream.

OP here.

Because ECNL is better competition on the girls side than GA.

I have no interest in coaching my kid, I’ve made that mistake once before and it ruined my kid’s soccer experience.

DD’s ECNL club is not our local ECNL club, because she was recruited to a better competitive market.

OK ECNL hat, we believe you.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

My daughter plays GA but in my area in California most of the top clubs and teams are ECNL. There are good GA clubs and teams but the top to bottom difference between the leagues is real.

ECNL has the better players and competition overall. So it’s hard for parents to stay on a GA team if there is opportunity on a ECNL team.

It’s hard for GA clubs to recruit with ECNL around and it’s hard for GA to develop because once a parent/kid realize their Ga team isn’t at their kids level they leave which causes more kids to leave.

This long rant leads me to this GA clubs aren’t doing enough to make it worth it for kids and parents to justify staying.

My daughter plays all game never comes out and likes her teammates so it makes sense for us to stay.

My kid plays on the top GA Socal club and we're picking up ECNL players left and right.

City SC? That’s the only strong SoCal Ga club that im aware of…But in Nor Cal where I’m from there’s 5 ECNL clubs within an hours drive. The GA clubs do not do a great enough job developing and hiring great coaches that make it where players/parents think it’s worth staying GA.

Players would rather play RL and hope they get NL opportunities then play GA.

Theres actually 3 GA really good GA clubs in Socal. CitySC, FRAM, and Socal Reds. City developes its own players and pulls from ECNL clubs. FRAM pulls from Beach, and Reds pull from and Blues and Patedores. Things are changing quickly. It will be interesting to see what Rangers bring to the table.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

You're more ridiculous than the 2 ag up poster. They claim to also to own a GA club, so how the hell does that make them an ECNL hat?

Who in their right mind would own a GA club but have their kid play on an ECNL team? It doesn't make sense + is an ECNL hats fever dream.

OP here.

Because ECNL is better competition on the girls side than GA.

I have no interest in coaching my kid, I’ve made that mistake once before and it ruined my kid’s soccer experience.

DD’s ECNL club is not our local ECNL club, because she was recruited to a better competitive market.

1) you own the club. You don’t have to coach her. Hire someone that could.

2) I have an idea about a new marketing campaign. “Join us even though we don’t have good enough coaching or players for my own kid”

So you send your kid “away” to play even though you own a club and there is at least one other local market ECNL club.

Good luck to her. My gut tells me she is going to need it.

You’ve got it all figured out. Thanks for your expert opinion.

There are some clubs with excellent coaches that can’t get into GA / ECNL / MLSN. Coach quality is fantastic. But talented players like to be around other talented players. Top coaches are always hampered by their player pool, even in the professional ranks.

Different markets also have different player pools. Some ECNL teams can only field a handful of quality players per roster. Same
With all leagues. In other markets, they can fill 2 rosters full of quality players.

You’re the type of parent that ruins your kids soccer journey because, like bad coaches, you think you know it all.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The tool on soccer website is up. Can’t imagine the cluster if clubs (and their parents/kids) are subjected to two registration systems. Kids can be u12 or u13 depending on A vs B vs C team…WTF!

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator

We should have all stayed BY just cause it’s easier to understand, but if the U system identification is going to mean 2 different things depending on which league the team plays for within the same club or between clubs for that matter, then about it.

Parent of a fall boy and yes, staying BY would have been preferable to two different registration systems. We potentially will drop down an age group to a SY team to then skip u12 to go up to a BY team.

Most places this "choice" isn't going to be up to you. There's no dropping up or down. There is just the new normal.

I’m not following you. The age group is the age group. Mlsnext club and u8-u12 will be SY and u13 and older will be BY. If he’s placed appropriately for his age, he will repeat an age group at the ulittle ages and then skip an age group to go to an mlsnext team.

Some parents feel that their kid is super special will stay with the current team and play up. While some kids will play up for various reasons, there's absolutely no reason to assume you are guaranteed to stay on your current team just because you've been there with a fall birthday.

Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. Repeating an age group and then skipping an age group is what would happen because we aren’t guaranteed to stay with the current team. Would rather have everything stay BY than deal with this.

well in my kid's personal case - she's an oct 2013 starting on a pre-ecnl North Atlantic team (yes real pre-ecnl not just a stupid label). She made the ECNL team for this fall and will repeat it likely next fall. It's not "perfect", but I'm guessing the expectation will be to stay on age. It hasn't actually been mentioned specifically yet, but it's easy to see how things will go. She could have 100% stayed on the current team, but she'll now be the oldest and essentially repeat a year. I'll take this over being trapped and misaligned during recruiting years.

This explains why you are not understanding what the pp is saying. Unless mlsnext changes to SY, the experience of a girl with a fall birthday at an ecnl club will be different from a boy with a fall birthday at or entering an mlsnext club.

Now let’s move on. With all the futsal national finals this week, anyone hearing if futsal will switch to SY this year?

Confirmed they are

Can you provide more information about futsal switching to SY for 25/26? Tryouts are next month but I’ve yet to see any formal announcement.

I’m sure Trish informed them of MLSN plans too. 🤣

MLSN is staying BY, I heard that from a USYS league rep in my area.

Why would a USYS league rep have insider MLSN info? I think MLSN will stay BY as well but my random guess isnt any different that a USYS person's random guess.

They were involved with committees when USSF was deciding on what to do. Said big reason ussf didn’t mandate age change was because MLSN was strongly against the change.

Just what I was told not sure why they would lie about that.

However, with the entire pipeline going SY, they will likely acquiesce.

You dont understand how pro soccer (which MLSN is more aligned) works. SY doesnt make sense in the professional world.

As long as MLSN controls the professional pathway if they choose to stay BY that's just how it will be. If anything top players will acquiesce into MLSN + BY defined leagues.

Why don’t you educate us all then why BY is better in the professional world?

Because grade in school has no bearing on playing professionally.

Next stupid question please

It’s not grade in school though. It’s not GY. 1/1, 8/1, 9/1… all just date cutoffs. England plays with a 9/1 cutoff. Other countries play with a 1/1 cutoff. England seems to do fine developing pro players as do countries with a 1/1 system. Is there a US specific reason that a 8/1 cutoff will hinder pro development and a 1/1 cutoff is necessary?

There are reasons that the US isn’t developing pros at the same rate as other countries. I just don’t buy that the cutoff date matters.

The reasons we don’t develop good enough players are simple:

1. Pay to Play - eliminates millions of potential players
2. Vastly inferior coaching - the players are target to play poorly
3. Kids don’t play enough unstructured soccer - not enough creative players

I know for a fact that the European academies that come to the U.S. to scout players look for different types of attributes from youth players. They look for technical players with tactical intelligence. The same players these academies value are not valued by the U.S. system because the U.S. system effectively focuses on athleticism even in the early ages.

So, our national team has a bunch of fast and strong players with technical and tactical skills that would never ever be good enough for a top soccer country.

The technical and tactical youth players in the US are undervalued.

I’m European, from Spain, living in the USA for 10 years, and confirm this message 100%.

2 and 3 points are the most important.

Here's somehting interesting. On my kids team (too 20 nationwide) theres 2 former futsal players. The top scorer and a creative mid. Our coach hates everything about it. He loves the goals and how the futsal mid sets up plays but other than that he could care less.

Its hard to watch sometimes because the footskills bail out our coach out more often than not. But that's just how things are at the highest level.

Ironically the coach is a former pro area and Bundesliga player. He obviously understands the value of futsal but only cares about field (when coaching).

You must be in u-littles. Futsal absolutely does not translate to a 11aside full size pitch. It’s great in 5aside, so-so in 7aside. Etc. American soccer parents are in love with futsal for all of the wrong reasons.

Futsal doesn’t translate to “American” 11aside full size pitch. It does elsewhere.

No…it doesn’t. You’re drinking the USYF / United Futsal koolaide.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

You're more ridiculous than the 2 ag up poster. They claim to also to own a GA club, so how the hell does that make them an ECNL hat?

Who in their right mind would own a GA club but have their kid play on an ECNL team? It doesn't make sense + is an ECNL hats fever dream.

OP here.

Because ECNL is better competition on the girls side than GA.

I have no interest in coaching my kid, I’ve made that mistake once before and it ruined my kid’s soccer experience.

DD’s ECNL club is not our local ECNL club, because she was recruited to a better competitive market.

1) you own the club. You don’t have to coach her. Hire someone that could.

2) I have an idea about a new marketing campaign. “Join us even though we don’t have good enough coaching or players for my own kid”

So you send your kid “away” to play even though you own a club and there is at least one other local market ECNL club.

Good luck to her. My gut tells me she is going to need it.

You’ve got it all figured out. Thanks for your expert opinion.

There are some clubs with excellent coaches that can’t get into GA / ECNL / MLSN. Coach quality is fantastic. But talented players like to be around other talented players. Top coaches are always hampered by their player pool, even in the professional ranks.

Different markets also have different player pools. Some ECNL teams can only field a handful of quality players per roster. Same
With all leagues. In other markets, they can fill 2 rosters full of quality players.

You’re the type of parent that ruins your kids soccer journey because, like bad coaches, you think you know it all.

You’re welcome.

I also offer classes in reading comprehension if you are interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

My daughter plays GA but in my area in California most of the top clubs and teams are ECNL. There are good GA clubs and teams but the top to bottom difference between the leagues is real.

ECNL has the better players and competition overall. So it’s hard for parents to stay on a GA team if there is opportunity on a ECNL team.

It’s hard for GA clubs to recruit with ECNL around and it’s hard for GA to develop because once a parent/kid realize their Ga team isn’t at their kids level they leave which causes more kids to leave.

This long rant leads me to this GA clubs aren’t doing enough to make it worth it for kids and parents to justify staying.

My daughter plays all game never comes out and likes her teammates so it makes sense for us to stay.

My kid plays on the top GA Socal club and we're picking up ECNL players left and right.

City SC? That’s the only strong SoCal Ga club that im aware of…But in Nor Cal where I’m from there’s 5 ECNL clubs within an hours drive. The GA clubs do not do a great enough job developing and hiring great coaches that make it where players/parents think it’s worth staying GA.

Players would rather play RL and hope they get NL opportunities then play GA.

Theres actually 3 GA really good GA clubs in Socal. CitySC, FRAM, and Socal Reds. City developes its own players and pulls from ECNL clubs. FRAM pulls from Beach, and Reds pull from and Blues and Patedores. Things are changing quickly. It will be interesting to see what Rangers bring to the table.

When you say pulling from do you mean getting the players they are tossing to the bench? Not to say they aren’t good players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

My daughter plays GA but in my area in California most of the top clubs and teams are ECNL. There are good GA clubs and teams but the top to bottom difference between the leagues is real.

ECNL has the better players and competition overall. So it’s hard for parents to stay on a GA team if there is opportunity on a ECNL team.

It’s hard for GA clubs to recruit with ECNL around and it’s hard for GA to develop because once a parent/kid realize their Ga team isn’t at their kids level they leave which causes more kids to leave.

This long rant leads me to this GA clubs aren’t doing enough to make it worth it for kids and parents to justify staying.

My daughter plays all game never comes out and likes her teammates so it makes sense for us to stay.

My kid plays on the top GA Socal club and we're picking up ECNL players left and right.

City SC? That’s the only strong SoCal Ga club that im aware of…But in Nor Cal where I’m from there’s 5 ECNL clubs within an hours drive. The GA clubs do not do a great enough job developing and hiring great coaches that make it where players/parents think it’s worth staying GA.

Players would rather play RL and hope they get NL opportunities then play GA.

Theres actually 3 GA really good GA clubs in Socal. CitySC, FRAM, and Socal Reds. City developes its own players and pulls from ECNL clubs. FRAM pulls from Beach, and Reds pull from and Blues and Patedores. Things are changing quickly. It will be interesting to see what Rangers bring to the table.

Definition of really good? I wouldn’t even call all ECNL teams really good. City SC is the only club im aware of that can go up against most ECNL teams and compete.

Reds and Fram have some decent teams but still not at the competitive level to compete in ECNL and place top 5 in league.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

From a developmental perspective, it absolutely is playing down post switch.

If your developmental peers keep moving up and you get held back, you’re now playing with a group that is not on par with your development. Hence playing down.

I think the parents posting about how glorious it will be to see their little Leo or little Aitana destroying the new age groupings due to their superiority are in for a really rough year. 99 times out of 100 what will happen is this:

Start of Season: Leo and Aitana are clearly the best on the field.

Middle of the Season: Leo and Aitana are not playing their best. Seems to be because other kid’s can’t execute at the same level and just don’t get Leo and Aitana the ball anymore. Plus the opponents seem to have gotten a bit better / bigger / stronger / faster.

End of Season: Leo and Aitana have some near competitors on team. Maybe not as technical, but gaining fast. Team overall raised their level more than Leo and Aitana.

Older cohort team…they kept marching on and growing. Leo and Aitana could still join them, but are probably behind that cohort in development now.

You present a boomer type view point. The science says the opposite happens. Those dominating are empowered and motivated to continue dominating.

I love that you call the PP a boomer type of view then post a 100% 1950s point of view.

The science, believe it or not, says that every kid is different. And their motivation is unique to themselves and their family environment. There are some kids the flourish with a challenge, and others that a challenge would break. But! The science is 100% clear that kids in low skilled competition that dominate in them, will not have the same success in high skilled competition.

Put an amateur boxer in with a professional fighter and see what happens. Put a minor league pitcher in against major league batters and see what happens. There are reasons why call-up see limited opportunities at first and are often sent back down to work on specifics with less pressure.

Please please please keep brining your DPL / NPL kid to ECNL / MLSN / GA tryouts, just for the love of god don’t keep telling them they’ve got a good chance because they’re the best on their team.

Sure, science says every kid is a unique snowflake. Great insight.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

What does that have to do with BY people complaining that SY Aug-Dec kids are playing down?

My point is the hypocrisy of parents whose kid is let’s say a Jan 2011 complaining that kids and families Aug to Dec should feel like they are playing down when those peoples kids have only been playing against younger competition this whole time.

To me that argument is a joke, their will be new age groups and playing “down” isn’t allowed.

What you are missing is that the new age groups are a change developmentally for those who have played multiple seasons at BY. That's why it's fair to say they'd be playing down. For example, a current Aug-Dec 2013 player likely will play 11v11 for the first time THIS year. If they move to a 2013-14 with the switch, they'll be joining a team with players who played mostly 9v9 and preGA or preECNL. So, tell me how that's NOT playing down developmentally? It totally is and why many Aug-Dec players and parents don't want to switch if possible.

It's playing on age. This was an easy math problem but explains why youth soccer had to create calculators for some to figure out what age group their kid belongs.

[Anonymous]

My child was born in late November and would totally welcome the change to school year.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

My daughter plays GA but in my area in California most of the top clubs and teams are ECNL. There are good GA clubs and teams but the top to bottom difference between the leagues is real.

ECNL has the better players and competition overall. So it’s hard for parents to stay on a GA team if there is opportunity on a ECNL team.

It’s hard for GA clubs to recruit with ECNL around and it’s hard for GA to develop because once a parent/kid realize their Ga team isn’t at their kids level they leave which causes more kids to leave.

This long rant leads me to this GA clubs aren’t doing enough to make it worth it for kids and parents to justify staying.

My daughter plays all game never comes out and likes her teammates so it makes sense for us to stay.

My kid plays on the top GA Socal club and we're picking up ECNL players left and right.

City SC? That’s the only strong SoCal Ga club that im aware of…But in Nor Cal where I’m from there’s 5 ECNL clubs within an hours drive. The GA clubs do not do a great enough job developing and hiring great coaches that make it where players/parents think it’s worth staying GA.

Players would rather play RL and hope they get NL opportunities then play GA.

Theres actually 3 GA really good GA clubs in Socal. CitySC, FRAM, and Socal Reds. City developes its own players and pulls from ECNL clubs. FRAM pulls from Beach, and Reds pull from and Blues and Patedores. Things are changing quickly. It will be interesting to see what Rangers bring to the table.

Definition of really good? I wouldn’t even call all ECNL teams really good. City SC is the only club im aware of that can go up against most ECNL teams and compete.

Reds and Fram have some decent teams but still not at the competitive level to compete in ECNL and place top 5 in league.

FRAM is out of Long Beach where theres a deep pool of potential talent. Also they're hooked up somehow with LA Gaxlaxy (the MLS club) and play on their fields + there's some coaching overlap.

Socal Reds used to be called Liverpoole FC. Their club owners have been around for probably 30 years. They practice at Great Park which is where Pats, Blues, etc practice. Theres a lot of overlap between GA and ECN in Orange County.

CitySC is their own thing + they develop their own players and pull from all the clubs around them. Which is saying a lot when San Diego Surf is 30 minutes down the street.

Does any of this matter? Not really. Its just a snapshot of what's going on in Socal.

[Anonymous]

All of youth soccer is going August 1st next year. And it will be totally fine.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the leagues or whatever started to announce plans. Perhaps they are waiting for ECNL playoffs to finish so news end of this month? I think we all just want to know definitively at this point. That would be crazy if a league adopts 8/1 and 9/1 and decides based on state. People are dumb, look at half of the people confused on this thread, so i dont hate on the calculator. But it is just getting annoying that little information has been announced. Rip the bandaid off so we can all move forward.

All US Club Soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use the (old) 8/1 to 7/31 registration system for the 26/27 year. This isn't confusing.

Currently all US Club soccer leagues (including ECNL) are mandated to use a birth year 1/1 to 12/31 registration system. Yet ECNL has their own league rule that allows trapped eight grade players to play down with the next age group in the spring. Hmm - wonder if they could do something in 26/27 outside the US Club mandate?

Sure, and ECNL could do something outside of the US Club BY mandate in 25/26. You just never know - until the league rules are published.

The current year is still happening right? Shockingly, they'll probably post updates after this season concludes.

Just a lame duck exhibition year. Good year for Aug-Dec kids to skip the season and grab a team next spring. Then they won't have to repeat an age group. And they can try another sport next year. Was a complete bungle to frag this out another year.

I have a Q4 kid and I wish it was simply done this year. My kid knows there's a change next year and don't know where he'll end up playing next year. I'm expecting mass movement. So, should have just made a decision and made the change right away. All the kids on teams for the upcoming year know next year, the make up of their teams will be different. So this does feel like a wasted year we're all paying for this sport.

There's always a fair amount of turnover on teams. Yes, there'll be more this upcoming season, but you're really overblowing it. The only ones who deserve SOME consideration are the 8th-grade trapped players this season. Too many others thinking can't wait because they think this will give their kid an edge. You want an edge? Have them work their butt off. The shift will provide opportunities, but if you're kid isn't focusing and working hard, they won't be able to take advantage.

My kid is a Sept birthday on a top national team. She's working hard and getting even better at a higher level. If she chooses to play down for SY its going to be scary. I have a feeling that theres going to be a lot of players like this.

Again for the 100x time - It's not "playing down" and if she's at a "top" club, they're probably going to want to align the age groups from the start so there's not much of a choice.

No its playing down. You just want to feel better about your kid playing down against younger players.

Go cry 😢

As of fall 26, it's not playing down. It's on age - move on!

Don’t try and reason with the BY people they are so upset their kid has to play and compete with older kids now and it bothers them.

That’s why they can’t grasp there’s no rule on the girls side that allows for playing down theirs only playing your age group or playing up.

MLSN is the only league that allows boys to play down beyond the year calendar.

I replied to that person and provided the development Leo / Aitana analogy.

I have a DD in ECNL, high level team, plays up a couple of years. I am a club owner for a girls GA clubs. And I’m pro-SY even tho my DD is Q2, because of the trap issue that affects some folks (which is typically a club and parent problem, not a YS problem, but relief comes from the change). Not everyone that has a non “SY is sacred and 4th team Q4 kids now rule the roost” perspective is BY.

YS development is complex. And people that are so obtuse binary, like you seem to be, are a big part of the problem.

Plays up "a couple years?" as in she's playing up several age groups or has been asked to play up a couple different years. Vastly different scenarios and it honestly sounds like you are full of crap. Feel free to provide more details, but I'm sure you won't.

Point still stands - most ECNL girls will be playing under the new age guidelines starting fall 2026. Not playing "up" or "down". It's just the new baseline.

She plays up 2 age groups, on roster, not guesting. She starts. Is probably the best technically and IQ on her team. Often played against girls 3-4 years older in a variety of other environments.

(2 is “a couple” for most readers) Sorry I didn’t define “on roster” in our measuring context.

This is impressive. I know several USYNT and USWNT members and none of them played up two years in ECNL. Only one actually played up a single year.

I am curious how “top” the team is. If Gretna more believable than surf.

Interesting you own a GA club and your DD doesn’t even play for your club.

I noticed the "I own a GA club but my daughter plays for a different club" comment as well.

I hope people are seeing the lengths ECNL hats will go to try and create fomo. The reason they do this is because ECNL clubs want to recruit players that other clubs have developed. They dont want to develop their own talent. GA is throwing a huge monkey wrench in the gears.

My daughter plays GA but in my area in California most of the top clubs and teams are ECNL. There are good GA clubs and teams but the top to bottom difference between the leagues is real.

ECNL has the better players and competition overall. So it’s hard for parents to stay on a GA team if there is opportunity on a ECNL team.

It’s hard for GA clubs to recruit with ECNL around and it’s hard for GA to develop because once a parent/kid realize their Ga team isn’t at their kids level they leave which causes more kids to leave.

This long rant leads me to this GA clubs aren’t doing enough to make it worth it for kids and parents to justify staying.

My daughter plays all game never comes out and likes her teammates so it makes sense for us to stay.

My kid plays on the top GA Socal club and we're picking up ECNL players left and right.

In Socal, there is in fact one GA club who can give the run of the mill ECNL teams a decent match. but that's about it.

The true problem with some ECNL clubs is how they chew up and spit out many, many players. They are the best from their reputation/recruitment BUT the new hot player often can become the next bench player when that ECNL simply finds the next best player. With some clubs, there's not a lot of loyalty. Some of those players -- who are still plenty good -- often end up back in GA or elsewhere.

Its not just that. Many ECNL clubs are being forced by GA to develope their own talent. This means younger teams and several levels of teams. This is a win for players because theres more teams to play for and opportunities to move up.

It is entertaining watching the ECNL parents that haven't got the memo yet make statements that just arent true.

[Anonymous]

It’s the club, coaches and geographic cohort of kids. the league is alphabet S-O-U-P.