ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who’s been a fly on the wall for conversation being had. Nothing is set in stone. But change will happen in some way for 2025/2026 for ECNL. So I’ll say this, make sure your kids are putting in the work and whatever happens your kid is ready for a possible switch up.

ECNL wants to compete with the bio banding allocation for boys mls next and also wants to be a forward thinker on the girls side that is best for kids recruited for college.

Winter is coming… or not..depends on perspective.

Most reasonable people would agree that change is needed. I also think that whose concerned Q1/Q2 parents would be happy since their kids could play with a few older kids, since the center argument was about younger kids getting better by playing with older kids.

I hope they also mandate it to U9-U12 pre-ecnl age brackets because this is where it all begins.

The last sentence is the important one. This only matters if it changes at the youngest age where relative age effect is the greatest. The reason is that the reason it exists is that it provides more opportunities for the more physically advanced kids at their youngest ages, which becomes a self fulfilling cycle of extra or higher level opportunities. The teams at the ECNL ages aren't going to change significantly because of this potential change unless the youngest ages of US Soccer as a whole changes, and there's no indication that it will. Whether this change happens or not, the majority of the kids on ECNL teams will fall in the 1st 2 quarters of whatever the youngest age groups are. There might be 2-3 changes/age group, but overall it's not going to have a material effect at the highest level from a whole is on the team perspective.

[Anonymous]

ECNL does not have the ability to change U9-U12. Unless they decide to establish a pre-ECNL league or showcases for the younger teams.

My opinion is School year makes more sense as kids should play with and compete against kids who they will graduate with, obviously outliers who can play “up” would still be welcome to do so. Having a system that’s 3/4 9th graders and 1/4 8th graders doesn’t make sense. If we are talking about creating a system where kids are competing for college scholarships.

[Anonymous]

ECNL should probably comment on this in some way. Either no things will be as they have been or small/major changes are on the horizon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL does not have the ability to change U9-U12. Unless they decide to establish a pre-ECNL league or showcases for the younger teams.

My opinion is School year makes more sense as kids should play with and compete against kids who they will graduate with, obviously outliers who can play “up” would still be welcome to do so. Having a system that’s 3/4 9th graders and 1/4 8th graders doesn’t make sense. If we are talking about creating a system where kids are competing for college scholarships.

Isn't there a Pre-ECNL league for U11 and U12? wouldn't help the U9/U10's though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL does not have the ability to change U9-U12. Unless they decide to establish a pre-ECNL league or showcases for the younger teams.

My opinion is School year makes more sense as kids should play with and compete against kids who they will graduate with, obviously outliers who can play “up” would still be welcome to do so. Having a system that’s 3/4 9th graders and 1/4 8th graders doesn’t make sense. If we are talking about creating a system where kids are competing for college scholarships.

Isn't there a Pre-ECNL league for U11 and U12? wouldn't help the U9/U10's though.

I dont believe they have unified leagues across all conferences. Only some local showcases.

[Anonymous]

I'd imagine trapped players have have a cause for action simmular to House vs NCAA.

That may be the real cause fo the change thats coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd imagine trapped players have have a cause for action simmular to House vs NCAA.

That may be the real cause fo the change thats coming.

Still a big rumor, if this occurs, they are a long ways off, nothing has been worked or announced an any platform. These rumors are being spread by parents of kids who would be most affected... I get it. But spreading more rumors doesn't help anything.

[Anonymous]

If it’s gonna happen, ECNL needs to announce it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it’s gonna happen, ECNL needs to announce it.

ECNL isn't known for timely announcements.

[Anonymous]

My daughter is born late December 2012. She’s the only 5th grader on her team. The maturity and size difference is very obvious. When she’s in 8th grade she’ll have a shortened fall season because the rest of her team has school ball. Her junior year won’t be as meaningful because the rest of her team will be seniors and mentally checked out of club ball. Then senior year she needs a new team. Every other sport is grad year.

[Anonymous]

Its for 25-26 season so plan accourdingly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL does not have the ability to change U9-U12. Unless they decide to establish a pre-ECNL league or showcases for the younger teams.

My opinion is School year makes more sense as kids should play with and compete against kids who they will graduate with, obviously outliers who can play “up” would still be welcome to do so. Having a system that’s 3/4 9th graders and 1/4 8th graders doesn’t make sense. If we are talking about creating a system where kids are competing for college scholarships.

Why is school important in the soccer discussion?
Is ECNL governed and run by school systems?
Are they replacing school teams?
Do all players on each ECNL team go to the same school?

How did Lamal develop successfully without playing with schoolmates?
How did Cavan Sullivan develop without playing with schoolmates?

[Anonymous]

Do you honestly believe this comment adds any value that hasn't already been discussed at length? This is not about LITERAL classmates. It's about the trapped player issue. But go on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ECNL does not have the ability to change U9-U12. Unless they decide to establish a pre-ECNL league or showcases for the younger teams.

My opinion is School year makes more sense as kids should play with and compete against kids who they will graduate with, obviously outliers who can play “up” would still be welcome to do so. Having a system that’s 3/4 9th graders and 1/4 8th graders doesn’t make sense. If we are talking about creating a system where kids are competing for college scholarships.

Why is school important in the soccer discussion?
Is ECNL governed and run by school systems?
Are they replacing school teams?
Do all players on each ECNL team go to the same school?

How did Lamal develop successfully without playing with schoolmates?
How did Cavan Sullivan develop without playing with schoolmates?

If older kids go to grad year or school year calendar vs birth year, it makes sense to start youngers with the same grouping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ECNL does not have the ability to change U9-U12. Unless they decide to establish a pre-ECNL league or showcases for the younger teams.

My opinion is School year makes more sense as kids should play with and compete against kids who they will graduate with, obviously outliers who can play “up” would still be welcome to do so. Having a system that’s 3/4 9th graders and 1/4 8th graders doesn’t make sense. If we are talking about creating a system where kids are competing for college scholarships.

Kids should play with their age group. There is no need for change.