ECNL moving to school year part 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Then why do all the top European academies have biobanding which produces world class players like Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice, Harry Kane etc if it doesn't work and is a bad thing?

"top European academies" is NOT our p2p MLS club, where there's a 0% chance to play pro. Biobanding should be awarded only to talented players in a True Academy team who are short for their age, not to mediocre players who cannot play in their age group in a P2P club.

I agree + I also believe clubs abuse biobanding all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Don't worry, with age-based groups, there's no chance for GY -- unless you start forcing kids to play by grade.

Having an 8/1-7/31 eligibility window is good because it completely bars older players from playing down. However it allows Aug and younger birthdays to play on a grade down team. This causes all kinds of unnecessary issues for clubs and leagues. It also keeps the door open for playjng down just enough for GY proponents to keep pushing. If you add a rule that Aug and younger players must play with their grade teams its much easier for clubs to maintain groupings and it puts the final nails in coffin for GY.

No, once you start to force kids to play by grade (GY-lite), you just cause unnecessary issues for a different set of kids, issues that also remain headaches for clubs and leagues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Then why do all the top European academies have biobanding which produces world class players like Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice, Harry Kane etc if it doesn't work and is a bad thing?

"top European academies" is NOT our p2p MLS club, where there's a 0% chance to play pro. Biobanding should be awarded only to talented players in a True Academy team who are short for their age, not to mediocre players who cannot play in their age group in a P2P club.

Biobanding isn't for short kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Then why do all the top European academies have biobanding which produces world class players like Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice, Harry Kane etc if it doesn't work and is a bad thing?

"top European academies" is NOT our p2p MLS club, where there's a 0% chance to play pro. Biobanding should be awarded only to talented players in a True Academy team who are short for their age, not to mediocre players who cannot play in their age group in a P2P club.

This is a fair statement. If an academy wants to use one of their fully funded spots to bioband a kid down then they should be able to. MLS p2p clubs have too many issues using biobanding to win rather than how it was intended.

[Anonymous]

For real…. There is a reason sounders ask for X rays of some kids to figure out exactly how tall they are going to be. No one wants a short kid who’s done growing at 13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Don't worry, with age-based groups, there's no chance for GY -- unless you start forcing kids to play by grade.

Having an 8/1-7/31 eligibility window is good because it completely bars older players from playing down. However it allows Aug and younger birthdays to play on a grade down team. This causes all kinds of unnecessary issues for clubs and leagues. It also keeps the door open for playjng down just enough for GY proponents to keep pushing. If you add a rule that Aug and younger players must play with their grade teams its much easier for clubs to maintain groupings and it puts the final nails in coffin for GY.

No, once you start to force kids to play by grade (GY-lite), you just cause unnecessary issues for a different set of kids, issues that also remain headaches for clubs and leagues.

It makes no difference. These players will need to play with their grade at some point if they want to be recruited to play in college. If they dont want to be recruited dont play on the A team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Don't worry, with age-based groups, there's no chance for GY -- unless you start forcing kids to play by grade.

Having an 8/1-7/31 eligibility window is good because it completely bars older players from playing down. However it allows Aug and younger birthdays to play on a grade down team. This causes all kinds of unnecessary issues for clubs and leagues. It also keeps the door open for playjng down just enough for GY proponents to keep pushing. If you add a rule that Aug and younger players must play with their grade teams its much easier for clubs to maintain groupings and it puts the final nails in coffin for GY.

No, once you start to force kids to play by grade (GY-lite), you just cause unnecessary issues for a different set of kids, issues that also remain headaches for clubs and leagues.

It makes no difference. These players will need to play with their grade at some point if they want to be recruited to play in college. If they dont want to be recruited dont play on the A team.

Being the youngest on the team vs. being the oldest on the team is a big difference. Easier just to leave it all up to families and clubs based on the kid's ability and circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

Oh, you mean MLS will be doing GY-lite -- that's what you're saying if you force anyone to play by grade.

Keep trying GY Guy.

Its SY 8/1-7/31 with a rule that younger players must play with their grade. Nobody is allowed to play down against players often 36 mobths younger. (This is what you want GY guy with GY Showcases)

You were called out for not being able to find anyone else pushing for GY. Try again next year but time to give up for fall 2026.

A rule saying that with SY 8/1-7/31 younger players must play with their grade can be added at any time.

Thats the thing. If a rule saying with SY younger players must play with their grade was implemented all arguements for GY get thrown out the window.

GY Guy knows this which is why hes fighting so hard against it.

I'd be more worried about private equity bringing even more ensh*tification than we already have.

Yeah, they were real worried about private equity. From a consumers prospective, I can see private equity solving a bunch of problems like too much stupid travel but definitely see why ECNL would feel threatened and worried about protecting events.

They didn’t seem worried to me? Almost like this is happening and no point in fighting it. Sounds like all the large governing bodies will sell out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Don't worry, with age-based groups, there's no chance for GY -- unless you start forcing kids to play by grade.

Having an 8/1-7/31 eligibility window is good because it completely bars older players from playing down. However it allows Aug and younger birthdays to play on a grade down team. This causes all kinds of unnecessary issues for clubs and leagues. It also keeps the door open for playjng down just enough for GY proponents to keep pushing. If you add a rule that Aug and younger players must play with their grade teams its much easier for clubs to maintain groupings and it puts the final nails in coffin for GY.

No, once you start to force kids to play by grade (GY-lite), you just cause unnecessary issues for a different set of kids, issues that also remain headaches for clubs and leagues.

It makes no difference. These players will need to play with their grade at some point if they want to be recruited to play in college. If they dont want to be recruited dont play on the A team.

No thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Don't worry, with age-based groups, there's no chance for GY -- unless you start forcing kids to play by grade.

Having an 8/1-7/31 eligibility window is good because it completely bars older players from playing down. However it allows Aug and younger birthdays to play on a grade down team. This causes all kinds of unnecessary issues for clubs and leagues. It also keeps the door open for playjng down just enough for GY proponents to keep pushing. If you add a rule that Aug and younger players must play with their grade teams its much easier for clubs to maintain groupings and it puts the final nails in coffin for GY.

No, once you start to force kids to play by grade (GY-lite), you just cause unnecessary issues for a different set of kids, issues that also remain headaches for clubs and leagues.

It makes no difference. These players will need to play with their grade at some point if they want to be recruited to play in college. If they dont want to be recruited dont play on the A team.

Being the youngest on the team vs. being the oldest on the team is a big difference. Easier just to leave it all up to families and clubs based on the kid's ability and circumstances.

That's what the leagues and clubs said.

[Anonymous]

There's probably a grain of truth to both to these arguments. There won't probably be a formal rule to grant flexibility but many clubs will highly encourage it, where it happens (playing with grade) more often than not, especially in states where it's more likely to happen.

[Anonymous]

PE should not be in the youth sports business. Period.

The good news is that there really doesnt seem to be that much money in youth soccer so not sure why they would be interested.

There are a couple of large clubs owned by PE and all you have to do is look at their results. They trade kid best interest for profit and it shows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

It will contradict what their biobanding players are doing now, playing down in the younger team that is 1/2 grade lower.

I agree + I dont really like biobanding either. The difference is if you're in an Academy setting biobanding down is a bad thing. This is because all acadamies want is players that can compete at a professional level at as young of an age as possible. With college recruiting all players are looking to do is stand out from other players their grade in school. This is why parents hold their kid back 1-2 years in school. They can be 36 months older than everyone else their grade. Since parents pay for Club soccer nobody wants older players playing down on their kids team.

Then why do all the top European academies have biobanding which produces world class players like Kevin De Bruyne, Declan Rice, Harry Kane etc if it doesn't work and is a bad thing?

"top European academies" is NOT our p2p MLS club, where there's a 0% chance to play pro. Biobanding should be awarded only to talented players in a True Academy team who are short for their age, not to mediocre players who cannot play in their age group in a P2P club.

Biobanding isn't for short kids.

That is why clubs abuse biobanding all the time. You'll see U18 plays down in U17 and U17 plays down in U16. They only measure your height, and as long as you are of the average height of the younger team, you can play down if you can not get game time in your own age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's probably a grain of truth to both to these arguments. There won't probably be a formal rule to grant flexibility but many clubs will highly encourage it, where it happens (playing with grade) more often than not, especially in states where it's more likely to happen.

Their is a formal rule to grant flexibility, the best players get to play up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MLS changes from BY to SY they'll add a rule that younger players must play with their grade. This will align all teams by grade making things 1000% easier to manage.

Don't worry GY Guy they'll probably keep biobanding which will allow your kid to play down against younger players.

Oh, you mean MLS will be doing GY-lite -- that's what you're saying if you force anyone to play by grade.

Keep trying GY Guy.

Its SY 8/1-7/31 with a rule that younger players must play with their grade. Nobody is allowed to play down against players often 36 mobths younger. (This is what you want GY guy with GY Showcases)

You were called out for not being able to find anyone else pushing for GY. Try again next year but time to give up for fall 2026.

A rule saying that with SY 8/1-7/31 younger players must play with their grade can be added at any time.

Thats the thing. If a rule saying with SY younger players must play with their grade was implemented all arguements for GY get thrown out the window.

GY Guy knows this which is why hes fighting so hard against it.

I'd be more worried about private equity bringing even more ensh*tification than we already have.

Yeah, they were real worried about private equity. From a consumers prospective, I can see private equity solving a bunch of problems like too much stupid travel but definitely see why ECNL would feel threatened and worried about protecting events.

They didn’t seem worried to me? Almost like this is happening and no point in fighting it. Sounds like all the large governing bodies will sell out.

Going to be really great or terrible to have one group in charge of the majority of youth soccer.