ECNL moving to school year not calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

The real question is what is the SY date range.

For ECNL, I could see it being either 8/1 or 9/1 depending on each state a team plays in and their school cutoff. This would mean its not all uniform, but the 30 day difference isn't going to be a big impact - especially in older age groups. This would also align with stated goal of this change for ECNL is to have players at showcases playing by graduation year because that is what the college coaches coming to these events want.

I imagine it would go 8/1. Most August kids are a grade below..can always play up, but can’t play down. 8/1 would eliminate almost all trap players.

I think that's an assumption that needs data to back it up. All August kids i know are a grade up. You could be correct or you could wrong. Hourly they have access to data and can make educated decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

The real question is what is the SY date range.

For ECNL, I could see it being either 8/1 or 9/1 depending on each state a team plays in and their school cutoff. This would mean its not all uniform, but the 30 day difference isn't going to be a big impact - especially in older age groups. This would also align with stated goal of this change for ECNL is to have players at showcases playing by graduation year because that is what the college coaches coming to these events want.

I imagine it would go 8/1. Most August kids are a grade below..can always play up, but can’t play down. 8/1 would eliminate almost all trap players.

I think that's an assumption that needs data to back it up. All August kids i know are a grade up. You could be correct or you could wrong. Hourly they have access to data and can make educated decisions.

I think most Aug. kids are held back (oldest in the grade) as opposed to starting as the youngest. But that is not based on anything other than my observation with the kids I know. I think whatever the leagues do it will not be state determined, but one date for all teams in that league. So for instance, ECNL will go 8/1 - 7/31 for all member clubs, and so on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

The real question is what is the SY date range.

For ECNL, I could see it being either 8/1 or 9/1 depending on each state a team plays in and their school cutoff. This would mean its not all uniform, but the 30 day difference isn't going to be a big impact - especially in older age groups. This would also align with stated goal of this change for ECNL is to have players at showcases playing by graduation year because that is what the college coaches coming to these events want.

I imagine it would go 8/1. Most August kids are a grade below..can always play up, but can’t play down. 8/1 would eliminate almost all trap players.

I think that's an assumption that needs data to back it up. All August kids i know are a grade up. You could be correct or you could wrong. Hourly they have access to data and can make educated decisions.

I think most Aug. kids are held back (oldest in the grade) as opposed to starting as the youngest. But that is not based on anything other than my observation with the kids I know. I think whatever the leagues do it will not be state determined, but one date for all teams in that league. So for instance, ECNL will go 8/1 - 7/31 for all member clubs, and so on.

People arguing about what month is best for school cut offs is just going to push ECNL into the arms of grad year. So unless you want to deal with some holdbacks you better stop.

[Anonymous]

US Club is going to be sending out addition info soon. Whatever the additional info is what ECNL will comply with for Fall 25.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US Club is going to be sending out addition info soon. Whatever the additional info is what ECNL will comply with for Fall 25.

Define "soon" 😁

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US Club is going to be sending out addition info soon. Whatever the additional info is what ECNL will comply with for Fall 25.

Define "soon" 😁

May of 26'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US Club is going to be sending out addition info soon. Whatever the additional info is what ECNL will comply with for Fall 25.

Good thing ECNL has lots of influence with US Club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US Club is going to be sending out addition info soon. Whatever the additional info is what ECNL will comply with for Fall 25.

No they are not. Do people have trouble understanding basic information. what will soon come out is concepts for use in Fall 2026. No rules or specific guidance will come out any time soon. ECNL will put their plan together for 2026.

I really doubt anyone will make any changes until then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sooooooo. Is it settled? No changes this year, including for ECNL/RL?

Heres my prediction based on nothing. ECNL will not change any registration rules in 25/26 for NL or RL. However they will announce soon that they are going to school year in 26/27 and USYS and AYSO will announce the same. Accordingly, many clubs will start to shift the teams around for the pre-ecnl U-littles to be ready for that change. They also and they may start to play tournaments in a year as SY teams in 25/26 with all age groups in school year groups in order to get those groups ready for the transition. I wouldn't be surprised if even some U14 U15 teams in 25/26 also just go SY and play up in order to be more competitive in 26/27, especially if they don't really have a chance at a national playoff spot.

The real question is what is the SY date range.

For ECNL, I could see it being either 8/1 or 9/1 depending on each state a team plays in and their school cutoff. This would mean its not all uniform, but the 30 day difference isn't going to be a big impact - especially in older age groups. This would also align with stated goal of this change for ECNL is to have players at showcases playing by graduation year because that is what the college coaches coming to these events want.

I imagine it would go 8/1. Most August kids are a grade below..can always play up, but can’t play down. 8/1 would eliminate almost all trap players.

I think that's an assumption that needs data to back it up. All August kids i know are a grade up. You could be correct or you could wrong. Hourly they have access to data and can make educated decisions.

I think most Aug. kids are held back (oldest in the grade) as opposed to starting as the youngest. But that is not based on anything other than my observation with the kids I know. I think whatever the leagues do it will not be state determined, but one date for all teams in that league. So for instance, ECNL will go 8/1 - 7/31 for all member clubs, and so on.

People arguing about what month is best for school cut offs is just going to push ECNL into the arms of grad year. So unless you want to deal with some holdbacks you better stop.

I am sure US Soccer Board of Directors is reading this forum during their meetings and basing their decision off this conversation. They had it by SY (8/1-7/31) for a long time without issues...so not sure where all this grad year crap is coming from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US Club is going to be sending out addition info soon. Whatever the additional info is what ECNL will comply with for Fall 25.

Define "soon" 😁

Idk my buddy is an ECNL director and asked for information regarding Fall 25. All ECNL responded was what I posted above.

I have no idea when soon will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:US Club is going to be sending out addition info soon. Whatever the additional info is what ECNL will comply with for Fall 25.

[Anonymous]

I have a hard time believing that we will have trapped players again.

[Anonymous]

I could see a recruiting advantage for ecnl to start cy sooner (2025) than other leagues. If you have a q3 q4 child on a team with mostly q1 and q2's the next 18 months will be unpleasant. Future team uncertainty, playing time ect...ecnl should use this opportunity to get ahead of other leagues and give q3 q4 parents at least an option. The change is inevitable, why wait..
Our club director and board members feel 8 months is more than enough time to make the adjustments for the club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could see a recruiting advantage for ecnl to start cy sooner (2025) than other leagues. If you have a q3 q4 child on a team with mostly q1 and q2's the next 18 months will be unpleasant. Future team uncertainty, playing time ect...ecnl should use this opportunity to get ahead of other leagues and give q3 q4 parents at least an option. The change is inevitable, why wait..
Our club director and board members feel 8 months is more than enough time to make the adjustments for the club.

As of now the 2025-2026 mandate is still in place. I don’t believe US club will go against a mandate from US Soccer.

However that does not stop them from using some type of biobanding style age groups that MLSN is using.

My guess is US club will recommend teams start early but play up so teams are not technically out of compliance.

[Anonymous]

If everyone plays “up” for Fall 25 US Club/ECNL
U12 2014/2013 U13
U13 2013/2012 U14
U14 2012/2011 U15
U15 2011/2010 U16
U16 2010/2009 U17
U17 2009/2008 U18
U18 2008/2007 U19