ECNL moving to school year part 2
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Anonymous
Yes, 3 of his top 10 threads were from soccer, 2 on the age change and the other about GA vs. ECNL. He notes that the threads went national -- which they did. I'm not so sure anymore. This toxic conversation about Aug bdays is basically aug guy and 2-3 others who disagree (he wrongly thinks it's just one). We've largely scared off everyone else, I think, except maybe someone who wanders in and runs away after getting lost among the crazy. |
Anonymous
| Watching age guy rage post after obvious facts are posted is humorous. You're not going to convince people that playing down is desirable for playing in college. |
Anonymous
I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. I'm largely sharing what clubs and others are saying. There's others who argue more stridently. The sources show there are plenty of people who disagree with you points (and a few who agree). I don't think it's cool, btw, that some attack you personally, but you often are a jerk here, too, which no doubt encourages it. Regardless, people should focus on what their own clubs, coach and situation calls for. |
Anonymous
Every situation is unique. No reason to try to pull the wool over people's eyes because you don't have to play up, just become the best player and get good grades. Because https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups "The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team." |
Anonymous
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Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.
https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/ |
Anonymous
Didn't you try this already and failed? Top posts match conventional wisdom. After top post of AI explaining trapped, here are the top posts "Kids that can stay or play up will. This is a lot of drama for something that should sort itself out." "The good thing is your child can play up however a trapped child cannot play down because of their age." |
Anonymous
Most is overstating it. It's more of a discussion of the change with not a ton discussed directly on our argument to be frank. You like to talk reality ... The reality is not a lot of people care unless they are directly affected. |
Anonymous
How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this. |
Anonymous
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Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.
https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/ It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player. The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect. To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman. |
Anonymous
Interesting that taking a gap year is viewed as a strategic way to make it to college soccer. The recruits best positioned to take a gap year would be those playing on age in youth soccer but in a grade up. Gap year won't count against you as college coaches already said they don't care the ages of their players. |
Anonymous
If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make. Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only. |
Anonymous
Yea in a highly competitive market for players college coaches are going to go out of their way to recruit the players playing down a grade. That makes sense. |
Anonymous
College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available. But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players. Because https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups "The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team." |
Anonymous
College coaches don't go out of their way for much of anything to recruit. They are running a team and program after all. Computer says College soccer recruiting is predominantly a "push" process, requiring prospective student-athletes to actively and proactively market themselves to coaches. Waiting for coaches to discover you is a common mistake; players must initiate contact, attend specific events, and manage their recruitment process. |
Anonymous
Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it. The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class. Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches. |