It gets players into schools. You get some money and a scholorship. Most important is you get priority registration for classes and sometimes things like tutors. |
Most likes for dropping down to play on age for best team (ECNL) and second most to only play up if she would be a top player a year up. This is what the clubs are going towards anyway. |
Not PP, but get through your head that no one cares what age team August born DCs play in, except you. If your August born DC is good enough to play up a year and actually get minutes, go right and I’m sure colleges will line up to recruit him/her. If DC isn’t good enough to play up with kids a year older, play on age with top team and ball out, show potential/rae, and still have colleges lined up. Either way, it’s not about choosing to play down, it’s about dc doing the best with what opportunities are available based on their play. You are going to fall apart when you realize your dc isn’t entitled to college recruitment. |
Clubs don't recognize what you are saying as playing down as playing down, tracking grade is actually a bridge too far for them. And college coaches want the best players, players that were much more likely the oldest in their age group than the youngest. They told clubs and on Facebook, they don't care what age group you are in. College recruiting is about finding colleges that you have a chance to play for and contactingnthem direct ly, not some sit back and expect colleges to fight over you situation. |
You talk like coaches are looking at ages only and not the actual player. If an Aug birthday is good enough to get recruited with graduating g class/playing up, wouldn’t it be a no brainer to play them up? Those whining for pages on end are the parents of Aug birthdays on bubble at best—and bubble youth player don’t get recruited anyway so those parents should just let go of that dream and enjoy life now. |
College coaches look at players by Graduation Year. I labeled this playing down or playing up. Its the same thing. All college coaches care about is the year players will graduate. This is he pool of talent they are sorting through. This is also why being misaligned and playing down is so bad. It doesnt matter how you play you're being compared with players that are your grade in school / graduation year. |
LOL You think college recruiters are wading through thousands of players to review just because of graduating year? They have a shortlist and then they'll see when you'll be available |
Coaches that want to win will review the largest pool possible looking for talent. Especially with 28 player rosters being mandated. Coaches that dont care about winning wont. |
Another way coaches find talent is by reaching out and working with clubs they know are successful. But everyone is doing this so its hard to make relationships. And in this situation clubs are going to try to sell college coaches on players that might not be what they're looking for. Or maybe play 2 for 1 games. The point is theres no rules in recruiting and playing down a grade is generally looked down upon. |
Other than NCAA defined rules of course
|
Then you are going to be disappointed, better focus more on academics would give you much higher ROI |
They don't have the funding nor bandwidth to trawl the ocean That's why you better reach out to them unless you are designated a top prospect For boys, there are 30 MLS clubs to choose from and International transfers from European etc academies that are very visible and high pedigree Freshman roster spots are limited So thinking coaches are looking at everyone with 2027 graduation year at a big tournament ain't happening |
Let’s say that’s true and coaches are looking at largest pool. If your dc isn’t good enough to get spot on top team with graduating class and is playing with his or her age group, what makes you think that they’d standout as best player to recruit in “the largest pool possible?” |
| This week at my club, which is in top leagues/sees players recruited to college ... At practices, more examples of AGE, not GRADE for misaligned players. As before, it's 2nd team Aug-Dec players looking to make the 1st team. Also, invites from other clubs showing up, mostly from the Aug-Dec block. |
The two college assistants that were at our club's parents meeting to discuss these changes for the HS age kids were clear. They don't care what grade or team players are on for league play. However, they were extremely clear that being misaligned (an August birthday Junior playing on a team of mostly Sophmores for example) will have a much, MUCH harder time getting noticed at showcases. Their reasoning was simply time management. Potentially having to go to a different site for a single player usually isn't goung to happen. They were also clear that, for their schools (so YMMV for others programs) 90% of their recruitment happens via players contracting them and the ID camps they hold. |