ECNL moving to school year part 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.kopsc.org/age-group-formation-for-2026-2027-season

USYS set the date range as August 1 - July 31 in order to account for the majority of school cut off dates across the country and to best align players with their grade level peers. The majority of our players attend schools with September 1 cut off dates so in order to best align our players with their accurate grade level, we will be using an August 1 + actual grade year approach.


This change will not impact the Spring 2026 season and our current travel teams will remain as they were in Fall 2025. This change will begin for the Fall 2026 season such that this year's Competitive Academy tryouts will run by August 1 + grade year.


Example 1 - August 15, 2015 birthday and going into 6th grade - plays with 6th grade team (U12).

Example 2 - August 15, 2015 birthday and going into 5th grade (held back in terms of grade year) - plays with 5th grade team (U11).


This is a significant shift that will impact every Competitive Academy team. The Board has worked tirelessly to determine best handling and will continue to work with our staff, volunteer coaches, and families to make this transition as smooth as possible

Yea! It's America ... Nothing wrong with having different approaches like this.... People can/will vote with their feet/pocketbook if they don't like being forced up. ... And that's the tough part about this.

What clubs do and what clubs say they'll do are often two different things. If there's an Aug birthday parent thats dead set on playing down. Clubs will do one of two things. They'll let them try out with the lower level team and say darn you didnt quite make the A team but we have a spot on the lower level or correct grade B team (which is the same thing). Or they'll dual roster the player on two age level teams slowly making them choose the correct grade in school team.

You have to keep in mind that clubs want money so they're not going to turn anyone away. But they want things easy which means no HS players on 8th grade teams. They also want as many college commitments as posdible because they’re free advertising for the club and last an entire year. This is why clubs want Aug birthdays to play on the team thats their grade in school. Even if clubs wont come out and say it.

BTW this is how things functioned pre 2017 before switching to BY

Unfortunately you've got age guy commenting on this thread 24/7 megablasting his black and white interpretation of the rules. He'll just need to experience SY to understand that there's rules about how to play and there's also reality about how the game is played (while following the rules). Things won't function the way he thinks they will at the highest levels and over time lower level clubs will copy what higher level clubs do.

Won't work. Almost all high level competitive clubs don't know or care about kids grades. And August kids being the oldest when playing on age will have the highest rates of playing in college.

Competitive teams will on average fight over the oldest players, August births as illustrated by high level clubs ignoring grade but in rec and entry level travel will let kids off grade play up if they want. And so it has been written...by the leagues...and the clubs.

[Anonymous]

Clubs are starting to figure it out.

https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/

https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9

MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.

If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.

This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.

The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.

https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/

https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9

MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.

If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.

This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.

The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.

It needs application then tryout said it all, it is an exception instead of norm or ‘force’ or rule

[Anonymous]

I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.

https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/

https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9

MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.

If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.

This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.

The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.

It needs application then tryout said it all, it is an exception instead of norm or ‘force’ or rule

This just a way to inform the club which grade Aug/Sept birthdays are in. If you read the site they believe in aligning players with their grade. It's going to happen if parents inform the club of their kids grade in school or not. Clubs can get the same result just asking which grade players are in during tryouts. Like what Arlington is doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.

https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/

https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9

MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.

If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.

This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.

The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.

It's a volunteer request to play up on a secondary team. Not the forced to play up based on verifiable grade documentation proof you are seeking. Please try again later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.

https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/

https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9

MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.

If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.

This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.

The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.

It needs application then tryout said it all, it is an exception instead of norm or ‘force’ or rule

This just a way to inform the club which grade Aug/Sept birthdays are in. If you read the site they believe in aligning players with their grade. It's going to happen if parents inform the club of their kids grade in school or not. Clubs can get the same result just asking which grade players are in during tryouts. Like what Arlington is doing.

LOL
So now parents dictate to the club and leagues where to place their kid in an Age based system?

I want my U16 on a U15 team because I pay my club fees on time

[Anonymous]

No one is forced to do anything. Parents pay and parents make the choice. Money talks louder than anything else in US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.

Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?

This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is forced to do anything. Parents pay and parents make the choice. Money talks louder than anything else in US

Then I'll pay for my average U12 to be on the top U13 MLS Next team

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.

https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/

https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9

MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.

If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.

This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.

The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.

It's a volunteer request to play up on a secondary team. Not the forced to play up based on verifiable grade documentation proof you are seeking. Please try again later.

They are going to "force" Aug and Sept players to play on the team thats their grade in school.

Grade Alignment
We believe aligning players with their correct grade is an important factor to consider at tryouts. At MTA, we are taking the extra step of providing the opportunity to submit a Grade Alignment Application to Aug/Sept born players with grade alignment issues. This will allow them to play and tryout with their correct grade.

Please review your player’s alignment carefully on the new age group grids below. If your child is already in the “correct” grade for their age group, no action is needed. If your player is a ‘trapped player’ (typically July birthdays), unfortunately this is out of our control as players cannot legally “play down”.
However, if your player is now on a team of the grade below them (typically August birthdays), please read the information below carefully.

Consider filling out this optional application if ALL of these apply:

Your player has a August or September birthdate
Your player’s grade does not align with their birthyear group (e.g. early school start)
Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season

[Anonymous]

Some clubs are just being more transparent with their intentions. Age troll should take the hint. Aug birthdays playing with their grade will happen. Clubs just wont tell you that they're doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.

https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/

https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9

MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.

If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.

This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.

The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.

It's a volunteer request to play up on a secondary team. Not the forced to play up based on verifiable grade documentation proof you are seeking. Please try again later.

They are going to "force" Aug and Sept players to play on the team thats their grade in school.

Grade Alignment
We believe aligning players with their correct grade is an important factor to consider at tryouts. At MTA, we are taking the extra step of providing the opportunity to submit a Grade Alignment Application to Aug/Sept born players with grade alignment issues. This will allow them to play and tryout with their correct grade.

Please review your player’s alignment carefully on the new age group grids below. If your child is already in the “correct” grade for their age group, no action is needed. If your player is a ‘trapped player’ (typically July birthdays), unfortunately this is out of our control as players cannot legally “play down”.
However, if your player is now on a team of the grade below them (typically August birthdays), please read the information below carefully.

Consider filling out this optional application if ALL of these apply:

Your player has a August or September birthdate
Your player’s grade does not align with their birthyear group (e.g. early school start)
Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season

No team can register a kid to play down in an age group below the leagues age group brackets

August U13 can't play August U12
Pretty darn simple

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.

Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?

This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.

Our age group’s B team is also very competitive and beats the younger A team consistently. This kid is very technical just small in his age group now. He can play a much bigger role in the younger group. In highly competitive clubs, no one care much about other parents feelings. Everyone wants play time and bigger role, You can either compete or not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.

Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?

This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.

Our age group’s B team is also very competitive and beats the younger A team consistently. This kid is very technical just small in his age group now. He can play a much bigger role in the younger group. In highly competitive clubs, no one care much about other parents feelings. Everyone wants play time and bigger role, You can either compete or not

Well, most people disagree with you're playing down scenario. Not only would they be play on a team with kids a younger grade in school. They'd also be taking a roster spot from a kid the correct grade/age for the team. Also if the corrext grade B team was competitive there’s literally no justification. Players would develop better on the B team.