ECNL moving to school year part 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignored this thread for a while, but popped in to see if there was anything new only to see FC Copa still being mentioned.

They have a -78 GD in 10 games this fall in my daughter's AG (first 3 matches were all 10+ to 0). I'm not sure why anything they say is worth much.

Does your daughter play for their USL team?

My daughter plays ECNL, but FC Copa is a known joke of a club on the girls side. I have no clue why someone keeps propping up anything they say.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the league did not change the brackets from U12, U13, U14 to 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, then this infinity argument is even more ridiculous for continuing

The league says age brackets using month/year

Which morons are still lobbying for same grade teams?

When your kid gets older you'll understand. But hint hint college recruits by graduating year. (not age)

But most importantly, college coaches told clubs and on Facebook they don't care what age group you are in, just be eligible to go to college and be the best player you can be. And get good grades. College coaches recruit by graduating year but they don't recruit be youth club age group

Again, glossing over the part where FC Copa said that they plan to group Aug birthdays by grade based on college coaches feedback.

You just keep trying to run with the statement that college coaches dont care about age because graduating year (grade) is all that matters to them.

College coaches told FC Copa and Eastside that they don't care what age group a player is in only that they are eligible and these clubs reported as such. You don't offer any information to dispute this. Therefore the statement stands as fact.

How are you so dense? FC Copa literally said that they are going to play Aug birthdays "up" on their correct grade in school team.

The part FC Copa said about college coaches not caring about players age is correct. BUT its only because all they care about is players graduating year or grade in school.

Again because college coaches only care about graduating year or grade in. school FC Copa has chosen (based on cillege coaches feedback) to play Aug birthdays on their grade in school team. So they're not misaligned during college recruiting.

You using FC Copa as an example its obv

Eastside and FC Copa said college coaches don't care what age group kids play in and you agree, "The part FC Copa said about college coaches not caring about players age is correct." So solved.

They said college coaches DO care what level Aug birthdays play it. Which is why they chose to group them with their grade in school. You are so dishonest.

Find a quote where FC Copa specifically states that college coaches care what age group August kids are in as eligible recruits or stop with your belligerence of the obvious. College coaches said they can only recruit whoever is eligible and they don't care the age group and here is the actual quote. Eastside verified this take. I recognize that your whole idea of trying to misinform kids to play up for college recruitment is blown apart by the statements which is why you can't accept what the clubs are exactly reporting.

FC Copa from video

"We had separate conversations with several college coaches. Those college coaches made it incredibly clear that it does not matter what age is they will only recruit them once they hit their junior and senior years."

Eastside

https://www.eastsidefc.org/agegroups

Will this impact college recruiting?
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.

For players already in the club, their body of work over the previous year—training, games, tournaments, and coach feedback—will continue to be the primary factor in college recruiting exposure. For new players, tryouts provide the opportunity to demonstrate skills and fit within the club environment.

Additionally, Eastside FC will continue to provide structured recruiting support through workshops, panels, and guidance for players and families. The new age group system may actually provide more consistent training and development opportunities by balancing teams across two birth years, helping players continue to grow in a competitive and supportive environment.

So you can't find one saying college coaches said they care what age group kids are in. It's ok. The above quotes from the clubs saying college coaches don't care about age groups stands.

Fact 1

Almost all teams, including Eastside and every team in the DMV and a bunch of top clubs nationally aren't forcing kids to play up based on their grade and will allow kids to play up based on a case by case basis. FC Copa, a few state clubs and a few others are pushing for grade to play up. The score is something around 35-4 of the announced clubs listed on this thread to not force kids to play on grade.

Fact 2

College coaches on Facebook and in directly speaking with Eastside and FC Copa as reported by these clubs said the don't care what age group a kid is in when they are recruiting, only that they are eligible to attend college and they can't be contacted until their junior year.

Note that these two facts are independent and do not prove or disprove each other.

Hahaha you cant even keep your lies straight. I see you're finally starting to understand that FC Copa is grouping Aug/Sept players by grade based on college coach feedback who said that they dont wont to recruit misaligned players (Aug birthdays playing down). Next time before you cut and paste your previous comments you should real through and update FC Copa statements on the c+p parts.

Your second "fact" is ridiculious the coaches you quoted as recruiting from high school were from a 2 year Community College in Arizona and a small private college somewhere in the Carolinas. I dont think either are even D3! They have to recruit from high schools because nobody else wants to play on their teams.

College coaches on Facebook and in directly speaking with Eastside and FC Copa as reported by these clubs said the don't care what age group a kid is in when they are recruiting, only that they are eligible to attend college and they can't be contacted until their junior year.

Junior college coaches and

FC Copa

https://youtu.be/H_MCwT85SKY?

"So we will look to ensure that players are in their correct graduation year going into their high school years."

Since you're too dumb to understand what this means I'll spell it out for you. FC Copa will play Aug and Sept birthdays (they're in New Jeresy who's school start date is in Sept) with their correct graduation year (grade in school team) team. This was decided after speaking with several college coaches and getting their feedback on aligned vs misaligned players.

What did the college coaches tell them? Never mind, found it, "Those college coaches made it incredibly clear that it does not matter what age is they will only recruit them once they hit their junior and senior years."

Sigh... No matter the age what FC Copa is sayjng is that you cant be in one grade in school while playjng down on a lower grade team in club.

You're utopia of playjng down a grade is exactly what FC Copa doesnt want to allow and this decision was based on feedback from college coaches.

Fc Copa likes grade. Whatever.

DC area top team that have posted, Bethesda, McLean, Coppermine, NVA, Loudon, Alexandria and Arlington, etc. aren't forcing anyone to play up and playing up in generally case by case based on skill, not grade.

In the DC area, which is the point of DCUM, it's a done deal. 8/1 to 7/31.

[Anonymous]

Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignored this thread for a while, but popped in to see if there was anything new only to see FC Copa still being mentioned.

They have a -78 GD in 10 games this fall in my daughter's AG (first 3 matches were all 10+ to 0). I'm not sure why anything they say is worth much.

Does your daughter play for their USL team?

My daughter plays ECNL, but FC Copa is a known joke of a club on the girls side. I have no clue why someone keeps propping up anything they say.

Joke or no joke they're being honest about placing Aug birthdays on the correct grade in school team just like Matchfit.

The reason DC clubs arent being as clear is because theres only one month of birthdays that potentially could play down a grade (because schools start school early Sept). New Jersey, New York and some of the Midwest states start school late Sept and all the way to Nov. Because of this players playing down a grade is a much bigger issue for these clubs and something they can't just try to sweep under the rug with parents and players. They know that colleges wont recruit misaligned players playing down a grade. So to avoid the issue all together they say Aug birthdays play with their grade.

Clubs around here will do the same after they get tired of messing around with accomodating the play downs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the league did not change the brackets from U12, U13, U14 to 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, then this infinity argument is even more ridiculous for continuing

The league says age brackets using month/year

Which morons are still lobbying for same grade teams?

When your kid gets older you'll understand. But hint hint college recruits by graduating year. (not age)

But most importantly, college coaches told clubs and on Facebook they don't care what age group you are in, just be eligible to go to college and be the best player you can be. And get good grades. College coaches recruit by graduating year but they don't recruit be youth club age group

Again, glossing over the part where FC Copa said that they plan to group Aug birthdays by grade based on college coaches feedback.

You just keep trying to run with the statement that college coaches dont care about age because graduating year (grade) is all that matters to them.

College coaches told FC Copa and Eastside that they don't care what age group a player is in only that they are eligible and these clubs reported as such. You don't offer any information to dispute this. Therefore the statement stands as fact.

How are you so dense? FC Copa literally said that they are going to play Aug birthdays "up" on their correct grade in school team.

The part FC Copa said about college coaches not caring about players age is correct. BUT its only because all they care about is players graduating year or grade in school.

Again because college coaches only care about graduating year or grade in. school FC Copa has chosen (based on cillege coaches feedback) to play Aug birthdays on their grade in school team. So they're not misaligned during college recruiting.

You using FC Copa as an example its obv

Eastside and FC Copa said college coaches don't care what age group kids play in and you agree, "The part FC Copa said about college coaches not caring about players age is correct." So solved.

They said college coaches DO care what level Aug birthdays play it. Which is why they chose to group them with their grade in school. You are so dishonest.

Find a quote where FC Copa specifically states that college coaches care what age group August kids are in as eligible recruits or stop with your belligerence of the obvious. College coaches said they can only recruit whoever is eligible and they don't care the age group and here is the actual quote. Eastside verified this take. I recognize that your whole idea of trying to misinform kids to play up for college recruitment is blown apart by the statements which is why you can't accept what the clubs are exactly reporting.

FC Copa from video

"We had separate conversations with several college coaches. Those college coaches made it incredibly clear that it does not matter what age is they will only recruit them once they hit their junior and senior years."

Eastside

https://www.eastsidefc.org/agegroups

Will this impact college recruiting?
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.

For players already in the club, their body of work over the previous year—training, games, tournaments, and coach feedback—will continue to be the primary factor in college recruiting exposure. For new players, tryouts provide the opportunity to demonstrate skills and fit within the club environment.

Additionally, Eastside FC will continue to provide structured recruiting support through workshops, panels, and guidance for players and families. The new age group system may actually provide more consistent training and development opportunities by balancing teams across two birth years, helping players continue to grow in a competitive and supportive environment.

So you can't find one saying college coaches said they care what age group kids are in. It's ok. The above quotes from the clubs saying college coaches don't care about age groups stands.

FC Copa literally said that after speaking with college coaches they chose to make sure players are aligned to their graduating year aka grade in school team.

Meantime Sporting Blue Valley of the ECNL said:

"School Grade is Irrelevant: It is much easier to consider the new age-group
placement as relative to the August 1st cutoff and is not tied to their school grade
level (whether they have been held back or are ahead)."

From Matchfit an ECNL club in New Jersey.

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

"As we move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.


That said, final age group placement must always comply with the nationally mandated date-of-birth ranges (August 1 – July 31). "

What's the point of the club making a team based on school grade when the league goes by birth date?

To appease neurotic parents who aren't serious about soccer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

Sounds more like selling ECNL to be even less desirable for college recruiting than the top league which is MLS Next

Since they're now focusing on kids having play-dates

[Anonymous]

Age guys day today.

That's reality whomping on his nuts over and over again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

Sounds more like selling ECNL to be even less desirable for college recruiting than the top league which is MLS Next

Since they're now focusing on kids having play-dates

More like

BY = 1/1-12/31
SY = 8/1-7/31

Both are a 12 month duration however if you're in a SY league and born between 8/1-12/31 and you want to play in a BY league you're going to need to play up to be considered. This is because if you switch you'll be playing on a BY team with players born between 1/1-7/31. Roughly 6 months older than SY. On top of that if you were playing up in SY you'd be used to playing against players 5 months other than you'd see in BY making you even more appealing to BY league teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Age guys day today.

That's reality whomping on his nuts over and over again.

We can commute to BA and SAC, but not the central PA and central NJ area. So what Penn Fusion and FC Copa doesn't matter here.

BA/SAC don't recognize grade but will allow anybody the chance to play up. So case by case again.

https://www.sackick.com/a...oup-change

Playing In An Older Age Group:

SAC players will continue to have the option to register/tryout for programs one age group older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

Sounds more like selling ECNL to be even less desirable for college recruiting than the top league which is MLS Next

Since they're now focusing on kids having play-dates

More like

BY = 1/1-12/31
SY = 8/1-7/31

Both are a 12 month duration however if you're in a SY league and born between 8/1-12/31 and you want to play in a BY league you're going to need to play up to be considered. This is because if you switch you'll be playing on a BY team with players born between 1/1-7/31. Roughly 6 months older than SY. On top of that if you were playing up in SY you'd be used to playing against players 5 months other than you'd see in BY making you even more appealing to BY league teams.

Science says be the oldest in an age group is best. You can always bounce wherever when older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

Sounds more like selling ECNL to be even less desirable for college recruiting than the top league which is MLS Next

Since they're now focusing on kids having play-dates

More like

BY = 1/1-12/31
SY = 8/1-7/31

Both are a 12 month duration however if you're in a SY league and born between 8/1-12/31 and you want to play in a BY league you're going to need to play up to be considered. This is because if you switch you'll be playing on a BY team with players born between 1/1-7/31. Roughly 6 months older than SY. On top of that if you were playing up in SY you'd be used to playing against players 5 months other than you'd see in BY making you even more appealing to BY league teams.

Science says be the oldest in an age group is best. You can always bounce wherever when older.

Science says that you are not that bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

Sounds more like selling ECNL to be even less desirable for college recruiting than the top league which is MLS Next

Since they're now focusing on kids having play-dates

More like

BY = 1/1-12/31
SY = 8/1-7/31

Both are a 12 month duration however if you're in a SY league and born between 8/1-12/31 and you want to play in a BY league you're going to need to play up to be considered. This is because if you switch you'll be playing on a BY team with players born between 1/1-7/31. Roughly 6 months older than SY. On top of that if you were playing up in SY you'd be used to playing against players 5 months other than you'd see in BY making you even more appealing to BY league teams.

Science says be the oldest in an age group is best. You can always bounce wherever when older.

Science says that you are not that bright.

Ignore the Matthew Effect at your own peril.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

Sounds more like selling ECNL to be even less desirable for college recruiting than the top league which is MLS Next

Since they're now focusing on kids having play-dates

More like

BY = 1/1-12/31
SY = 8/1-7/31

Both are a 12 month duration however if you're in a SY league and born between 8/1-12/31 and you want to play in a BY league you're going to need to play up to be considered. This is because if you switch you'll be playing on a BY team with players born between 1/1-7/31. Roughly 6 months older than SY. On top of that if you were playing up in SY you'd be used to playing against players 5 months other than you'd see in BY making you even more appealing to BY league teams.

Science says be the oldest in an age group is best. You can always bounce wherever when older.

Science says that you are not that bright.

Ignore the Matthew Effect at your own peril.

Don't care. Talent will always find a way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the league did not change the brackets from U12, U13, U14 to 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, then this infinity argument is even more ridiculous for continuing

The league says age brackets using month/year

Which morons are still lobbying for same grade teams?

When your kid gets older you'll understand. But hint hint college recruits by graduating year. (not age)

But most importantly, college coaches told clubs and on Facebook they don't care what age group you are in, just be eligible to go to college and be the best player you can be. And get good grades. College coaches recruit by graduating year but they don't recruit be youth club age group

Again, glossing over the part where FC Copa said that they plan to group Aug birthdays by grade based on college coaches feedback.

You just keep trying to run with the statement that college coaches dont care about age because graduating year (grade) is all that matters to them.

College coaches told FC Copa and Eastside that they don't care what age group a player is in only that they are eligible and these clubs reported as such. You don't offer any information to dispute this. Therefore the statement stands as fact.

How are you so dense? FC Copa literally said that they are going to play Aug birthdays "up" on their correct grade in school team.

The part FC Copa said about college coaches not caring about players age is correct. BUT its only because all they care about is players graduating year or grade in school.

Again because college coaches only care about graduating year or grade in. school FC Copa has chosen (based on cillege coaches feedback) to play Aug birthdays on their grade in school team. So they're not misaligned during college recruiting.

You using FC Copa as an example its obv

Eastside and FC Copa said college coaches don't care what age group kids play in and you agree, "The part FC Copa said about college coaches not caring about players age is correct." So solved.

They said college coaches DO care what level Aug birthdays play it. Which is why they chose to group them with their grade in school. You are so dishonest.

Find a quote where FC Copa specifically states that college coaches care what age group August kids are in as eligible recruits or stop with your belligerence of the obvious. College coaches said they can only recruit whoever is eligible and they don't care the age group and here is the actual quote. Eastside verified this take. I recognize that your whole idea of trying to misinform kids to play up for college recruitment is blown apart by the statements which is why you can't accept what the clubs are exactly reporting.

FC Copa from video

"We had separate conversations with several college coaches. Those college coaches made it incredibly clear that it does not matter what age is they will only recruit them once they hit their junior and senior years."

Eastside

https://www.eastsidefc.org/agegroups

Will this impact college recruiting?
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.

For players already in the club, their body of work over the previous year—training, games, tournaments, and coach feedback—will continue to be the primary factor in college recruiting exposure. For new players, tryouts provide the opportunity to demonstrate skills and fit within the club environment.

Additionally, Eastside FC will continue to provide structured recruiting support through workshops, panels, and guidance for players and families. The new age group system may actually provide more consistent training and development opportunities by balancing teams across two birth years, helping players continue to grow in a competitive and supportive environment.

So you can't find one saying college coaches said they care what age group kids are in. It's ok. The above quotes from the clubs saying college coaches don't care about age groups stands.

FC Copa literally said that after speaking with college coaches they chose to make sure players are aligned to their graduating year aka grade in school team.

Meantime Sporting Blue Valley of the ECNL said:

"School Grade is Irrelevant: It is much easier to consider the new age-group
placement as relative to the August 1st cutoff and is not tied to their school grade
level (whether they have been held back or are ahead)."

From Matchfit an ECNL club in New Jersey.

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

"As we move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.


That said, final age group placement must always comply with the nationally mandated date-of-birth ranges (August 1 – July 31). "

They also said …. (Which suggests fewer grade related play ups on national teams)

“ Play-up opportunities on our national level teams will be minimized to safeguard long term player development, competitive integrity, and roster balance. State teams will have greater flexibility.
​
Any consideration for team placement because of age/grade anomalies will be made collaboratively by the Directors and Coaching Staff. When considering a player to play up, the following criteria will guide the decision – Impact on player development, competition level and recruitment opportunities as well as team needs and roster balance. Guiding Principle – All decisions will prioritize what is best for the player and the overall team environment.”

Your game of but but but but doesnt matter Matchfit clearly stated that they plan to play Aug / Sept on their correct grade in school team.

What is wrong with you?

They said they'd do it where possible/when it made sense. If they maximize that it could hurt them competitively nationally because other states don't have their later cutoff. That's why it's more do-able for teams that just play in their state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Penn Fusion also noted school grade main determining factor. Seems like boys ECNL clubs got the memo that the age change was designed to align kids with school grade and if you are selling yourself as a league that gets kids to play in college, you want them playing with their grad year. For boys, MLSN probably playing most kids with school grade too as it really wouldn't benefit them to have kids play down unless small and could bioband. Otherwise, the HD and AD teams lose the ability to move kids up and down easily.

Sounds more like selling ECNL to be even less desirable for college recruiting than the top league which is MLS Next

Since they're now focusing on kids having play-dates

More like

BY = 1/1-12/31
SY = 8/1-7/31

Both are a 12 month duration however if you're in a SY league and born between 8/1-12/31 and you want to play in a BY league you're going to need to play up to be considered. This is because if you switch you'll be playing on a BY team with players born between 1/1-7/31. Roughly 6 months older than SY. On top of that if you were playing up in SY you'd be used to playing against players 5 months other than you'd see in BY making you even more appealing to BY league teams.

What da hell are you talking about?
Are you on your meds?

If you're in SY but want to play BY, you play the BY age group. Simple

So what if kids are older than you in BY?
Someone is always older and younger

It's either you can play on the level of the BY group or you can't