Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This post from US Club Soccer back in June implies that they anticipate clubs will do "force-ups" where Aug-Sep players will automatically be asked to play up an age group to be with their school age group. https://usclubsoccer.org/age-group-cut-off-update-for-2026-27-season/

Our child's team of 18 has 5 Aug-Dec players. Three of them will likely be "force-ups" since they are in the older grade with the rest of the team, and the other two will presumably move to the younger age group. Not yet confirmed by the club, but this would lend itself to a consistent approach and could be replicated across dozens of teams.

This whole thing is why it's dumb. The better players should be the ones playing up, not because of their grade. Now, if kids/clubs want to keep teams together especially as we move from BY/SY, that makes sense, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Except, where's the link OR did you manufacture this just to say you're right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Except, where's the link OR did you manufacture this just to say you're right

I didnt manufacture anything.

At what point will you accept reality?

The best way for Leagues to address this issue is to put a "recommendation" in the rulebook that players younger than the eligibility window play with their grade in school team.

This would solve all remaining issues with SY and would give clubs leeway if the needed it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post from US Club Soccer back in June implies that they anticipate clubs will do "force-ups" where Aug-Sep players will automatically be asked to play up an age group to be with their school age group. https://usclubsoccer.org/age-group-cut-off-update-for-2026-27-season/

Our child's team of 18 has 5 Aug-Dec players. Three of them will likely be "force-ups" since they are in the older grade with the rest of the team, and the other two will presumably move to the younger age group. Not yet confirmed by the club, but this would lend itself to a consistent approach and could be replicated across dozens of teams.

Players would be forced to play up if they want to play with school grade friends. And 3 teams so far said only exceptional get to play up an age group so players wanting to play up with their school grade friends seem blocked from doing so.

Which travel club has teams made up of mostly school classmates and friends?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Yep, "case-by-case" just like all the people said, where grade is a factor. Sure, this report shades things toward grade. But we have 3 significant clubs, shading it toward skill:

https://www.loudounsoccer.com/age-group-transition

https://arlingtonsoccer.com/programs/travel/age-group-transition

https://ourcitysc.com/docs/age_group_changes.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Except, where's the link OR did you manufacture this just to say you're right

I didnt manufacture anything.

At what point will you accept reality?

The best way for Leagues to address this issue is to put a "recommendation" in the rulebook that players younger than the eligibility window play with their grade in school team.

This would solve all remaining issues with SY and would give clubs leeway if the needed it.

Haha, now you're OK with leeway. Thanks for finally agreeing!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Yep, "case-by-case" just like all the people said, where grade is a factor. Sure, this report shades things toward grade. But we have 3 significant clubs, shading it toward skill:

https://www.loudounsoccer.com/age-group-transition

https://arlingtonsoccer.com/programs/travel/age-group-transition

https://ourcitysc.com/docs/age_group_changes.pdf

Clubs are saying that so they're not committed to playing players on a specific team. Nobody wants the rulebook knob telling them their kid should be on a certain team because of some fine print.

Also talent and skill are what get players onto the A team. Its also what gets players recruited to play in college. If this is the determiner for playing on the A team it sure sounds like grouping by grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Yep, "case-by-case" just like all the people said, where grade is a factor. Sure, this report shades things toward grade. But we have 3 significant clubs, shading it toward skill:

https://www.loudounsoccer.com/age-group-transition

https://arlingtonsoccer.com/programs/travel/age-group-transition

https://ourcitysc.com/docs/age_group_changes.pdf

Clubs are saying that so they're not committed to playing players on a specific team. Nobody wants the rulebook knob telling them their kid should be on a certain team because of some fine print.

Also talent and skill are what get players onto the A team. Its also what gets players recruited to play in college. If this is the determiner for playing on the A team it sure sounds like grouping by grade.

Spin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Except, where's the link OR did you manufacture this just to say you're right

I didnt manufacture anything.

At what point will you accept reality?

The best way for Leagues to address this issue is to put a "recommendation" in the rulebook that players younger than the eligibility window play with their grade in school team.

This would solve all remaining issues with SY and would give clubs leeway if the needed it.

Haha, now you're OK with leeway. Thanks for finally agreeing!

Im not for leeway.

Its just the easiest way to get people moving in the correct direction. Once a play with your grade recommendation is listed in the rulebook you wont see Aug/Sept players playing down. They'll be playing on their grade B and C teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Except, where's the link OR did you manufacture this just to say you're right

I didnt manufacture anything.

At what point will you accept reality?

The best way for Leagues to address this issue is to put a "recommendation" in the rulebook that players younger than the eligibility window play with their grade in school team.

This would solve all remaining issues with SY and would give clubs leeway if the needed it.

Haha, now you're OK with leeway. Thanks for finally agreeing!

Im not for leeway.

Its just the easiest way to get people moving in the correct direction. Once a play with your grade recommendation is listed in the rulebook you wont see Aug/Sept players playing down. They'll be playing on their grade B and C teams.

You may not be for leeway, but that's the reality. You'll have clubs that'll do what you think is best and others that won't. You should just deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

Oh Crazy August guy! Talking to yourself again? Post the link or it is not real. You won’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

Oh Crazy August guy! Talking to yourself again? Post the link or it is not real. You won’t.

Let's see...

Straw Man - Check
No real info - Check

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our club put the following on the bottom of the Birthday Age Groups for Fall of 2026. I'm surprised, August maybe is correct.

- For players with an August birthday, the presumption is that such players would play with their current grade, subject to permitted exceptions for players with August birthdays determined by DOC on a case-by-case basis in accordance with club policies.

High ho there we go

Exactly what people said would happen.

Except, where's the link OR did you manufacture this just to say you're right

I didnt manufacture anything.

At what point will you accept reality?

The best way for Leagues to address this issue is to put a "recommendation" in the rulebook that players younger than the eligibility window play with their grade in school team.

This would solve all remaining issues with SY and would give clubs leeway if the needed it.

Haha, now you're OK with leeway. Thanks for finally agreeing!

Im not for leeway.

Its just the easiest way to get people moving in the correct direction. Once a play with your grade recommendation is listed in the rulebook you wont see Aug/Sept players playing down. They'll be playing on their grade B and C teams.

Denied, too much speculation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This post from US Club Soccer back in June implies that they anticipate clubs will do "force-ups" where Aug-Sep players will automatically be asked to play up an age group to be with their school age group. https://usclubsoccer.org/age-group-cut-off-update-for-2026-27-season/

Our child's team of 18 has 5 Aug-Dec players. Three of them will likely be "force-ups" since they are in the older grade with the rest of the team, and the other two will presumably move to the younger age group. Not yet confirmed by the club, but this would lend itself to a consistent approach and could be replicated across dozens of teams.

Players would be forced to play up if they want to play with school grade friends. And 3 teams so far said only exceptional get to play up an age group so players wanting to play up with their school grade friends seem blocked from doing so.

Which travel club has teams made up of mostly school classmates and friends?

I believe it also applies to rec but this is what was written, "Second, an Aug. 1 age group cut-off best aligns soccer age groups with school year ages, maximizing the number of players who participate in soccer programs with their school-year friends."