Spring 2017 soccer club tryouts

[Anonymous]

I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

It's true that the fall birthday kids move up to bigger fields and 11 v. 11 earlier than they otherwise would, which is unfortunate in my view. It's also true that they might have fewer travel team options their senior year because most of their birth year age group cohort will be in college. But I don't think this is likely to be much of a problem. Even this year, the first year of the change, there were plenty of teams, leagues, and tournaments that offered a U18/U19 group, and I imagine that will become more standard as time goes on. And I say this as a parent of a DD with a fall '98 birthday, so we've been through it.

On the plus side, as a PP stated, the Fall birthday kids will likely have an easier transition to HS soccer since they will have been playing with and against older, bigger players for many years.

I'd also note that it's a bit odd to assume everyone starts travel soccer at U9. My youngest and many of his teammates are on their second or third year of U8, while a lot of kids don't start until U10 or older. There will also be a huge range of experience for those who do start at U9. Many will have been playing soccer at home and in their communities since they could walk, while others will come to it cold. That factor, and others like athletic ability and soccer IQ, make a vastly bigger difference than a year or two difference in a travel program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

It's true that the fall birthday kids move up to bigger fields and 11 v. 11 earlier than they otherwise would, which is unfortunate in my view. It's also true that they might have fewer travel team options their senior year because most of their birth year age group cohort will be in college. But I don't think this is likely to be much of a problem. Even this year, the first year of the change, there were plenty of teams, leagues, and tournaments that offered a U18/U19 group, and I imagine that will become more standard as time goes on. And I say this as a parent of a DD with a fall '98 birthday, so we've been through it.

On the plus side, as a PP stated, the Fall birthday kids will likely have an easier transition to HS soccer since they will have been playing with and against older, bigger players for many years.

I'd also note that it's a bit odd to assume everyone starts travel soccer at U9. My youngest and many of his teammates are on their second or third year of U8, while a lot of kids don't start until U10 or older. There will also be a huge range of experience for those who do start at U9. Many will have been playing soccer at home and in their communities since they could walk, while others will come to it cold. That factor, and others like athletic ability and soccer IQ, make a vastly bigger difference than a year or two difference in a travel program.

You captured the true impact in what I highlighted above. The birth year change makes your Junior year your last year playing with "your" team if you have a September - December birth year. For those kids, they'll either be on a reformed or combined team, or not playing at all. It certainly will not be the same team they came up through HS age with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

Correct, but overall number of playing years was not the discussion. The discussion was the CURRENT disadvantage to kids playing with other kids that ALREADY have that extra year of training.

Retention rates are low and in your example, while correct, the benefit of being able to play as a U19 is not as much of a factor as the disadvantage of a late birthday kid playing with his contemporaries, but who may have had an additional training year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

It's true that the fall birthday kids move up to bigger fields and 11 v. 11 earlier than they otherwise would, which is unfortunate in my view. It's also true that they might have fewer travel team options their senior year because most of their birth year age group cohort will be in college. But I don't think this is likely to be much of a problem. Even this year, the first year of the change, there were plenty of teams, leagues, and tournaments that offered a U18/U19 group, and I imagine that will become more standard as time goes on. And I say this as a parent of a DD with a fall '98 birthday, so we've been through it.

On the plus side, as a PP stated, the Fall birthday kids will likely have an easier transition to HS soccer since they will have been playing with and against older, bigger players for many years.

I'd also note that it's a bit odd to assume everyone starts travel soccer at U9. My youngest and many of his teammates are on their second or third year of U8, while a lot of kids don't start until U10 or older. There will also be a huge range of experience for those who do start at U9. Many will have been playing soccer at home and in their communities since they could walk, while others will come to it cold. That factor, and others like athletic ability and soccer IQ, make a vastly bigger difference than a year or two difference in a travel program.

You captured the true impact in what I highlighted above. The birth year change makes your Junior year your last year playing with "your" team if you have a September - December birth year. For those kids, they'll either be on a reformed or combined team, or not playing at all. It certainly will not be the same team they came up through HS age with.

Players and coaches change a lot over the years and the team you start with at U10 will be dramatically different than the team at U17 anyways. Thinking that 18 kids will stick together through the years is naive.

And yes, the summation accurately reflects the two camps. So laugh at my numbers all you will, they can serve to present quantitatively what that experience gap may be. From U9-U12 the most important thing is to develop technical skills. If you feel your player is behind due to the "lost year" then use the numbers as a metric to shoot for and get that extra work in so that your player can catch up. Time on the ball doesn't need formal club practice.

I can't speak to the lost social aspect but on the technical side you can get that time on the ball back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

Correct, but overall number of playing years was not the discussion. The discussion was the CURRENT disadvantage to kids playing with other kids that ALREADY have that extra year of training.

Retention rates are low and in your example, while correct, the benefit of being able to play as a U19 is not as much of a factor as the disadvantage of a late birthday kid playing with his contemporaries, but who may have had an additional training year.

tell that to your HS Junior that is watching 2/3 of their team leave for college. That is a much bigger impact than when you start.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This conversation reminds me so much of the bodybuilders that argued over how many days were in a week. All-time classic.

https://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=107926751

Ha!

We won't ask what you were doing on that forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

Correct, but overall number of playing years was not the discussion. The discussion was the CURRENT disadvantage to kids playing with other kids that ALREADY have that extra year of training.

Retention rates are low and in your example, while correct, the benefit of being able to play as a U19 is not as much of a factor as the disadvantage of a late birthday kid playing with his contemporaries, but who may have had an additional training year.

Retention rates are low? Not in my experience. From U9 - U14 or so, lots of change. U14 to U18 - pretty stable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

tell that to your HS Junior that is watching 2/3 of their team leave for college. That is a much bigger impact than when you start.

Perhaps I didn't phrase that correctly. I have a hs junior, so I agree it's a huge impact. Putting together 99 teams right now is brutal. What I meant is the personal development/growth of the soccer player that loses a year of training early on will show more and will likely be reflected in tryouts for the foreseeable future (which is what sparked the discussion). I was merely pointing out that those who say that there isn't an "extra year" are incorrect, and showing the current impact of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

Correct, but overall number of playing years was not the discussion. The discussion was the CURRENT disadvantage to kids playing with other kids that ALREADY have that extra year of training.

Retention rates are low and in your example, while correct, the benefit of being able to play as a U19 is not as much of a factor as the disadvantage of a late birthday kid playing with his contemporaries, but who may have had an additional training year.

tell that to your HS Junior that is watching 2/3 of their team leave for college. That is a much bigger impact than when you start.

Well, that is why the U19/U18 age bracket exists. This allows the trapped seniors to play club. It isn't perfect but nothing is.

[Anonymous]

Shine all year long and last 20 minutes of tryouts is what is the determining factor.

Have fun with your losers next year. I watched them all season they couldn't complete a pass and the Striker never scored a single.goal. How can you have a striker that has never scored even when perfect assist after assist after through ball is put on his foot. Bye-buh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shine all year long and last 20 minutes of tryouts is what is the determining factor.

Have fun with your losers next year. I watched them all season they couldn't complete a pass and the Striker never scored a single.goal. How can you have a striker that has never scored even when perfect assist after assist after through ball is put on his foot. Bye-buh.

I think we were on your team last year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the point, I simply don't think it matters as much as you do. I don't think in the long run it will truly affect your kid's development. I think you are simply complaining about a short term adjustment that you still have time to adjust to.

Your kid was not the only first time U10 player this year. Your kid played with and against other kids affected in the very same way.

All you need to worry about are the following:

Did your kid have fun?

Did your kid improve?

Will your kid continue to play soccer?

By the time they're 16, it might be forgotten. Hopefully, most families will be patient and work through it rather than quitting.

That's how we approach it as parents. But it was still unnecessary, doing far more damage than good.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Shine all year long and last 20 minutes of tryouts is what is the determining factor.

Have fun with your losers next year. I watched them all season they couldn't complete a pass and the Striker never scored a single.goal. How can you have a striker that has never scored even when perfect assist after assist after through ball is put on his foot. Bye-buh.

I will never understand some of the choices Clubs make the at the end of the year.

I do know, every time I faced an asshole Club/coach--I moved on. People try to say that doesn't teach resilience. I say they are wrong.

If a coach/Club doesn't see eye-to-eye with your style of play there is no need trying to change their mind. If you are good enough, you will land somewhere better and the anger you carry over will keep fueling the desire to prove them all wrong.

Some of the sh*t incompetent US coaches told me over the years---I could write a book. Stay true to yourself. Keep training. Keep working hard. It does pay off. The cream will rise to the top. I have to still believe that.

Signed,

Former 5-time State Champ, Gatorade Natl. player of the year, HS all-met, all-region, D1 NCAA championship title, pro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

Correct, but overall number of playing years was not the discussion. The discussion was the CURRENT disadvantage to kids playing with other kids that ALREADY have that extra year of training.

Retention rates are low and in your example, while correct, the benefit of being able to play as a U19 is not as much of a factor as the disadvantage of a late birthday kid playing with his contemporaries, but who may have had an additional training year.

My son played U13 twice with the switch to Academy. Being 13 for two years has really helped him. He grew 4 inches the first year he was 13, and then 4 inches again the second year he was 13. I feel bad for anyone that missed a year on their growth - they'll be permanently shorter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the disconnect here is that those who say the fall birthday kids lost a year are judging based on the stage their child is right now, where the other camp is looking at the entire possible course of a kid's travel soccer playing career prior to college. A Fall birthday kid who started at U9 and "missed" U10 due to the birth year change will play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18 and U19. His January birthday classmate who started at U9 with him but didn't skip U10 will also play 10 years of travel soccer if he sticks with it: U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17 and U18.

Correct, but overall number of playing years was not the discussion. The discussion was the CURRENT disadvantage to kids playing with other kids that ALREADY have that extra year of training.

Retention rates are low and in your example, while correct, the benefit of being able to play as a U19 is not as much of a factor as the disadvantage of a late birthday kid playing with his contemporaries, but who may have had an additional training year.

My son played U13 twice with the switch to Academy. Being 13 for two years has really helped him. He grew 4 inches the first year he was 13, and then 4 inches again the second year he was 13. I feel bad for anyone that missed a year on their growth - they'll be permanently shorter.

AT U19 nobody is playing Club anymore. Only the October-December birthdays are left in town while everyone else goes off to college.