Wow ... A top longtime director in youth soccer basically saying it's case-by-case after consulting with the top part of the system and echoes what's been said locally. This thread can end -- at least the grade part of it -- unless you just want to ignore reality and complain. I bet that NJ ECNL club which say they're prioritizing grade first really are doing what this guy says behind the scenes. |
No he said hes planning to split the difference and play Aug birthdays down in league and up in showcases. Which makes things incredibly difficult for Aug birthdays because they're expected to play up with their grade level only at showcases. Which wont work put well. |
Aug birthdays depending on when their school starts might be in 8th grade but are technically able to play on a 7th grade team. Most parents/people with a kid in this situation would choose to have their kid play up (which is allowed in the rulebook) so they're on an 8th grade team. Soccer crazy people think that choosing to play on the 7th grade team will let their kid be the star. This might work at younger ages when kids are growing. But when you get to recruiting ages your kid will be misaligned down which will make recruiting much harder and college coaches will ignore them. Its a take your medicine now or later situation. Eventually either way something has to happen. |
It's an obvious thing to do because of the cumulative advantages of RAE (the Matthew Effect) and after puberty, the age group differences are much less than they are when the kids are very young. Everyone, the clubs, the parents, the leagues, the colleges; has already figured this out, play on age when young, easy to address when past puberty. |
Again, which club, and which years, since the rule change, is giving the kids a choice whether to play down or play up? Name the club so we can find this new unicorn club? You want to be helpful, tell us where we can go to not have to play down without a choice? College coaches will not ignore anybody, you made that up, they don't care your age or age group, they recruit on performance and fit for their team. |
He also likely knows that Aug birthdays playing on grade down teams will have an incredibly difficult time with recruiting. If this wasnt the case he wouldnt have them play up in showcases so they appear aligned. |
Well maybe your kid wont have a choice. A team starters an choose to do whatever they want. Welcome to reality. |
Not difficult at all, they have a solution and 90 % of recruiting is from the player. |
Name the club so we can find this new unicorn club. You want to be helpful, tell us where we can go to not have to play down without a choice? |
You cant instagram post your way into changing a coaches mind that players are pathetic for choosing to play on geade down teams. This is what people mean when they say that misaligned players will get ignored. Theres so many players that want to play in college they dont need to sift through the bargain bin. |
You're still arguing with a lunatic? When can parents dictate to a league which age group their kid plays in? |
Science says the youngest are least likely to advance, that's proof that you are wrong. The youngest get ignored not the oldest. You opinion just don't carry any weight. |
Oh so now you're back to "science" Checking my watch so I can get a time frame on how long it takes you to start pushing for 36 month older holdbacks to play against younger players at showcases again. |
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Still 100% correct.
This is for next fall when SY starts. 11v11 = U18/U19 = ≤ 8/1/2007 ≈ Senior 11v11 = U17 = ≤ 8/1/2009 ≈ Junior 11v11 = U16 = ≤ 8/1/2010 ≈ Sophmore 11v11 = U15 = ≤ 8/1/2011 ≈ Freshman 11v11 = U14 = ≤ 8/1/2012 ≈ 8th grade 11v11 = U13 = ≤ 8/1/2013 ≈ 7th grade 9v9/11v11 = U12 = ≤ 8/1/2014 ≈ 6th grade 9v9 = U11 = ≤ 8/1/2015 ≈ 5th grade 9v9 = U10 = ≤ 8/1/2016 ≈ 4th grade 7v7 = U9 = ≤ 8/1/2017 ≈ 3rd grade 7v7 = U8 = ≤ 8/1/2018 ≈ 2nd grade 4v4 = U7 = ≤ 8/1/2019 ≈ 1st grade 4v4 = U6 = ≤ 8/1/2020 ≈ Kindergarten Using U14 as an example what this is saying is... 1. They play 11v11 2. Players turn 14 after Aug 1 3. Players are younger than or equal to 8/1/2012 4. Players are most likely in 8th grade |
Bad deflection. You opinion just don't carry any weight. And you can't name a DMV club that offers this play up option for funzies. Also, there are atl least 5 or so telling up you are a lunatic on this thread. I'm not pushing for showcases by grade or sharing any inside info. That's the other people talking to league and team leadership. |