Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 20:49     Subject: Re:When to stop playing up?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:While we are at it, U14 has a constitutional growth delay and is two years behind on physical growth as determined by x-rays, baby teeth etc. Is he playing up in own age group with kids that went through puberty 3 years ago lol?

Bio-banding is where it’s at.


This is my kid as well. I was the same way when younger and 2 years behind the growth curve. Eventually I grew eight inches when 15 but had a rough time playing at younger ages and had quit competitive soccer and basketball by the time I grew. No big deal either way. It’s amusing now to look down 3-6 inches at the dads of kids who are about 8-10 inches taller than my son right now. C’est la vie.


Yes. This happened with his older brother too who grew 9 inches over Covid. He just turned 16 and growth plates are open. He’s 5’11” and still growing. Probability be 6’1-6’2” like his grandfather, uncle, nephews.

This year (U17) was the very first year my older one is of the same size as most others.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 20:24     Subject: Re:When to stop playing up?
Anonymous wrote:While we are at it, U14 has a constitutional growth delay and is two years behind on physical growth as determined by x-rays, baby teeth etc. Is he playing up in own age group with kids that went through puberty 3 years ago lol?

Bio-banding is where it’s at.


This is my kid as well. I was the same way when younger and 2 years behind the growth curve. Eventually I grew eight inches when 15 but had a rough time playing at younger ages and had quit competitive soccer and basketball by the time I grew. No big deal either way. It’s amusing now to look down 3-6 inches at the dads of kids who are about 8-10 inches taller than my son right now. C’est la vie.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 20:14     Subject: When to stop playing up?
As soon as possible. Find a club with a good team at your kid’s age. There are plenty. Playing up is always a bad deal for the kid needing to play up. The only exception really is when you play your grade and not your age. It does you no good for recruiting if your kid is playing down a year from most of the kids in their school grade. They will be a competing with and against them in trying to get recruited. If they play their age they will miss the boat.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 20:03     Subject: Re:When to stop playing up?
While we are at it, U14 has a constitutional growth delay and is two years behind on physical growth as determined by x-rays, baby teeth etc. Is he playing up in own age group with kids that went through puberty 3 years ago lol?

Bio-banding is where it’s at.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 19:56     Subject: Re:When to stop playing up?
And let’s face it— is a January or February bday (08) really playing up? Are they really that much older than a December or November bday of the prior year (07)?

The whole thing is pretty stupid.

Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 19:44     Subject: When to stop playing up?
Anonymous wrote:My son has played up his entire soccer life and we are pre-ECNL. My husband thinks he can play up for the rest of his youth career while I think he should at some point, play his age group so he stands out more (essentially be a superstar) and is in a better position to compete for an academy spot. FWIW, he is very good and plays up because of overall skill and athleticism and not bc of size (he is average for his age with the potential to be tall like one parent). He is a top player (not the best nor a superstar) for his current team while playing up and in the upper divisions of the league they play in. I want to keep him playing up as long as we can bc I want him to continue to be challenged and to improve and I think he can be competitive playing up. I do wonder though if there are drawbacks to this approach. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!


Past U14 there is no fundamental difference in skill of kids a year older.

People amusingly believe that a 15 year old is somehow better than a 14 year old. If your son played on a talented team at age he would learn quickly that playing up will not have made him a star or stand out.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 19:15     Subject: Re:When to stop playing up?
Practice up if you can, play up if you must.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 18:29     Subject: When to stop playing up?
Anonymous wrote:My son has played up his entire soccer life and we are pre-ECNL. My husband thinks he can play up for the rest of his youth career while I think he should at some point, play his age group so he stands out more (essentially be a superstar) and is in a better position to compete for an academy spot. FWIW, he is very good and plays up because of overall skill and athleticism and not bc of size (he is average for his age with the potential to be tall like one parent). He is a top player (not the best nor a superstar) for his current team while playing up and in the upper divisions of the league they play in. I want to keep him playing up as long as we can bc I want him to continue to be challenged and to improve and I think he can be competitive playing up. I do wonder though if there are drawbacks to this approach. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!


My DS played up a year until u15 (played with u16s, top team, starter). This year he went back to his age group and is playing with his actual age group, u16, also on starting on the top team. We did this for several reasons, but you asked when and that is when we decided to go back down to his actual age group. Worked for us.

I would say, I would not play up if your DC is not getting a lot of playing time. It isn't worth it. Not a problem for my DS, but I have seen some do that just so they could "play up." But, if you aren't usually on the field, is that really playing up?
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 18:01     Subject: When to stop playing up?
U13 (11v11) will be the great equalizer.
No offense OP but given the talent in the area your kid may still be a top play at age level but probably will be hard pressed to be THE top player. Id move him to age level. Will be more socially appropriate too.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 17:26     Subject: When to stop playing up?
Anonymous wrote:My son has played up his entire soccer life and we are pre-ECNL. My husband thinks he can play up for the rest of his youth career while I think he should at some point, play his age group so he stands out more (essentially be a superstar) and is in a better position to compete for an academy spot. FWIW, he is very good and plays up because of overall skill and athleticism and not bc of size (he is average for his age with the potential to be tall like one parent). He is a top player (not the best nor a superstar) for his current team while playing up and in the upper divisions of the league they play in. I want to keep him playing up as long as we can bc I want him to continue to be challenged and to improve and I think he can be competitive playing up. I do wonder though if there are drawbacks to this approach. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!


If you're by far the best player on the field, you're on the wrong field. Too much of a frontrunner mentality. If you're in the game for constant development and not glory, and all kids should be - then always have someone who can challenge you on a daily basis.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 17:21     Subject: Re:When to stop playing up?
If you are at a really good club, playing your own age group after U11 is absolutely fine and beneficial in many ways unless, in addition to skill and IQ, your kid is simply bigger and faster than everybody else, in which case coaches will suggest playing up in practice and/or games, or maybe full time. I've seen a couple of kids who were by far the most skilled and highest-IQ on U13 teams get absolutely pounded over the course of the year and lose their affection for the game solely because they were physically outmatched. Everybody's kids and preferences vary a bit, but for my son, that was not an experience we wanted to replicate, especially with the possibility of injury.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 16:51     Subject: When to stop playing up?
Its depending on the club. As PP stated, clubs like bsc have excellent top teams and its rarely a need to play up because of that. If your ds is the best one on the team (his real age), I would continue to play up. If the top team is top notch and he fits right it in, I would play on age.

You can watch the top team from his age range at their games and get a feel of how they perform.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 16:39     Subject: When to stop playing up?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son has played up his entire soccer life and we are pre-ECNL. My husband thinks he can play up for the rest of his youth career while I think he should at some point, play his age group so he stands out more (essentially be a superstar) and is in a better position to compete for an academy spot. FWIW, he is very good and plays up because of overall skill and athleticism and not bc of size (he is average for his age with the potential to be tall like one parent). He is a top player (not the best nor a superstar) for his current team while playing up and in the upper divisions of the league they play in. I want to keep him playing up as long as we can bc I want him to continue to be challenged and to improve and I think he can be competitive playing up. I do wonder though if there are drawbacks to this approach. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!


Next year is probably the year to move him back down. 12 (when he is 11) is when some kids start hitting puberty. If he goes to an ECNL club, the size might be overwhelming for him. Some are close to six feet tall. Even if he is a gifted athlete - it's hard to excel when there is that much size disparity. I'd not focus on age as much as the best team fit. Bethesda and others have teams in his age group that will be a challenge for him to make the top team even if he's very good.


U13 is the first year I really noticed a few kids taller than everyone else, and they tend to be awkward and clumsy at that point until they really grow into their new bodies.
I wouldn't worry about real size issues until U14 or so.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 15:10     Subject: When to stop playing up?
Anonymous wrote:My son has played up his entire soccer life and we are pre-ECNL. My husband thinks he can play up for the rest of his youth career while I think he should at some point, play his age group so he stands out more (essentially be a superstar) and is in a better position to compete for an academy spot. FWIW, he is very good and plays up because of overall skill and athleticism and not bc of size (he is average for his age with the potential to be tall like one parent). He is a top player (not the best nor a superstar) for his current team while playing up and in the upper divisions of the league they play in. I want to keep him playing up as long as we can bc I want him to continue to be challenged and to improve and I think he can be competitive playing up. I do wonder though if there are drawbacks to this approach. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!


Next year is probably the year to move him back down. 12 (when he is 11) is when some kids start hitting puberty. If he goes to an ECNL club, the size might be overwhelming for him. Some are close to six feet tall. Even if he is a gifted athlete - it's hard to excel when there is that much size disparity. I'd not focus on age as much as the best team fit. Bethesda and others have teams in his age group that will be a challenge for him to make the top team even if he's very good.
Anonymous
Post 10/27/2021 14:52     Subject: When to stop playing up?
My son has played up his entire soccer life and we are pre-ECNL. My husband thinks he can play up for the rest of his youth career while I think he should at some point, play his age group so he stands out more (essentially be a superstar) and is in a better position to compete for an academy spot. FWIW, he is very good and plays up because of overall skill and athleticism and not bc of size (he is average for his age with the potential to be tall like one parent). He is a top player (not the best nor a superstar) for his current team while playing up and in the upper divisions of the league they play in. I want to keep him playing up as long as we can bc I want him to continue to be challenged and to improve and I think he can be competitive playing up. I do wonder though if there are drawbacks to this approach. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!