Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to be really good as the youngest player in age group? Physically and mentally it just seems to hard to be at the same level 11 months younger than teammates and others at same age level. Would welcome any advice and observations on how birth month might impact soccer age groups.

Well, being one of the top players on my son's team plays a year up, it is definitely possible. He's by far the youngest on our team. The kid would easily be the best player on his team if he played in his normal age group.

Not so fast my friend--while that might be true for your kid's team, do you know how many other kids are playing up there, too?

Thinking down the line, just be prepared for your kid is one of the best bubble will burst at some point. He's good relatively now, I'm sure, but there are kids playing up all over this region, not to mention nationally. If they ALL played in their normal age group.... your kid wouldn't be among the best. Still good I'm sure but not among the best for his age.

Anonymous wrote:Ever heard of someone holding their late bday kid back so they can play one extra year in high school?

All the time. It’s called red shirting. Some do it in kindergarten. Some in 8th grade.

It doesn’t matter for club. It matters for recruiting (graduation year)

Ever heard of someone holding their late bday kid back so they can play one extra year in high school?

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to be really good as the youngest player in age group? Physically and mentally it just seems to hard to be at the same level 11 months younger than teammates and others at same age level. Would welcome any advice and observations on how birth month might impact soccer age groups.

Well, being one of the top players on my son's team plays a year up, it is definitely possible. He's by far the youngest on our team. The kid would easily be the best player on his team if he played in his normal age group.

To a point. I have seen some kids who were "the youngest" be one of the smartest and most technically skilled kids on a team (though fwiw, they often came from families that had older brothers who also played). But there gets a point, sometime around U12/U13 (boys) where the transition to full-field play and the physical difference of puberty can really have an impact. Eventually they catch up but for a couple of years it can be rougher.

Anonymous wrote:You don’t need to read a book. You right in front of you. The vast majority of elite teams are comprised of kids with the earlier birthdays. Period. End of story.

I saw the same thing with the mandated age change from school to calendar year. The kids closer to the beginning of the age cutoff benefit.

Agree, and my DS travel team has many birthdays late in the year and some kids playing up because they stayed after the switch to calendar year, and they are lightyears behind physically than their competition and unfortunately the results generally show that, too: they get destroyed by physically larger teams.

You don’t need to read a book. You right in front of you. The vast majority of elite teams are comprised of kids with the earlier birthdays. Period. End of story.

I saw the same thing with the mandated age change from school to calendar year. The kids closer to the beginning of the age cutoff benefit.

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to be really good as the youngest player in age group? Physically and mentally it just seems to hard to be at the same level 11 months younger than teammates and others at same age level. Would welcome any advice and observations on how birth month might impact soccer age groups.

Yes.

IME - kids who are REALLY good are lightyears ahead of their peers so age group doesn't matter for them. I did read Outliers, thought I would say that is more for normal kids though I do accept that the birthday section was about professional hockey players.

But FWIW I do have experience competing with an future Olympian when we were in HS. It is rare for me to see that kind of skill in my kids sports. Maybe only 1 time I've seen it.

Often enough younger kids tend to be less mature in all area comparing to earlier birthdays but it comes down to your kid. Some kids are mature and quick to understand things and some don’t. My kid is the youngest on her team (Aug) but probably right up there in terms of maturity, mentality, and physicality with all the earlier birthdays. Better than some even.

I’ve seen Nov birthday who is better than the March birthday before. It’s not out of realm. She just have to keep working at it.

Read the book Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. He touches on birth month and birth order. Of course thats not everyone hence the title Outliers. It is great read though.

Please feel free to share this with all the people who want their kid to
Start K early because they’re “ready”

Its not just age, but jan-august often have an extra season or 2 of playing time as they are in a higher grade. Unless your kid started in preschool.

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible to be really good as the youngest player in age group? Physically and mentally it just seems to hard to be at the same level 11 months younger than teammates and others at same age level. Would welcome any advice and observations on how birth month might impact soccer age groups.

Yes. It’s hard. Llook at any girls ECNL team and you will notice that the majority of players have the “earlier” graduation year...meaning they’re older. I would say 80 percent of any team roster is Jan-June birthdays. The younger kids who make it through tend to be above average. Good won’t cut it when your the younger kid.

Is it possible to be really good as the youngest player in age group? Physically and mentally it just seems to hard to be at the same level 11 months younger than teammates and others at same age level. Would welcome any advice and observations on how birth month might impact soccer age groups.