Anonymous
Post 11/26/2025 00:07     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone going to mention the first two tiers of boys college recruiting are MLS Club academies then MLS Next teams
Both are BY and school grades are not on anyone's radar


Its because with BY "trapped" players are playing up not down.


Playing up means playing in an older age group
Trapped players today hardly ever play up since they are the youngest in their age group


Yeah, for the vast majority of fall/q4 players they will actually be playing with kids in their own grade for once in their playing careers. The focus on a tiny number of August kids who might play with kids a grade lower than them is purely caused by on one Mr Delusional August Guy.

It will be interesting to see how these players do and how they’ll adapt. Many will be put into leadership positions they don’t have prior experience with having always been the youngest.


My Q4 player on a MLS Next team has one kid from his school on his team and they're in different grades

Why people keeping talking about being friends in the same grade when the players go to all different schools is ludicrously silly
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 20:17     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Seems like Rush understand that if young Aug/Sept birthdays plan to get recruited and play in college that they need to "play up" with their grade. Thats a lot of words to address something that isnt a big deal.

Its like going into a tire shop at the end of summer and the salesperson keeps pushing you to the snow tire section. Sure they'll sell you anything you want but they're also trying to gently hint that with winter coming you would probably want to buy snow tires.

The more parents understand that you cant get recruited for college while playing down a grade the more they'll demand that their kid plays on the correct grade team.

Fomo is just how soccer moms work and because of it they wont want their kid playing down a grade. Unless their kid literally has no chance at playing in college. In that case it doesnt matter. But it will piss off A team parents that are playing the correct grade. Which will eventually out your kid on the B team and playing down.


I love when Delusional August Guy responds to himself. The clubs are telling you what they are going to do. Yet you continue to skip your meds, put your fingers in your ears, act a fool and blabber.

The person you keep going after is 100% correct. You're the only one that doesnt get it. Why would a club play players on a grade lower team? Especially if they want them to play in college. It doesnt make any sense.
It's because they want to put together the best teams, they need to compete with teams that will play everyone on age, they want simple rules to follow, they are following the advice of leagues, they only want the very best kids playing up regardless of grade, they know putting kids a year up puts them at a disadvantage for playing time/positions and the big one is that kids leave teams every year so teams aren't realistically going to keep a kid for more than a few years. Clubs know what they are doing on this one.


What's funny about this person's concern with players playing with kids a grade younger than them is that it is way way way more common right fricking now, under the current system! Every top team I am aware of has kids from multiple grades on it, and no one cares.

But somehow, under the seasonal system, wherein far fewer players will be playing with kids a grade younger than them, it is a major issue worth spending 50 pages on. Plus, we have link after link after link with clubs explicitly saying they are forming teams by age range, not grade, and the dude still won't stop.

You are such a sneaky lier.

Yes there are multiple grades playing in a BY showcase. This is because in BY theres more trapped players than in SY. Also the players that you see in the BY "wrong g" grade are playing up. With SY and young Aug/Sept players they would be playing down. This is a HUGE difference.

Players playing up a grade are recruitable

Players playing down a grade are not recruitable.


It really is this simple.


This will only make sense when all parents realize that not every kid is recruitable. Not every kid is going to play in college. Not every kid is going to play D1

How many parents you know will want their kid grouped into a situation that more likely wont get recruited for playing in college.

All because the club values short term wins over long term development?


Your kid's development is your responsibility
Why would you sit them at a club doing nothing for them?

This is exactly the arguement.

One person is trying to explain why you dont want to play down. (college recruiting)

The other person is trying to convince people that playing down is no big deal.

Ask yourself. If you were a college coach and your job depended on wins would you be looking to roster players that are playing down a grade against younger players than their grade in school?

See how it works? It makes sense to group players by grade as young as possible to set them up for being recruited to play in college when theyre older.
College coaches know how to evaluate players so they would take the best players regardless of other players on the field. Being the youngest in the age group is a ticket to playing another sport not college soccer. Just have your DD play up to avoid the August girl you don't like.

Its the play down for wins thought processes.

As opposed to the play up for development.

We didnt have to deal with this type of thinking pre 2017


What are you talking about Delusional August Guy? Pre-BY the teams were by the same seasonal window as is proposed now! It was 8/1 - 7/31 and that is what everyone based their teams around!

People see though you.

And yes, pre 2017 ie when everyone was SY before switching to BY the top teams were all grouped by grade and it was rare to see players playing down.


This is made up nonsense. You’re just lying to everyone and yourself now. They were grouped by the age bracket, anyone who was there knows this. I’d ask you to stop but we all know that’s pointless.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 20:15     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone going to mention the first two tiers of boys college recruiting are MLS Club academies then MLS Next teams
Both are BY and school grades are not on anyone's radar


Its because with BY "trapped" players are playing up not down.


Playing up means playing in an older age group
Trapped players today hardly ever play up since they are the youngest in their age group


Yeah, for the vast majority of fall/q4 players they will actually be playing with kids in their own grade for once in their playing careers. The focus on a tiny number of August kids who might play with kids a grade lower than them is purely caused by on one Mr Delusional August Guy.

It will be interesting to see how these players do and how they’ll adapt. Many will be put into leadership positions they don’t have prior experience with having always been the youngest.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 17:02     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:Its going to be entertaining when ECNL posts rosters next season and all the top teams will be grouped by grade / graduation year.
Seriously, not worth costing your daughter her future by trying to get the last laugh as a contrarian on an anonymous forum when easily dozens of people said your understanding of youth soccer is illogical. Make sure to have a back up team for her ready to go, like many should for next year as it will be musical chairs even moreso than usual. Nothing worse than falling for clubs saying, nothing will change don't worry and then getting demoted a level mid-May or even worse, stuck on the bench come Sept.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:34     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This guy has to have crossed the line into spam by now. This is 100% false information.

The guy calling other people names must work for a crappy club that doesnt want to get called out for losing to grade in school teams
Only clown move with naming calling I am aware of is someone without a clue reverting to saying that posters have Ulittles and don't know anything when they are backed into a corner.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:31     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is frustrating about this conversation is that it always reverts back to a debate about the merits of playing up or down. The reality is that the vast majority of kids/families won't have a choice with regard to the agegroup so we will all be at the mercy of these clubs. I, for one, am interested in what is actually going to happen and not what people think about these aug/sept kids playing with a grade up or a grade down.

Clubs will group by ability and potential for players to get recruited. If parents say nothing they might try to put grade older players on grade down teams. Smart parents that value development over wins will always want their kid to play on the correct grade team that is in alignement with their grade in school.
Yes, smart parents complain to clubs continually about team placements not just about their kid but also randos that aren't there's. Very smart. And clubs love to keep these smart parents around to double check their work.

Pp is right, "The reality is that the vast majority of kids/families won't have a choice with regard to the agegroup so we will all be at the mercy of these clubs."
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:26     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:What is frustrating about this conversation is that it always reverts back to a debate about the merits of playing up or down. The reality is that the vast majority of kids/families won't have a choice with regard to the agegroup so we will all be at the mercy of these clubs. I, for one, am interested in what is actually going to happen and not what people think about these aug/sept kids playing with a grade up or a grade down.
Agree, that is why the club info has been useful. Consensus so far is everyone plays on age except Aug-Dec kids already in clubs have a chance to play up on a case by case basis but there clubs would prefer them to play on age.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:23     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:This guy has to have crossed the line into spam by now. This is 100% false information.

The guy calling other people names must work for a crappy club that doesnt want to get called out for losing to grade in school teams
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:22     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Seems like Rush understand that if young Aug/Sept birthdays plan to get recruited and play in college that they need to "play up" with their grade. Thats a lot of words to address something that isnt a big deal.

Its like going into a tire shop at the end of summer and the salesperson keeps pushing you to the snow tire section. Sure they'll sell you anything you want but they're also trying to gently hint that with winter coming you would probably want to buy snow tires.

The more parents understand that you cant get recruited for college while playing down a grade the more they'll demand that their kid plays on the correct grade team.

Fomo is just how soccer moms work and because of it they wont want their kid playing down a grade. Unless their kid literally has no chance at playing in college. In that case it doesnt matter. But it will piss off A team parents that are playing the correct grade. Which will eventually out your kid on the B team and playing down.


I love when Delusional August Guy responds to himself. The clubs are telling you what they are going to do. Yet you continue to skip your meds, put your fingers in your ears, act a fool and blabber.

The person you keep going after is 100% correct. You're the only one that doesnt get it. Why would a club play players on a grade lower team? Especially if they want them to play in college. It doesnt make any sense.
It's because they want to put together the best teams, they need to compete with teams that will play everyone on age, they want simple rules to follow, they are following the advice of leagues, they only want the very best kids playing up regardless of grade, they know putting kids a year up puts them at a disadvantage for playing time/positions and the big one is that kids leave teams every year so teams aren't realistically going to keep a kid for more than a few years. Clubs know what they are doing on this one.


What's funny about this person's concern with players playing with kids a grade younger than them is that it is way way way more common right fricking now, under the current system! Every top team I am aware of has kids from multiple grades on it, and no one cares.

But somehow, under the seasonal system, wherein far fewer players will be playing with kids a grade younger than them, it is a major issue worth spending 50 pages on. Plus, we have link after link after link with clubs explicitly saying they are forming teams by age range, not grade, and the dude still won't stop.

You are such a sneaky lier.

Yes there are multiple grades playing in a BY showcase. This is because in BY theres more trapped players than in SY. Also the players that you see in the BY "wrong g" grade are playing up. With SY and young Aug/Sept players they would be playing down. This is a HUGE difference.

Players playing up a grade are recruitable

Players playing down a grade are not recruitable.


It really is this simple.


This will only make sense when all parents realize that not every kid is recruitable. Not every kid is going to play in college. Not every kid is going to play D1

How many parents you know will want their kid grouped into a situation that more likely wont get recruited for playing in college.

All because the club values short term wins over long term development?


Your kid's development is your responsibility
Why would you sit them at a club doing nothing for them?

This is exactly the arguement.

One person is trying to explain why you dont want to play down. (college recruiting)

The other person is trying to convince people that playing down is no big deal.

Ask yourself. If you were a college coach and your job depended on wins would you be looking to roster players that are playing down a grade against younger players than their grade in school?

See how it works? It makes sense to group players by grade as young as possible to set them up for being recruited to play in college when theyre older.
College coaches know how to evaluate players so they would take the best players regardless of other players on the field. Being the youngest in the age group is a ticket to playing another sport not college soccer. Just have your DD play up to avoid the August girl you don't like.

Its the play down for wins thought processes.

As opposed to the play up for development.

We didnt have to deal with this type of thinking pre 2017
It's not playing down. That is your own invention. It is playing to win. It is why you play the game.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:21     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:What is frustrating about this conversation is that it always reverts back to a debate about the merits of playing up or down. The reality is that the vast majority of kids/families won't have a choice with regard to the agegroup so we will all be at the mercy of these clubs. I, for one, am interested in what is actually going to happen and not what people think about these aug/sept kids playing with a grade up or a grade down.

Clubs will group by ability and potential for players to get recruited. If parents say nothing they might try to put grade older players on grade down teams. Smart parents that value development over wins will always want their kid to play on the correct grade team that is in alignement with their grade in school.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:11     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone going to mention the first two tiers of boys college recruiting are MLS Club academies then MLS Next teams
Both are BY and school grades are not on anyone's radar


Its because with BY "trapped" players are playing up not down.


Playing up means playing in an older age group
Trapped players today hardly ever play up since they are the youngest in their age group
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:10     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

What is frustrating about this conversation is that it always reverts back to a debate about the merits of playing up or down. The reality is that the vast majority of kids/families won't have a choice with regard to the agegroup so we will all be at the mercy of these clubs. I, for one, am interested in what is actually going to happen and not what people think about these aug/sept kids playing with a grade up or a grade down.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 16:00     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

This guy has to have crossed the line into spam by now. This is 100% false information.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 15:58     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Seems like Rush understand that if young Aug/Sept birthdays plan to get recruited and play in college that they need to "play up" with their grade. Thats a lot of words to address something that isnt a big deal.

Its like going into a tire shop at the end of summer and the salesperson keeps pushing you to the snow tire section. Sure they'll sell you anything you want but they're also trying to gently hint that with winter coming you would probably want to buy snow tires.

The more parents understand that you cant get recruited for college while playing down a grade the more they'll demand that their kid plays on the correct grade team.

Fomo is just how soccer moms work and because of it they wont want their kid playing down a grade. Unless their kid literally has no chance at playing in college. In that case it doesnt matter. But it will piss off A team parents that are playing the correct grade. Which will eventually out your kid on the B team and playing down.


I love when Delusional August Guy responds to himself. The clubs are telling you what they are going to do. Yet you continue to skip your meds, put your fingers in your ears, act a fool and blabber.

The person you keep going after is 100% correct. You're the only one that doesnt get it. Why would a club play players on a grade lower team? Especially if they want them to play in college. It doesnt make any sense.
It's because they want to put together the best teams, they need to compete with teams that will play everyone on age, they want simple rules to follow, they are following the advice of leagues, they only want the very best kids playing up regardless of grade, they know putting kids a year up puts them at a disadvantage for playing time/positions and the big one is that kids leave teams every year so teams aren't realistically going to keep a kid for more than a few years. Clubs know what they are doing on this one.


What's funny about this person's concern with players playing with kids a grade younger than them is that it is way way way more common right fricking now, under the current system! Every top team I am aware of has kids from multiple grades on it, and no one cares.

But somehow, under the seasonal system, wherein far fewer players will be playing with kids a grade younger than them, it is a major issue worth spending 50 pages on. Plus, we have link after link after link with clubs explicitly saying they are forming teams by age range, not grade, and the dude still won't stop.

You are such a sneaky lier.

Yes there are multiple grades playing in a BY showcase. This is because in BY theres more trapped players than in SY. Also the players that you see in the BY "wrong g" grade are playing up. With SY and young Aug/Sept players they would be playing down. This is a HUGE difference.

Players playing up a grade are recruitable

Players playing down a grade are not recruitable.


It really is this simple.


This will only make sense when all parents realize that not every kid is recruitable. Not every kid is going to play in college. Not every kid is going to play D1

How many parents you know will want their kid grouped into a situation that more likely wont get recruited for playing in college.

All because the club values short term wins over long term development?


Your kid's development is your responsibility
Why would you sit them at a club doing nothing for them?

This is exactly the arguement.

One person is trying to explain why you dont want to play down. (college recruiting)

The other person is trying to convince people that playing down is no big deal.

Ask yourself. If you were a college coach and your job depended on wins would you be looking to roster players that are playing down a grade against younger players than their grade in school?

See how it works? It makes sense to group players by grade as young as possible to set them up for being recruited to play in college when theyre older.
College coaches know how to evaluate players so they would take the best players regardless of other players on the field. Being the youngest in the age group is a ticket to playing another sport not college soccer. Just have your DD play up to avoid the August girl you don't like.

Its the play down for wins thought processes.

As opposed to the play up for development.

We didnt have to deal with this type of thinking pre 2017


What are you talking about Delusional August Guy? Pre-BY the teams were by the same seasonal window as is proposed now! It was 8/1 - 7/31 and that is what everyone based their teams around!

People see though you.

And yes, pre 2017 ie when everyone was SY before switching to BY the top teams were all grouped by grade and it was rare to see players playing down.
Anonymous
Post 11/25/2025 15:52     Subject: Trapped/Re-aging Families, How are you having the conversation?

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Seems like Rush understand that if young Aug/Sept birthdays plan to get recruited and play in college that they need to "play up" with their grade. Thats a lot of words to address something that isnt a big deal.

Its like going into a tire shop at the end of summer and the salesperson keeps pushing you to the snow tire section. Sure they'll sell you anything you want but they're also trying to gently hint that with winter coming you would probably want to buy snow tires.

The more parents understand that you cant get recruited for college while playing down a grade the more they'll demand that their kid plays on the correct grade team.

Fomo is just how soccer moms work and because of it they wont want their kid playing down a grade. Unless their kid literally has no chance at playing in college. In that case it doesnt matter. But it will piss off A team parents that are playing the correct grade. Which will eventually out your kid on the B team and playing down.


I love when Delusional August Guy responds to himself. The clubs are telling you what they are going to do. Yet you continue to skip your meds, put your fingers in your ears, act a fool and blabber.

The person you keep going after is 100% correct. You're the only one that doesnt get it. Why would a club play players on a grade lower team? Especially if they want them to play in college. It doesnt make any sense.
It's because they want to put together the best teams, they need to compete with teams that will play everyone on age, they want simple rules to follow, they are following the advice of leagues, they only want the very best kids playing up regardless of grade, they know putting kids a year up puts them at a disadvantage for playing time/positions and the big one is that kids leave teams every year so teams aren't realistically going to keep a kid for more than a few years. Clubs know what they are doing on this one.


What's funny about this person's concern with players playing with kids a grade younger than them is that it is way way way more common right fricking now, under the current system! Every top team I am aware of has kids from multiple grades on it, and no one cares.

But somehow, under the seasonal system, wherein far fewer players will be playing with kids a grade younger than them, it is a major issue worth spending 50 pages on. Plus, we have link after link after link with clubs explicitly saying they are forming teams by age range, not grade, and the dude still won't stop.

You are such a sneaky lier.

Yes there are multiple grades playing in a BY showcase. This is because in BY theres more trapped players than in SY. Also the players that you see in the BY "wrong g" grade are playing up. With SY and young Aug/Sept players they would be playing down. This is a HUGE difference.

Players playing up a grade are recruitable

Players playing down a grade are not recruitable.


It really is this simple.


This will only make sense when all parents realize that not every kid is recruitable. Not every kid is going to play in college. Not every kid is going to play D1

How many parents you know will want their kid grouped into a situation that more likely wont get recruited for playing in college.

All because the club values short term wins over long term development?


Your kid's development is your responsibility
Why would you sit them at a club doing nothing for them?

This is exactly the arguement.

One person is trying to explain why you dont want to play down. (college recruiting)

The other person is trying to convince people that playing down is no big deal.

Ask yourself. If you were a college coach and your job depended on wins would you be looking to roster players that are playing down a grade against younger players than their grade in school?

See how it works? It makes sense to group players by grade as young as possible to set them up for being recruited to play in college when theyre older.
College coaches know how to evaluate players so they would take the best players regardless of other players on the field. Being the youngest in the age group is a ticket to playing another sport not college soccer. Just have your DD play up to avoid the August girl you don't like.

Its the play down for wins thought processes.

As opposed to the play up for development.

We didnt have to deal with this type of thinking pre 2017


What are you talking about Delusional August Guy? Pre-BY the teams were by the same seasonal window as is proposed now! It was 8/1 - 7/31 and that is what everyone based their teams around!