If you want, try to play up (with your current team for those Aug/Dec kids) until it matters - recruiting age. Then, it makes no sense to be the youngest on an older team who is all going to graduate a year before you, if of course the goal is to go to college. Scouts will be looking at your teammates, and not you. And then when it’s time for them to look at you, your team will be too old for prime recruiting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its so weird to me that some people are excited that their kid will be able to play down against younger opponents. This is what's wrong with youth soccer. P2P grade grouping is ridiculous.

It’s not playing down…it’s finally playing with your grade level. It not a bad thing to want that to see how your players stacks up with their peers.

No, it's not playing down -- which would happen in HS regardless. BUT there's more context. Anyone Aug-Dec in the current system has played a season longer and perhaps on larger fields sooner. In that view for those players, going from BY to SY is moving down and many hope to be the ones that get to stay with their current teams (although that's not as likely). This is why some were hoping for more of a phase-in than what we got.

Anonymous wrote:Its so weird to me that some people are excited that their kid will be able to play down against younger opponents. This is what's wrong with youth soccer. P2P grade grouping is ridiculous.

It’s not playing down…it’s finally playing with your grade level. It not a bad thing to want that to see how your players stacks up with their peers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

100% untrue.

Source: am parent of Q4 on top ECNL team

It is going to vary by club. Our club has three youngers. Two are top players on current team and have already been told they will stay up. The thrid is a 1st of the bench type and will most likely drop down. The team above us only has two youngers that may or may not drop down.

There will be less movement than people think. Especially at the u15 and up ages. And it wont be the kids that matter for the most part.

Not sure why you think kids won't change clubs. Like from a top clubs 2nd team one year up to your kids team. Lots of surprises in store.

Or a top Aug to Dec ECNL player on maybe a middle tier ECNL team then switching top a top nationally ranked team the age group lower for another club.

My area has 5 ECNL clubs within an hour of each other. Lots of moving will happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

100% untrue.

Source: am parent of Q4 on top ECNL team

It is going to vary by club. Our club has three youngers. Two are top players on current team and have already been told they will stay up. The thrid is a 1st of the bench type and will most likely drop down. The team above us only has two youngers that may or may not drop down.

There will be less movement than people think. Especially at the u15 and up ages. And it wont be the kids that matter for the most part.

Not sure why you think kids won't change clubs. Like from a top clubs 2nd team one year up to your kids team. Lots of surprises in store.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what ECNL 25/26 rules come out? Is it August?

Meant When?

Does anyone know what ECNL 25/26 rules come out? Is it August?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

What's best for the club is to give starters whatever they want. Because these players can easily go somewhere else.

At least with olders this is how things will work.

ECNL Rosters are public and I bet most will playing in the appropriate AG in '26. Yes the whole "going somewhere else" is exactly why everyone will be on age. The whole system is being reshuffled.

Wouldn't surprise me if they aren't public for much longer -- at least during this transition.

Being public has been one of the best anti-cheat methods. In the old days when National Premier league was the top league, lots of age cheating and ringers on rosters would have been solved with public rosters.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

100% untrue.

Source: am parent of Q4 on top ECNL team

Source: am parent of Q4 on a top ECNL team - and it's going to change - see how each situation is different

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its so weird to me that some people are excited that their kid will be able to play down against younger opponents. This is what's wrong with youth soccer. P2P grade grouping is ridiculous.

I’m sorry….i know you’re upset about the switch and wanted your kid to continue playing against kids a grade below…

Survey says... Wrong

My kid is a u14 born in September. We'll probably stay with the current team even if the rules change to allow playing down.

If your kid is good enough to compete and play enough minutes with the newly formed age group that’s great for them.
My daughter is developed enough physically as an October born player to compete and play enough with 2010s coming into the mix. She is a small 2011.

The great thing about the age group change in my opinion is it allows kids to stay and play up a grade or go join their school grade teams.

This is stupid. Your kid has bigger 2011s to play with??? Makes no sense.

For us 2010 is my daughters level. We know all the coaches, all the players, and know everyone involved.

What I find funny is my kids team plays 1 and 2 year older teams all the time. Also she used to play futsal on a boys team + 2008 girls team.

What are you going to do when your kid plays down a year and still rides pine?

Idk cry I guess?…. :_c

More likely you'll find some other excuse. Some new way to make your kid a victim.

I just said I’d cry… isn’t that enough for you!

Anonymous wrote:I love how everyone is assuming they’ll just continue to play “up” with their current team. We will see if that holds true when other kids start showing up to your practices that are more than a year older and better than your little Suzy.

Some kids will be able to buy I’d guess are 75% of players will have to join their new age groups.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

100% untrue.

Source: am parent of Q4 on top ECNL team

It is going to vary by club. Our club has three youngers. Two are top players on current team and have already been told they will stay up. The thrid is a 1st of the bench type and will most likely drop down. The team above us only has two youngers that may or may not drop down.

There will be less movement than people think. Especially at the u15 and up ages. And it wont be the kids that matter for the most part.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

100% untrue.

Source: am parent of Q4 on top ECNL team

Your mileage may vary. Clubs not at the top and looking to improve might not follow that strategy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

100% untrue.

Source: am parent of Q4 on top ECNL team

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many littles parents commenting with authority.

Here's how it really works if your kid is a starter. Your clubs coach will ask your kid if they want to continue playing on their current team. If they yes the conversation is over.

If your kid is bench they'll just move them however they want.

What? Completely false at the ECNL level. They will do what is best for the club and that 99% of the time will mean playing with the new AG.

What's best for the club is to give starters whatever they want. Because these players can easily go somewhere else.

At least with olders this is how things will work.

ECNL Rosters are public and I bet most will playing in the appropriate AG in '26. Yes the whole "going somewhere else" is exactly why everyone will be on age. The whole system is being reshuffled.

Wouldn't surprise me if they aren't public for much longer -- at least during this transition.