Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Grade year enhances opportunities to "play with friends" and kids who play with their friends and schoolmates are more likely to continue playing the sport than kids who are playing with random fellow players. While many friendships do arise in these random travel situations, in younger kids these relationships aren't as strong as the relationships they have with their classmates.

I disagree with this analysis. I can't say whether my kid has "stronger relationships" with travel soccer friends or classmates. But what I can say is that not playing with kids that he was initially friends with has required him to branch out and meet a new friend group - so now he has a larger group of friends overall.

Why don’t you ask them if they would enjoy it more with their school friends or their soccer teammates?

Anonymous wrote:

Grade year enhances opportunities to "play with friends" and kids who play with their friends and schoolmates are more likely to continue playing the sport than kids who are playing with random fellow players. While many friendships do arise in these random travel situations, in younger kids these relationships aren't as strong as the relationships they have with their classmates.

I disagree with this analysis. I can't say whether my kid has "stronger relationships" with travel soccer friends or classmates. But what I can say is that not playing with kids that he was initially friends with has required him to branch out and meet a new friend group - so now he has a larger group of friends overall.

Grade year enhances opportunities to "play with friends" and kids who play with their friends and schoolmates are more likely to continue playing the sport than kids who are playing with random fellow players. While many friendships do arise in these random travel situations, in younger kids these relationships aren't as strong as the relationships they have with their classmates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Kids with July birthdays can play soccer on their high school teams in 8th grade; September through December born players cannot. In addition, July born kids under the old system were playing with other players in the same grade. Not every team is DA/ECNL level. Why is that so hard to understand?

Yup. And what does HS soccer have to do with travel soccer?

There is no travel season for 8th graders with Fall birthdays because all of their Jan-Aug teammates are Freshmen in HS and playing HS soccer. DA is a minute portion of kids playing soccer across the DMV...a teeny, tiny portion. The majority of players are eligible and do play HS soccer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Yes, an accommodation that travel soccer doesn’t need to make for a competing organization.

HS soccer sucks.
Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Kids with July birthdays can play soccer on their high school teams in 8th grade; September through December born players cannot. In addition, July born kids under the old system were playing with other players in the same grade. Not every team is DA/ECNL level. Why is that so hard to understand?

Yup. And what does HS soccer have to do with travel soccer?

There is no travel season for 8th graders with Fall birthdays because all of their Jan-Aug teammates are Freshmen in HS and playing HS soccer. DA is a minute portion of kids playing soccer across the DMV...a teeny, tiny portion. The majority of players are eligible and do play HS soccer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Kids with July birthdays can play soccer on their high school teams in 8th grade; September through December born players cannot. In addition, July born kids under the old system were playing with other players in the same grade. Not every team is DA/ECNL level. Why is that so hard to understand?

Yup. And what does HS soccer have to do with travel soccer?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Kids with July birthdays can play soccer on their high school teams in 8th grade; September through December born players cannot. In addition, July born kids under the old system were playing with other players in the same grade. Not every team is DA/ECNL level. Why is that so hard to understand?

They should play with kids their own age, not grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Kids with July birthdays can play soccer on their high school teams in 8th grade; September through December born players cannot. In addition, July born kids under the old system were playing with other players in the same grade. Not every team is DA/ECNL level. Why is that so hard to understand?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Kids with July birthdays can play soccer on their high school teams in 8th grade; September through December born players cannot. In addition, July born kids under the old system were playing with other players in the same grade. Not every team is DA/ECNL level. Why is that so hard to understand?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Kids with July birthdays can play soccer on their high school teams in 8th grade; September through December born players cannot. In addition, July born kids under the old system were playing with other players in the same grade. Not every team is DA/ECNL level. Why is that so hard to understand?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”

Kids with July birthdays quit the sport under the old cutoff too the difference is you didn’t care then.

Anonymous wrote:^Im assuming a team that is a member of FIFA. Not any MLS team—but International professional teams and USMNT (which there would be more than 1 player but the group represents about 0.0001% of US kids currently playing soccer).

The point is the switch to relative age was kind of stupid for a Nation like ours that is completely different. The switch has ultimately led to more American kids dropping the sport. It’s created a trap and loss of teams for 8th and 12th grade kids w/ fall bdays.

“When it comes to all the professional soccer leagues in Europe, their seasons mostly run from mid-August until the end of May. Here in the states, Major League Soccer will start in March and conclude their season in either November or December. For European teams, their goal doesn’t stop at being champion of their league. Probably the most major difference between the MLS and European leagues is the fact that the MLS doesn’t relegate teams. Soccer teams in Europe that perform badly during the season are sent down, or relegated to a lower division. While the top teams from a lower division are promoted to a higher league. The MLS doesn’t follow that structure. Instead, teams that perform poorly are rewarded higher picks in the league's player draft.”