Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 20:05     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.

It would be funny if this happened.

All the littles leagues who currently have all the registrations before u13 will suddently be cut in half. All because they listened to ECNL. If they had done nothing they'd have more money and no extra work.


Cut in half? Mlsnext clubs make up a very small percentage of the total number of clubs at the ulittle ages.

The percentage doesnt matter. The fact that littles leagues would be doing more work to make less money does.


They should make more money long term, or at least that’s the goal.

Maybe mlsnext will do this. They certainly need to do something, two different age cutoffs within the same club isn’t going to work.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:48     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.

It would be funny if this happened.

All the littles leagues who currently have all the registrations before u13 will suddently be cut in half. All because they listened to ECNL. If they had done nothing they'd have more money and no extra work.



It wasn’t ECNLs doing per se. The switch to BY last decade wasn’t a sound move and most clubs and parents were wanting to switch back. Those opposed were mostly parents with kids born in Jan-June.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:48     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.

It would be funny if this happened.

All the littles leagues who currently have all the registrations before u13 will suddently be cut in half. All because they listened to ECNL. If they had done nothing they'd have more money and no extra work.


Cut in half? Mlsnext clubs make up a very small percentage of the total number of clubs at the ulittle ages.

The percentage doesnt matter. The fact that littles leagues would be doing more work to make less money does.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:46     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.


Maybe, but they will be SY age cutoffs. Possible: The badge design for MLSN 3 will be an image of a kid missing the ball… let it sit for a minute.

Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:44     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.

It would be funny if this happened.

All the littles leagues who currently have all the registrations before u13 will suddently be cut in half. All because they listened to ECNL. If they had done nothing they'd have more money and no extra work.


Cut in half? Mlsnext clubs make up a very small percentage of the total number of clubs at the ulittle ages.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:40     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.


Maybe, but they will be SY age cutoffs. Possible: The badge design for MLSN 3 will be an image of a kid missing the ball… let it sit for a minute.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:33     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.

It would be funny if this happened.

All the littles leagues who currently have all the registrations before u13 will suddently be cut in half. All because they listened to ECNL. If they had done nothing they'd have more money and no extra work.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:29     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Id never date your Mom because theres a 1 in 11 chance she's a keeper.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:29     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

MLSN will start their own pre-MLS league U10-12 and will have 3 tiers of MLSN leagues for clubs. They are working on developing this for their clubs.

Next year be ready to hear about it.

MLSN, MLSN 2, MLSN 3 and Pre MLSN.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:22     Subject: Re:ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most insightful response. So youth soccer kids pre-2017 were not eligible to play pro soccer?

Back then MLS didnt control the league. Now they control MLSN.

Next stupid question please.


This imaginary control will go bye bye if MLSN don’t go along with the new cutoffs. ECNL will flourish in that space especially since more kids are chasing college vs pros.

Tell be youre a girl dad without telling me.


I’m actually your mom.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:21     Subject: Re:ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most insightful response. So youth soccer kids pre-2017 were not eligible to play pro soccer?

Back then MLS didnt control the league. Now they control MLSN.

Next stupid question please.


This imaginary control will go bye bye if MLSN don’t go along with the new cutoffs. ECNL will flourish in that space especially since more kids are chasing college vs pros.

Tell be youre a girl dad without telling me.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:19     Subject: Re:ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most insightful response. So youth soccer kids pre-2017 were not eligible to play pro soccer?

Back then MLS didnt control the league. Now they control MLSN.

Next stupid question please.


This imaginary control will go bye bye if MLSN don’t go along with the new cutoffs. ECNL will flourish in that space especially since more kids are chasing college vs pros.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:18     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

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:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The tool on soccer website is up. Can’t imagine the cluster if clubs (and their parents/kids) are subjected to two registration systems. Kids can be u12 or u13 depending on A vs B vs C team…WTF!

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator


We should have all stayed BY just cause it’s easier to understand, but if the U system identification is going to mean 2 different things depending on which league the team plays for within the same club or between clubs for that matter, then about it.


Parent of a fall boy and yes, staying BY would have been preferable to two different registration systems. We potentially will drop down an age group to a SY team to then skip u12 to go up to a BY team.


Most places this "choice" isn't going to be up to you. There's no dropping up or down. There is just the new normal.


I’m not following you. The age group is the age group. Mlsnext club and u8-u12 will be SY and u13 and older will be BY. If he’s placed appropriately for his age, he will repeat an age group at the ulittle ages and then skip an age group to go to an mlsnext team.


Some parents feel that their kid is super special will stay with the current team and play up. While some kids will play up for various reasons, there's absolutely no reason to assume you are guaranteed to stay on your current team just because you've been there with a fall birthday.


Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. Repeating an age group and then skipping an age group is what would happen because we aren’t guaranteed to stay with the current team. Would rather have everything stay BY than deal with this.


well in my kid's personal case - she's an oct 2013 starting on a pre-ecnl North Atlantic team (yes real pre-ecnl not just a stupid label). She made the ECNL team for this fall and will repeat it likely next fall. It's not "perfect", but I'm guessing the expectation will be to stay on age. It hasn't actually been mentioned specifically yet, but it's easy to see how things will go. She could have 100% stayed on the current team, but she'll now be the oldest and essentially repeat a year. I'll take this over being trapped and misaligned during recruiting years.


This explains why you are not understanding what the pp is saying. Unless mlsnext changes to SY, the experience of a girl with a fall birthday at an ecnl club will be different from a boy with a fall birthday at or entering an mlsnext club.

Now let’s move on. With all the futsal national finals this week, anyone hearing if futsal will switch to SY this year?


Confirmed they are


Can you provide more information about futsal switching to SY for 25/26? Tryouts are next month but I’ve yet to see any formal announcement.


I’m sure Trish informed them of MLSN plans too. 🤣


MLSN is staying BY, I heard that from a USYS league rep in my area.

Why would a USYS league rep have insider MLSN info? I think MLSN will stay BY as well but my random guess isnt any different that a USYS person's random guess.


They were involved with committees when USSF was deciding on what to do. Said big reason ussf didn’t mandate age change was because MLSN was strongly against the change.

Just what I was told not sure why they would lie about that.

However, with the entire pipeline going SY, they will likely acquiesce.

You dont understand how pro soccer (which MLSN is more aligned) works. SY doesnt make sense in the professional world.

As long as MLSN controls the professional pathway if they choose to stay BY that's just how it will be. If anything top players will acquiesce into MLSN + BY defined leagues.


Why don’t you educate us all then why BY is better in the professional world?

Because grade in school has no bearing on playing professionally.

Next stupid question please


It’s not grade in school though. It’s not GY. 1/1, 8/1, 9/1… all just date cutoffs. England plays with a 9/1 cutoff. Other countries play with a 1/1 cutoff. England seems to do fine developing pro players as do countries with a 1/1 system. Is there a US specific reason that a 8/1 cutoff will hinder pro development and a 1/1 cutoff is necessary?

There are reasons that the US isn’t developing pros at the same rate as other countries. I just don’t buy that the cutoff date matters.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:15     Subject: ECNL moving to school year not calendar

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:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:The tool on soccer website is up. Can’t imagine the cluster if clubs (and their parents/kids) are subjected to two registration systems. Kids can be u12 or u13 depending on A vs B vs C team…WTF!

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator


We should have all stayed BY just cause it’s easier to understand, but if the U system identification is going to mean 2 different things depending on which league the team plays for within the same club or between clubs for that matter, then about it.


Parent of a fall boy and yes, staying BY would have been preferable to two different registration systems. We potentially will drop down an age group to a SY team to then skip u12 to go up to a BY team.


Most places this "choice" isn't going to be up to you. There's no dropping up or down. There is just the new normal.


I’m not following you. The age group is the age group. Mlsnext club and u8-u12 will be SY and u13 and older will be BY. If he’s placed appropriately for his age, he will repeat an age group at the ulittle ages and then skip an age group to go to an mlsnext team.


Some parents feel that their kid is super special will stay with the current team and play up. While some kids will play up for various reasons, there's absolutely no reason to assume you are guaranteed to stay on your current team just because you've been there with a fall birthday.


Yes. That’s exactly what I’m saying. Repeating an age group and then skipping an age group is what would happen because we aren’t guaranteed to stay with the current team. Would rather have everything stay BY than deal with this.


well in my kid's personal case - she's an oct 2013 starting on a pre-ecnl North Atlantic team (yes real pre-ecnl not just a stupid label). She made the ECNL team for this fall and will repeat it likely next fall. It's not "perfect", but I'm guessing the expectation will be to stay on age. It hasn't actually been mentioned specifically yet, but it's easy to see how things will go. She could have 100% stayed on the current team, but she'll now be the oldest and essentially repeat a year. I'll take this over being trapped and misaligned during recruiting years.


This explains why you are not understanding what the pp is saying. Unless mlsnext changes to SY, the experience of a girl with a fall birthday at an ecnl club will be different from a boy with a fall birthday at or entering an mlsnext club.

Now let’s move on. With all the futsal national finals this week, anyone hearing if futsal will switch to SY this year?


Confirmed they are


Can you provide more information about futsal switching to SY for 25/26? Tryouts are next month but I’ve yet to see any formal announcement.


I’m sure Trish informed them of MLSN plans too. 🤣


MLSN is staying BY, I heard that from a USYS league rep in my area.

Why would a USYS league rep have insider MLSN info? I think MLSN will stay BY as well but my random guess isnt any different that a USYS person's random guess.


They were involved with committees when USSF was deciding on what to do. Said big reason ussf didn’t mandate age change was because MLSN was strongly against the change.

Just what I was told not sure why they would lie about that.

However, with the entire pipeline going SY, they will likely acquiesce.

You dont understand how pro soccer (which MLSN is more aligned) works. SY doesnt make sense in the professional world.

As long as MLSN controls the professional pathway if they choose to stay BY that's just how it will be. If anything top players will acquiesce into MLSN + BY defined leagues.


Why don’t you educate us all then why BY is better in the professional world?

Because grade in school has no bearing on playing professionally.

Next stupid question please


Nor does birth year. Next stupid response please

BY (Birth Year) can work with pro and youth league groupings. This is because everyone has a birthday.

SY (School Year) implies that you have to be in school to make the grouping work.


Everyone in the Aug 1st cutoff will have a birthday too. No way you wrote this response with a straight face. Just trolling you are.
Anonymous
Post 07/19/2025 19:10     Subject: Re:ECNL moving to school year not calendar

Anonymous wrote:Most insightful response. So youth soccer kids pre-2017 were not eligible to play pro soccer?

Back then MLS didnt control the league. Now they control MLSN.

Next stupid question please.