Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 13:01     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

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:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.
You assumed the kid wants to play in college so you could spit out more garbage on how you think colleges select players. They take the best players they can.

I assume every kid wants the opportunity to play in college.

You seem to want to take that from them.
Bad assumptions and trying to apply girl soccer rules to boys doesn't work.

I should have said option not opportunity.

Playing down a grade takes that away.
That isn't girls soccer, it's boys.

OK go dazzle coaches with your ability to play down.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 12:43     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.
You assumed the kid wants to play in college so you could spit out more garbage on how you think colleges select players. They take the best players they can.

I assume every kid wants the opportunity to play in college.

You seem to want to take that from them.
Bad assumptions and trying to apply girl soccer rules to boys doesn't work.

I should have said option not opportunity.

Playing down a grade takes that away.
That isn't girls soccer, it's boys.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 12:39     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.
You assumed the kid wants to play in college so you could spit out more garbage on how you think colleges select players. They take the best players they can.

I assume every kid wants the opportunity to play in college.

You seem to want to take that from them.
Bad assumptions and trying to apply girl soccer rules to boys doesn't work.

I should have said option not opportunity.

Playing down a grade takes that away.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 12:34     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.
You assumed the kid wants to play in college so you could spit out more garbage on how you think colleges select players. They take the best players they can.

I assume every kid wants the opportunity to play in college.

You seem to want to take that from them.
Bad assumptions and trying to apply girl soccer rules to boys doesn't work.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 12:26     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Sure.

Before this change the vast majority of August-December birthdays WERE REQUIRED to 1.) play with kids a grade above 2.) be on the low end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be smaller in size, and 4.) deal with trapped player issues in high school There was no chance for flexibility to play down.

With the new change a much smaller amount of August-September birthdays (the ones that would be considered young for their grade) MAY have to play with 1.) kids a grade below, 2.) be on the upper end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be bigger in size, and 4.) deal with less severe "reverse" trapped player issues in high school. Lastly, there is flexibility to continue "playing up" with their grade level depending on the club.

I'm sorry your kid will fit into that small group that potentially gets hurt by this change (if your club doesn't let them play up). But multiply that by 3 or 4 times and you can see how bad it was for the vast majority of Aug-Dec kids before the change, who didn't even have flexibility.


The benefits of this are only the trapped player issue. This has zero effect on RAE except that it now gives the advantage to Q4 players vs. Q1 players. it's still a one year age group. In reality, it's a disadvantageous change for 3/4 of players that now have older kids coming into their age group.

I agree that “pure” RAE hasn’t really changed. However, I’d argue that the birth-year system created an RAE+ effect. Beyond the usual age-related differences, Q4 kids were often less socially and emotionally mature because they were a grade lower, they typically started organized soccer a year later (since many rec leagues use grade-based entry), and they were less likely to play with friends. That combination reduced enjoyment and hurt retention.

With birth-year grouping, Q4 kids faced a compounding set of disadvantages rather than just RAE alone. With the switch to the seasonal-year system, we’re essentially back to a “pure” RAE without those added factors—and in my view, that’s an improvement.

Stop with the nonsense "Pure" is something you made up and are trying to propagate. Rae affects littles and goes away as players get older. No matter how you slice an eligibility window someone is going to be oldest and someone else is going to be youngest 12 months is 12 months.

If you want to play at the highest level you need to drop the excuses and play with the hand your delt.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 12:22     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.
You assumed the kid wants to play in college so you could spit out more garbage on how you think colleges select players. They take the best players they can.

I assume every kid wants the opportunity to play in college.

You seem to want to take that from them.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 11:28     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Sure.

Before this change the vast majority of August-December birthdays WERE REQUIRED to 1.) play with kids a grade above 2.) be on the low end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be smaller in size, and 4.) deal with trapped player issues in high school There was no chance for flexibility to play down.

With the new change a much smaller amount of August-September birthdays (the ones that would be considered young for their grade) MAY have to play with 1.) kids a grade below, 2.) be on the upper end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be bigger in size, and 4.) deal with less severe "reverse" trapped player issues in high school. Lastly, there is flexibility to continue "playing up" with their grade level depending on the club.

I'm sorry your kid will fit into that small group that potentially gets hurt by this change (if your club doesn't let them play up). But multiply that by 3 or 4 times and you can see how bad it was for the vast majority of Aug-Dec kids before the change, who didn't even have flexibility.


The benefits of this are only the trapped player issue. This has zero effect on RAE except that it now gives the advantage to Q4 players vs. Q1 players. it's still a one year age group. In reality, it's a disadvantageous change for 3/4 of players that now have older kids coming into their age group.

I agree that “pure” RAE hasn’t really changed. However, I’d argue that the birth-year system created an RAE+ effect. Beyond the usual age-related differences, Q4 kids were often less socially and emotionally mature because they were a grade lower, they typically started organized soccer a year later (since many rec leagues use grade-based entry), and they were less likely to play with friends. That combination reduced enjoyment and hurt retention.

With birth-year grouping, Q4 kids faced a compounding set of disadvantages rather than just RAE alone. With the switch to the seasonal-year system, we’re essentially back to a “pure” RAE without those added factors—and in my view, that’s an improvement.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 11:16     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:In what world do ECNL bench warmers make MLS 1 teams in the age group they are already bench warmers in? Make that make sense.


Combine RAE with your inflated view of MLSN1 and I’m sure you can figure it out.


But the age groups in ECNL and MLSN1 are the same now... so you're saying that a kid who is a 2010 ECNL bench warmer this year (born Jan-March 2010) would succeed trying out and making an existing 2010 MLSN1 team where the age group is still BY? Few and far between. I think what's more likely is that ECNL bench warmer is replaced on his ECNL team by an ECNL-RL 2009 or MLSN2 2009 born in Aug.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 11:09     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.
You assumed the kid wants to play in college so you could spit out more garbage on how you think colleges select players. They take the best players they can.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:46     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

We’re excited to welcome you to Mesa, Arizona for the premier winter showcase and the largest scouting and recruiting event on the continent! Over the next two weeks, more than 30,000 of North America’s top elite youth soccer talent will take the field, gaining unmatched exposure to hundreds of college soccer program, national team and professional club scouts-all elevated by the energy and atmosphere of the MLS NEXT experience.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:40     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Sure.

Before this change the vast majority of August-December birthdays WERE REQUIRED to 1.) play with kids a grade above 2.) be on the low end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be smaller in size, and 4.) deal with trapped player issues in high school There was no chance for flexibility to play down.

With the new change a much smaller amount of August-September birthdays (the ones that would be considered young for their grade) MAY have to play with 1.) kids a grade below, 2.) be on the upper end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be bigger in size, and 4.) deal with less severe "reverse" trapped player issues in high school. Lastly, there is flexibility to continue "playing up" with their grade level depending on the club.

I'm sorry your kid will fit into that small group that potentially gets hurt by this change (if your club doesn't let them play up). But multiply that by 3 or 4 times and you can see how bad it was for the vast majority of Aug-Dec kids before the change, who didn't even have flexibility.


The benefits of this are only the trapped player issue. This has zero effect on RAE except that it now gives the advantage to Q4 players vs. Q1 players. it's still a one year age group. In reality, it's a disadvantageous change for 3/4 of players that now have older kids coming into their age group.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:26     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.


Seriously don't start in this thread with your #$@#$@#$ - go back to your other thread to spin your deranged nonsense.

You're helping
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:22     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Sure.

Before this change the vast majority of August-December birthdays WERE REQUIRED to 1.) play with kids a grade above 2.) be on the low end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be smaller in size, and 4.) deal with trapped player issues in high school There was no chance for flexibility to play down.

With the new change a much smaller amount of August-September birthdays (the ones that would be considered young for their grade) MAY have to play with 1.) kids a grade below, 2.) be on the upper end of the age spectrum for RAE, 3.) more likely to be bigger in size, and 4.) deal with less severe "reverse" trapped player issues in high school. Lastly, there is flexibility to continue "playing up" with their grade level depending on the club.

I'm sorry your kid will fit into that small group that potentially gets hurt by this change (if your club doesn't let them play up). But multiply that by 3 or 4 times and you can see how bad it was for the vast majority of Aug-Dec kids before the change, who didn't even have flexibility.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:18     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.


Seriously don't start in this thread with your #$@#$@#$ - go back to your other thread to spin your deranged nonsense.
Anonymous
Post 12/04/2025 10:15     Subject: MLS Next Announcement

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So my August birthday U15, 9th grade son will spend next season as a 10th grader playing with a team of 9th graders and, essentially repeating his U15 season? How does that make sense.

If fact, on an MLS2 team of 18 players my son in the only one with an August or later birthday.

And before anyone asks, the enrollment cutoff in our state is 9/1.


There are 50 states and at least 54 soccer associations under USYS plus the District. Someone will always get shafted. If we begin to understand that the USA does not evolve around our little house, city, county or even our state, we will all be better for it.

My kid is a Q4 and left behind this summer as he was not eligible for middle school camps with his teammates. It was the first time we ever noticed we were behind the rest of the team in grade levels as they are not in the same school. Big whoop.

You folks are making this waaaaay harder than it has to be. Everybody will be in one-year brackets just like it has always been. While the reference is SY, don't confuse the fact that it is a 365-day age bracket just like it has always been. There was always trapped players and there will always be trapped players as long as we have state and county autonomy over school districts. If you are dominating MLS NEXT II, do you really think your club or another club in MLS NEXT I won't notice? If a club is dominating MLS NEXT II and sending players to academies, do you really think they won't have the opportunity to be promoted to MLS NEXT I?

This change is as overrated at the Y2K bug that did not blow up my clock at 12:00am on 1/1/2000.


There is no MLS1 option at our current club. Closests ECNL team is 2.5 hours away. My DS already doesn't play with his school friends because most of the HS team are rec players or EDP level. Now he won't be playing with his longtime club friends either and will be finishing out his club career with kids an entire grade below him from completely different school districts. I would love for all the experts in here to explain what supposed benefits this change is supposed to have, because I don't see it.

Theres only 2 ways what you wrote can be true.

1st is if you kid was biobanded has a Junior or Senior in HS which isnt very likely.

2nd is if your kid is a young august birthday for their age and when BY switches to SY chooses to play on a grade down team. This is also very unlikely for a Junior or Senior in HS

99% chance that you are a liar and making things up.


It's #2 in a state with a 9/1 cutoff if you care. So three more years of playing with the players in the grade below him.

You need to speak with your DOC and explain that your kid and you want to be playing on the correct grade team. If they ignore you or your request take your business elsewhere.

Theres an entire thread about the issue with young Aug birthdays playing down a grade. The net is if you do this as an older your kid will have no chance at being recruited to play in college. Also as you've highlighted your kid would rather play with kids in their grade not a grade down.

You're in a unique/ weird situation which is easily addressed in SY by playing up.
Playing MLSN2 as a boy. No real chance for college ball.

The boy should do what he wants, up, down, sideways, it doesn't matter.

There is not an entire thread about August birthdays. Just one yahoo that wants an August girl of his daughter's team at all costs.

So you're saying to not even try to play in college if your kid plays MLS2?

Because if clubs are forcing young Aug players to play on grade down teams that is what's happening.