Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:58
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:3. Everybody but you.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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Most people dont understand groupings in that much detail. This allows people like yourself to say things like XYZ isnt possible or ABC doesnt work. You have no proof for your statements and are saying them because your end goal is to introduce GY into youth soccer.
When people have more information about whats possible. Especially something simple like adding a rule into SY that younger players must play woth their grade more educated and informed decisions. will be made.
Let's see which groups wouldn't like a rule saying younger players must play with their grade team.
1. Older holdbacks that want to play on a team with younger players.
2. Younger players that started school too early. These players probabaly wont make an A team either way but why did their parents choose to enroll them early in school. Was it because they wanted them to compete / associate with older kids? Same thing happens in sports. Play up and you'll get better faster.
You are hypocritically introducing grades in the grouping which is a big step towards GY while accusing other that don't want grades as a criteria of being pro-GY. It makes no sense.
People dont mind grouping by grade.
People hate GY because holdbacks 1-2 years older exploit the rules to play on teams with younger players.
SY 8/1-7/31 with a rule that younger players must play on a team with their grade in school Is what people want. You get groupings by grade but holdbacks cant participate by playing down.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:54
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:To find the troll, find a mirror.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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Oh how I wish he would listen to this post because that would mean a high likelihood of never hearing from him again.
But this may be his only social outlet so very doubtful he ever stops posting.
But at least he is no longer telling everyone how wrong they are about GA moving to SY😂
For now keep lobbying DCUM for no more anonymous posters or a mute button based on IP. Or at least publish the IP.
DCUM deals with trolls like you that camp on threads all day long. I wouldn't be surprised if you got banned and the thread just stopped.
You're now trying to dox people because your campaign for GY isnt working.
Is that what you did?
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:53
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Maybe a special rule for MLSN/GA but the other leagues are acting in concert and it would be too late for them to coordinate on a special qualifier that goes against the current age criteria. If there is a problem it will take a year to develop and a year to implement, they could fix it for the 2028-29 season.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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Ok so you're admitting that you dont have a copy of the rules and that they arent drafted yet.
Stop being a know it all and shut up. You have no idea whats been or what will be in the rules for next season.
Again, you are just making things up.
US Club could easily add a "guidance" that players should play with their grade in school team not on a grade down team even when playing down is technically possible.
Do this and leagues dont even need to police the action. Clubs will get the hint and so will parents and group players by grade.
Boom 💥 by u14 all players on teams are the same grade in school.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:53
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
To find the troll, find a mirror.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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Oh how I wish he would listen to this post because that would mean a high likelihood of never hearing from him again.
But this may be his only social outlet so very doubtful he ever stops posting.
But at least he is no longer telling everyone how wrong they are about GA moving to SY😂
For now keep lobbying DCUM for no more anonymous posters or a mute button based on IP. Or at least publish the IP.
DCUM deals with trolls like you that camp on threads all day long. I wouldn't be surprised if you got banned and the thread just stopped.
You're now trying to dox people because your campaign for GY isnt working.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:50
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
3. Everybody but you.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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Most people dont understand groupings in that much detail. This allows people like yourself to say things like XYZ isnt possible or ABC doesnt work. You have no proof for your statements and are saying them because your end goal is to introduce GY into youth soccer.
When people have more information about whats possible. Especially something simple like adding a rule into SY that younger players must play woth their grade more educated and informed decisions. will be made.
Let's see which groups wouldn't like a rule saying younger players must play with their grade team.
1. Older holdbacks that want to play on a team with younger players.
2. Younger players that started school too early. These players probabaly wont make an A team either way but why did their parents choose to enroll them early in school. Was it because they wanted them to compete / associate with older kids? Same thing happens in sports. Play up and you'll get better faster.
You are hypocritically introducing grades in the grouping which is a big step towards GY while accusing other that don't want grades as a criteria of being pro-GY. It makes no sense.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:47
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Maybe a special rule for MLSN/GA but the other leagues are acting in concert and it would be too late for them to coordinate on a special qualifier that goes against the current age criteria. If there is a problem it will take a year to develop and a year to implement, they could fix it for the 2028-29 season.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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Ok so you're admitting that you dont have a copy of the rules and that they arent drafted yet.
Stop being a know it all and shut up. You have no idea whats been or what will be in the rules for next season.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:41
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
A rule forcing August players to play up on some but not all states would be GY creeping in and would be inconsistent nationally. But the FAQ says grades don't matter so they have locked out creeping GY rules outAnonymous 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:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Adding a rule forces far too many younger players into the 12-month window, especially in states where this is more prevalent. And at higher-level teams, you'll be taking away spots from kids who are properly in the correct 12-month window. I can hear the parents griping now -- well, we had to take that younger kid -- it's a rule! That's not helpful.
At most theres a potential variance of 3 months and these are edge case situations with very few actual teams affected.
Then a rule isn't needed, because mandating it means MORE players who have to play up because of a rule and not based on ability. It should be all about ability and flexibility -- otherwise it'll be a disaster.
The rule is needed partially to align players by grade. But mostly to block people like you from slipping GY into you soccer.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:40
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Oh how I wish he would listen to this post because that would mean a high likelihood of never hearing from him again.
But this may be his only social outlet so very doubtful he ever stops posting.
But at least he is no longer telling everyone how wrong they are about GA moving to SY😂
For now keep lobbying DCUM for no more anonymous posters or a mute button based on IP. Or at least publish the IP.
DCUM deals with trolls like you that camp on threads all day long. I wouldn't be surprised if you got banned and the thread just stopped.
You're now trying to dox people because your campaign for GY isnt working.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:36
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
[/quote]
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.[/quote]
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.[/quote]
They do in ECNL not sure about GA[/quote]
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way. [/quote]
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.[/quote]
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.[/quote]
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.[/quote]
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
[b]Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases[/b]?[/quote]
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same. [/quote]
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.[/quote]
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?[/quote]
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.[/quote]
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively [/quote]
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.[/quote]
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.[/quote]
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.[/quote]Based on sanctioning, ECNL can't make grade rules but GA could. GA doesn't care about matching rules with other leagues but forcing August kids to play up a year would make their teams even younger than ECNL and considering they are now 2nd tier that would be a bad idea to put them at more of a disadvantage. Also, don't think GA want to be known as the GY league if they are trying to pretend to be a pro path.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
[/quote]
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.[/quote]
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.[/quote]
They do in ECNL not sure about GA[/quote]
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way. [/quote]
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.[/quote]
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.[/quote]
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.[/quote]
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
[b]Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases[/b]?[/quote]
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same. [/quote]
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.[/quote]
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?[/quote]
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.[/quote]
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively [/quote]
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.[/quote]
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.[/quote]
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.[/quote]Based on sanctioning, ECNL can't make grade rules but GA could. GA doesn't care about matching rules with other leagues but forcing August kids to play up a year would make their teams even younger than ECNL and considering they are now 2nd tier that would be a bad idea to put them at more of a disadvantage. Also, don't think GA want to be known as the GY league if they are trying to pretend to be a pro path.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:36
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
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:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Most people dont understand groupings in that much detail. This allows people like yourself to say things like XYZ isnt possible or ABC doesnt work. You have no proof for your statements and are saying them because your end goal is to introduce GY into youth soccer.
When people have more information about whats possible. Especially something simple like adding a rule into SY that younger players must play woth their grade more educated and informed decisions. will be made.
Let's see which groups wouldn't like a rule saying younger players must play with their grade team.
1. Older holdbacks that want to play on a team with younger players.
2. Younger players that started school too early. These players probabaly wont make an A team either way but why did their parents choose to enroll them early in school. Was it because they wanted them to compete / associate with older kids? Same thing happens in sports. Play up and you'll get better faster.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:30
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
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:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Ok so you're admitting that you dont have a copy of the rules and that they arent drafted yet.
Stop being a know it all and shut up. You have no idea whats been or what will be in the rules for next season.
Please move on. It is just boring at this point watching randos wander in here and argue the same point over and over.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:25
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
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:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Oh how I wish he would listen to this post because that would mean a high likelihood of never hearing from him again.
But this may be his only social outlet so very doubtful he ever stops posting.
But at least he is no longer telling everyone how wrong they are about GA moving to SY😂
For now keep lobbying DCUM for no more anonymous posters or a mute button based on IP. Or at least publish the IP.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:23
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
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:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Ok so you're admitting that you dont have a copy of the rules and that they arent drafted yet.
Stop being a know it all and shut up. You have no idea whats been or what will be in the rules for next season.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:17
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
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:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Nobody cares about GY and nobody cares about your weird August vendetta. It is just you and your personas.
I care, and I think its a very good idea. You seem like the only one with a vendetta. Might want to update your responses because it looks like your arch enemy expanded scope by not calling out Aug in reference to younger players.
You are the same person. No one cares. Move on. It is great you think it is good idea but the rules are already set and done. If you feel this passionately about it, go lobby your local club to put in place your weird August grade rules. I'm sure they will be all over it.
You've received a copy of the 2026/27 league rules? You know the one leagues haven't released yet. Just stop lieing. Even after the rules are released leagues can add amendments whenever they want.
Stop man. The decision is done. Every league (excepting MLSN) will run standard SY 8/1-7/31 as suggested. There are no amendments to that and there will be none. Just like how there are none now.
Why not stop making these arguments now and just wait for the 'rules' to come out so you can wave all of the August grade rules in everyone's faces? That will feel great won't it? So please, just stop until then.
Anonymous
10/13/2025 11:10
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
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:Anonymous wrote:So talking with a friend of mine at the ECNL showcase this weekend. Also I’ll say he told me last summer at surf cup about the age change that was coming and has some very reliable people that he knows. Here is the info I got. It sounds like the Aug hater might get their way and kids will play within their grade within the new 12 month window.
Well sort of…
According to him ECNL is most likely breaking into 3 different groups. Youngers U10-12 and U13-15 and older recruiting ages U16,17,19.
U10-15 will no longer play showcases but will have various cups throughout the year with divisions and tournament champions. Strong RL teams will be invited to these as well.
U10-15 will be based only off the Aug to July 12 month window. However U16/17 will be based off players grades between that 12 month window. So some kids will be pushed up for showcases so they will play against kids within their same grade. League play is still tbd. He didn’t know for sure.
U19 will be for any player who is a senior in high school, age will not matter as long as they are under 19 at the start their club season.
He also has more questions than answers at this point but this is what’s being discussed by ECNL/US Club admin team.
This is already happening? The ECNL showcase this weekend is up to U15 which are the non recruited age groups.
I like the idea of getting away from showcases and adding cups with strong RL teams is smart because that will attract more players to RL.
This won’t be a big change and aligning kids within their same grade U16 and up for showcases to me isn’t a big deal as showcases are meant for recruiting.
I don’t think clubs should or will force players up for league play as they want to be competitive and show how strong their teams are. Kids can always play up if they are capable and willing.
As long as results from showcases don’t matter I completely agree.
They do in ECNL not sure about GA
They do this year. It should be obvious but that would have to change if they were going to use GY for showcases sophomore year and up next year.
Nothing would change for league play, it would still be 8/1-7/31.
I find it hard to believe people would care a ton about exhibition showcases but my kids are aligned so I don't care much either way.
I highly doubt this would work.
Currently theres 3 levels at showcases. Mixing everyone together on the same teams would be 1/3 the amount of games. Assuming they stuck with the one game per day rule.
On top of that Sophmores would get screwed out of their recruitment opportunity when they're the players colleges coaches want to see the most.
I’m not understanding this.. please explain how sophomores are losing out.
I really don’t understand so break it down for me. Please and thank you.
It all depends on how GY showcases are defined. If its purely by grade only what will happen is parents will hold their kid back in school usually up to 2x. This will make them an 18 year old Sophmore. In league games they'd need to play on the u18/u19 team but at showcases they could play on the Sophmore u16 and u17 team.
Do you want holdbacks that are 2 years older than your kid playing with /against them at showcases?
That’s who you are competing with for college spots.
League games are for competition first with some recruiting. Showcases are for recruiting only. They are not the same.
Parents when people tell you who they are listen to them.
The people that dont want a SY 8/1-7/31 rule that younger players play on a team with their grade. Don't want this because they know it will kill GY and players playing 1-2 years down on ECNL teams. They want club soccer to be like HS Soccer.
How is a 2010 player playing 2011 or 2012 in ECNL today?
They want ECNL to adopt the MLS biobanding bullshit, so they can play down to cheat.
Do some reading on Relative Age Effect and biobanding in how it's been used for many years in Europe effectively
Only in the true Academy teams, not in P2P clubs. ECNL leadership is very firm on not letting biobanding slip in.
Instead of biobanding ECNL uses the term "u18/u19" also many of the parents on this thread think ECNL will use "GY at Showcases".
Apparently playing down is good when we do it. But everyone else is a cheater.
This is how GY sneaks into youth sports. Generally some sob story edge case is used as the justification. Once implemented real players exploit the rule and sob story edge case never sees the field.
Instead of all the shell games just add a rule to SY 8/1-7/31 that says younger players must play on the team thats their grade in school.
If you do this parents wont be able to push for GY any more because all players on the field at games will be the same grade. Also no player will be older than 8/1 that grade/year. The GY parents that want to play their 1 or 2 year holdbacks down on your kids team wont matter and nobody will listen to them because the players on each team are all already the same grade.
Adding a rule forces far too many younger players into the 12-month window, especially in states where this is more prevalent. And at higher-level teams, you'll be taking away spots from kids who are properly in the correct 12-month window. I can hear the parents griping now -- well, we had to take that younger kid -- it's a rule! That's not helpful.
At most theres a potential variance of 3 months and these are edge case situations with very few actual teams affected.
Then a rule isn't needed, because mandating it means MORE players who have to play up because of a rule and not based on ability. It should be all about ability and flexibility -- otherwise it'll be a disaster.
Hahaha so I see you've switched to argueing for BY again 🤣
Not in the least. This rule -- if adopted -- would favor players currently favored in BY by reducing the number of players from Aug-Oct and making them the youngest on the teams -- whether they are good enough or not. Also, you of all people -- who have long argued about kids losing a spot -- should understand that younger kids, even on a B team, shouldn't knock out someone who is legitimately in an age group and has no other options. It's like you want special treatment for these Aug-Oct kids to play up, rather than ability.
Wow the mental gymnastics are stunning.
BY players born in 1/1 will be 5 months younger that SY players in rare edge cases they'll still be 2 months younger. There is no situation where a BY player will ever have an advantage over SY.