Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:45
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Best to be on the A team in your age category. There you play the best peers in practice.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was the one who posted this question and glad that someone understood the red shirt simile as I know this doesnt exist but that is essentially what is happening. That said, how are people thinking about using that extra year? I will also be curious if Aspire and RL is offered as an alternative to playing the same age group again. For those with older kids, if you had a free year to get your kid ready, what would you focus on? Would you add emphasis on a particular area? Let's keep the responses limited to u12/u13 ages (kids who get a change to repeat that age level).Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.
It's a great question. This is a unique opportunity for that group.
I would argue this year is the red shirt year as next year age groups will be “correct” as we are in the final year of birth year (for girls). So this is basically a free year which is why I would recommend to an parents on a GA or ECNL team who don’t get a lot of playing time to join a team that gives them more playing opportunities. Maybe practice with ECNL but play with RL for a full game. Hopefully they are doing all the extra trainings they can so they are prepared for what’s going to be a very chaotic tryout this spring.
And there you go.
Play with your grade on the B team + get minutes. If your kid does well eventually A team coaches will notice. Its 1000% better to get minutes on a B team than it is to ride pine on an A team.
You also have to keep in mind that its not just your clubs coaches that are watching top B team players. Other clubs are watching as well and they know dangling an A team rosters spot will bring new players to their club. This is what the crazies that are so hung up on their kid playing on an A team that they would even consider playing down a grade dont understand. B teams arent a prison sentence they're an opportunity for players to prove their abilities.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:38
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Jan-Jul players need to keep growing, too. They'll likely have more than a few of those older players next year. Look for opportunities to guest play or practice with older kids now to help prepare.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:33
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
All Aug-Dec players should sharpen their skills, talk to coaches as they consider all their options for clubs and age divisions to compete for. It'll help if the kid can advocate for themselves. That level of maturity is valued.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:28
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was the one who posted this question and glad that someone understood the red shirt simile as I know this doesnt exist but that is essentially what is happening. That said, how are people thinking about using that extra year? I will also be curious if Aspire and RL is offered as an alternative to playing the same age group again. For those with older kids, if you had a free year to get your kid ready, what would you focus on? Would you add emphasis on a particular area? Let's keep the responses limited to u12/u13 ages (kids who get a change to repeat that age level).Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.
It's a great question. This is a unique opportunity for that group.
I would argue this year is the red shirt year as next year age groups will be “correct” as we are in the final year of birth year (for girls). So this is basically a free year which is why I would recommend to an parents on a GA or ECNL team who don’t get a lot of playing time to join a team that gives them more playing opportunities. Maybe practice with ECNL but play with RL for a full game. Hopefully they are doing all the extra trainings they can so they are prepared for what’s going to be a very chaotic tryout this spring.
And there you go.
Play with your grade on the B team + get minutes. If your kid does well eventually A team coaches will notice. Its 1000% better to get minutes on a B team than it is to ride pine on an A team.
You also have to keep in mind that its not just your clubs coaches that are watching top B team players. Other clubs are watching as well and they know dangling an A team rosters spot will bring new players to their club. This is what the crazies that are so hung up on their kid playing on an A team that they would even consider playing down a grade dont understand. B teams arent a prison sentence they're an opportunity for players to prove their abilities.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:15
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
My daughter is a Dec 2011 her club coach said the plan would be for her to play games with the 11/12 and 11/10 teams next year. Will depend weekly on competition of each team. U15 is not a recruited age group and won’t be part of the majority of showcases so she will be able to play U15/16 all year. Will goto nationals if any teams make it.
Cool.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:08
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was the one who posted this question and glad that someone understood the red shirt simile as I know this doesnt exist but that is essentially what is happening. That said, how are people thinking about using that extra year? I will also be curious if Aspire and RL is offered as an alternative to playing the same age group again. For those with older kids, if you had a free year to get your kid ready, what would you focus on? Would you add emphasis on a particular area? Let's keep the responses limited to u12/u13 ages (kids who get a change to repeat that age level).Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.
It's a great question. This is a unique opportunity for that group.
I would argue this year is the red shirt year as next year age groups will be “correct” as we are in the final year of birth year (for girls). So this is basically a free year which is why I would recommend to an parents on a GA or ECNL team who don’t get a lot of playing time to join a team that gives them more playing opportunities. Maybe practice with ECNL but play with RL for a full game. Hopefully they are doing all the extra trainings they can so they are prepared for what’s going to be a very chaotic tryout this spring.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:02
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Yes, I was the one who posted this question and glad that someone understood the red shirt simile as I know this doesnt exist but that is essentially what is happening. That said, how are people thinking about using that extra year? I will also be curious if Aspire and RL is offered as an alternative to playing the same age group again. For those with older kids, if you had a free year to get your kid ready, what would you focus on? Would you add emphasis on an particular area? Let's keep the responses limited to u12/u13 ages (kids who get a change to repeat that age level).Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.
It's a great question. This is a unique opportunity for that group.
The most important thing they will do is mostly out of your control: aging an extra year, putting on more size and weight prior to going to 11v11 at U13 'for real' (though many will play U12 that will play 11v11). So eating well, sleeping in (or going to bed early), being healthy, getting touches in and gaining confidence.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 15:01
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
My daughter is a Dec 2011 her club coach said the plan would be for her to play games with the 11/12 and 11/10 teams next year. Will depend weekly on competition of each team. U15 is not a recruited age group and won’t be part of the majority of showcases so she will be able to play U15/16 all year. Will goto nationals if any teams make it.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 14:46
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Yes, I was the one who posted this question and glad that someone understood the red shirt simile as I know this doesnt exist but that is essentially what is happening. That said, how are people thinking about using that extra year? I will also be curious if Aspire and RL is offered as an alternative to playing the same age group again. For those with older kids, if you had a free year to get your kid ready, what would you focus on? Would you add emphasis on an particular area? Let's keep the responses limited to u12/u13 ages (kids who get a change to repeat that age level).Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.
It's a great question. This is a unique opportunity for that group.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 14:18
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Some parents will be pushing to stick with their current teams and play in GA/ECNL (perhaps MLSN) next year. They'll think staying will be just spinning their wheels. Additionally, anyone currently at U13, might feel like repeating it would be tough because they'd be paired with kids who haven't played much 11v11.
It'll up to clubs/coaches to highlight the development advantages of this situation. I'm very interested in what'd they say.
Unless they are at small clubs, they will tryout and be evaluated for their new age groups. There will be very little autonomy for 99% of the players impacted (again, if they are at a larger competitive club). It is somewhat of a bummer, but it won't be any different from now (or pre-2016).
Many U12 teams play up a year now (to get 11v11 experience) so I would assume that will 100% happen now. I expect a lot of shuffling in 26/27 but teams will likely then re-shuffle a lot in 27/28 based on results (even more so than normal).
Anonymous
10/14/2025 14:07
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Some parents will be pushing to stick with their current teams and play in GA/ECNL (perhaps MLSN) next year. They'll think staying will be just spinning their wheels. Additionally, anyone currently at U13, might feel like repeating it would be tough because they'd be paired with kids who haven't played much 11v11.
It'll up to clubs/coaches to highlight the development advantages of this situation. I'm very interested in what'd they say.
It'll up to clubs/coaches to highlight the development advantages of this situation. I'm very interested in what'd they say.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 14:07
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.
It's a great question. This is a unique opportunity for that group.
2010 BY trapped players will get an extra year of recruiting if they switch to the lower level SY team.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 14:06
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Same for the kids in u13 now. They will have 1-2 years playing 11v11 and the new age group will be full of kids who have never played a 11 a side game.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 14:03
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.
It's a great question. This is a unique opportunity for that group.
Anonymous
10/14/2025 13:45
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Changing topics to what I hope is a more productive discussion, for the kids that get red shirted a year before GA, ECNL, MLS, etc., what do you work on with the extra year? Do you stay the course or any new areas you might work on with the extra year? What stands out the most from an evaluation standpoint?
Theres no such thing as redshirting in youth club soccer. This is because eligibility is bookended by dates currently in BY 1/1-12/31 and soon to change to SY 8/1-7/31.
If you hold your kid back in school they'll play on the grade up team in club. Basically nullifying the advantage you get from redshirting and trying to play againt younger players..
Most clubs do let u18 Juniors and u19 Seniors play together on a mixed u18/u19 team. This is the one time a holdback could play on a team with their grade. (which isnt really a team exclusively that grade)
I think what the poster meant is that some kids playing U12 now (who would have been U13 in 26/27 and starting ECNL for example) are going to get an extra year at U12... Not actual red shirting.