Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 10:01     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:For Arlington it appears at the younger age groups they are separating based on date of birth (Aug-July) and for the HS age groups they are also taking into consideration Grade. So August and Sept kids who didn't "reclassify" are going to scrimmage with the older age group at least for the first scrimmage.


Thread OP and this is very helpful! TY! - Waiting to see what our club does as we come out of the winter hiatus.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 09:42     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:For Arlington it appears at the younger age groups they are separating based on date of birth (Aug-July) and for the HS age groups they are also taking into consideration Grade. So August and Sept kids who didn't "reclassify" are going to scrimmage with the older age group at least for the first scrimmage.


Do you anticipate big changes to current starters due to kids moving down for SY on top teams or are teams looking to have a bigger team than normal?
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 09:38     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
For Arlington it appears at the younger age groups they are separating based on date of birth (Aug-July) and for the HS age groups they are also taking into consideration Grade. So August and Sept kids who didn't "reclassify" are going to scrimmage with the older age group at least for the first scrimmage.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 09:09     Subject: Re:Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My kid is a Q4 birthday and made the u13 ECNL/GA team for the older SY team (e.g. playing up, when they could play u12 again). Our DC will be playing a SY up since they'll be 1. a starter and 2. playing against better competition at every practice. Since 9v9 play only happens once a week at games, I don't buy the small vs big field argument. My kid plays well on 11v11, though I could see some kids benefitting from a confidence boost by staying at their SY if they have superior technical skills. 11v11 is different game from 9v9 and some kids that excel at 9v9 don't excel at 11v11 and vice versa. My kid plays better at 11v11, so I have no concerns missing out on an extra chance at 9v9.


This is interesting insight. Do you mind providing more insight on what you're of players may excel more when they move to 11v11 over 9v9? And vice versa?


DP - but it's almost like a different sport (depending on how big those 9v9 fields were). So much more space and time for defenses to actually shut down one dominant player. Some kids have outgrown the field and develop bad habits that "win", much like 12 year old little leaguers hitting pop flys that would be an out but are home runs on the small field. Of course good coaching could stop the bad habits and everyone could get more time on the ball 9v9, but high level just defaults to whatever wins. 11 v 11 you really need top end speed/endurance to replicate what works on 9v9.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 08:53     Subject: Re:Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:My kid is a Q4 birthday and made the u13 ECNL/GA team for the older SY team (e.g. playing up, when they could play u12 again). Our DC will be playing a SY up since they'll be 1. a starter and 2. playing against better competition at every practice. Since 9v9 play only happens once a week at games, I don't buy the small vs big field argument. My kid plays well on 11v11, though I could see some kids benefitting from a confidence boost by staying at their SY if they have superior technical skills. 11v11 is different game from 9v9 and some kids that excel at 9v9 don't excel at 11v11 and vice versa. My kid plays better at 11v11, so I have no concerns missing out on an extra chance at 9v9.


This is interesting insight. Do you mind providing more insight on what you're of players may excel more when they move to 11v11 over 9v9? And vice versa?
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 08:38     Subject: Re:Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
My kid is a Q4 birthday and made the u13 ECNL/GA team for the older SY team (e.g. playing up, when they could play u12 again). Our DC will be playing a SY up since they'll be 1. a starter and 2. playing against better competition at every practice. Since 9v9 play only happens once a week at games, I don't buy the small vs big field argument. My kid plays well on 11v11, though I could see some kids benefitting from a confidence boost by staying at their SY if they have superior technical skills. 11v11 is different game from 9v9 and some kids that excel at 9v9 don't excel at 11v11 and vice versa. My kid plays better at 11v11, so I have no concerns missing out on an extra chance at 9v9.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 07:36     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
If your kid is a current U12 Dec Bday and makes the top ECNL/ GA level for next year, would you let your kid continue into 11v11 next year or would you keep them with their grade to get more experience at 9v9 and strengthen their small sided game? Assume they are middle of the pack player.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 15:49     Subject: Re:Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
That’s not what I’m saying. Almost all the players will play in their new SY age group. They are holding the scrimmages not to determine age groups, but to determine level within the age group. They have six teams per age group. Instead of slight changes based on player improvement, or lack thereof and a few new players, they have to take almost half of the age group above and let go of almost half of their age group. They don’t know how all these girls stack up against each other. That’s why they are doing the scrimmages and why it’s going to be hard to make the teams.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 10:29     Subject: Re:Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:Arlington has not done these scrimmages before this year. And, I doubt kids were scrimmaging across age groups much, if at all, before.

In the past, one age group’s coaches knew how each kid played and was improving over the course of the year, but not how they compared to kids a year older or a year younger. Now, they have to try to determine that and slot kids into teams accordingly.


Nonsense
They like every club will have to register kids in their age group

The very few exceptional kids if any will play up a year. As it is now.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 09:40     Subject: Re:Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Arlington has not done these scrimmages before this year. And, I doubt kids were scrimmaging across age groups much, if at all, before.

In the past, one age group’s coaches knew how each kid played and was improving over the course of the year, but not how they compared to kids a year older or a year younger. Now, they have to try to determine that and slot kids into teams accordingly.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 09:20     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:Arlington is doing age group scrimmages. Starting with the same level (ie the ECNL teams are playing older/younger ECNL teams, red team is playing the older/younger red teams, and on down the line) playing together and seeing how that goes. Surprised that was the choice as most of the coaches seem to think the older group will move up at least one level, but we were told that’s just the starting point, and the next scrimmage could be different.

There was always a decent amount of movement on teams; this year there will be a lot more.


Haven't clubs been doing pre season scrimmages for years?

Doesn't Arlington like every other club have to register kids in the age group where they fall, unless they deem a kid good enough to play up in age?
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 23:38     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Arlington is doing age group scrimmages. Starting with the same level (ie the ECNL teams are playing older/younger ECNL teams, red team is playing the older/younger red teams, and on down the line) playing together and seeing how that goes. Surprised that was the choice as most of the coaches seem to think the older group will move up at least one level, but we were told that’s just the starting point, and the next scrimmage could be different.

There was always a decent amount of movement on teams; this year there will be a lot more.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 19:02     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:In most leagues this will be a huge reshuffle but a one and done. We are however in a MLSN club and on the AD team, which is a whole mess with us going to SY and the HD staying BY.

Either would have been fine, staying BY for AD or switching to SY for both. The split spoils the draw of AD as a feeder (at least theoretically) to HD for Q3/Q4 kids. The illusion as it were is killed, and that might damage the league's ability to recruit competitively in the future.

For us specifically, we were annoyed, talked it over, and we agreed that neither the commitment nor the drive is there for our family to pursue HD or ECNL NL. We like the club enough to just stick around and switch to the younger team next year. It did take a bit to sink in and we looked around at the huge range of different options before deciding to roll with it.



Youth soccer is tough and provides life lessons -- how hard work can rewarded but not always and then what. Sounds like you are at the then what. Hope you find a good situation this fall and who knows maybe not chasing badges brings out the best for your kid where someone will come knocking.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 18:36     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
In most leagues this will be a huge reshuffle but a one and done. We are however in a MLSN club and on the AD team, which is a whole mess with us going to SY and the HD staying BY.

Either would have been fine, staying BY for AD or switching to SY for both. The split spoils the draw of AD as a feeder (at least theoretically) to HD for Q3/Q4 kids. The illusion as it were is killed, and that might damage the league's ability to recruit competitively in the future.

For us specifically, we were annoyed, talked it over, and we agreed that neither the commitment nor the drive is there for our family to pursue HD or ECNL NL. We like the club enough to just stick around and switch to the younger team next year. It did take a bit to sink in and we looked around at the huge range of different options before deciding to roll with it.

Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 18:08     Subject: Age Change Discussion/Impacts (Except for August Birthdays Playing "Down")
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are you starting a new thread when you aready have one and then saying you will report anyone who doesn't support what you are saying? Why the drama?


There is no agreeing/disagreeing - if you want to talk about Aug players go there. This about how clubs and families are being impacted in every other scenario.

Again if you take August players out of the mix changing from BY to SY is no big deal.

The only players impacted will be HS level who are in the college recruitment phase.

I guess people might have issues with Jersey numbers. But clubs will use this an an opportunity for them to make more $$$ forcing everyone to buy a new kit.
Aug and Sept. a lot of states Oct 1 is cut off for school grades


Great! The other thread in the first post is perfect for you. A lot do start Aug1/Sept1 as well so those kids will now be aligned. This thread had to be created because of two individuals who argued non-stop about that one point. Discuss it over there.