Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.

https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/

It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player.

The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect.

To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman.

All this underscores the importance of finding the best coach/team you can to continue to develop, which means playing time. So, that could mean playing up or it could mean playing on age. It also means trying to stand out in other ways at ID camps, ODP or even semi-pro teams. And it means try to figure out which schools you want to go to and be deliberate about it and focused sharing your journey and while you're a good fit.

Underlying theme of clubs agreeing with you and are flexible depending on the situation.

Lower level D2 D3 and "other" schools might provide development. Most college coaches are looking for impact players day one that dont require additional training.

Depends on the coach and school I bet pretty much all of them want someone that continues to get better before they show up on campus, so they are ready (which means a team you're starting). But even then, because of other issues noted, freshmen may not start and maybe redshirt, because well, they still gotta keep getting better. Some players don't like these situations so they don't transfer, but if you're there for a degree, you should stick it out and enjoy the ride. All depends on what your goals are.

So now you're trying to argue that a college coach will give a roster spot to an Aug birthday thats playing down a level just to redshirt them their freshman year in college?

Why would they burn a roster spot like this? Just tell them to hold back in HS or come back next year via the portal. Let someone else fill their roster with development players.

Do you even understand how college works?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.

https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/

It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player.

The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect.

To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman.

All this underscores the importance of finding the best coach/team you can to continue to develop, which means playing time. So, that could mean playing up or it could mean playing on age. It also means trying to stand out in other ways at ID camps, ODP or even semi-pro teams. And it means try to figure out which schools you want to go to and be deliberate about it and focused sharing your journey and while you're a good fit.

Underlying theme of clubs agreeing with you and are flexible depending on the situation.

Lower level D2 D3 and "other" schools might provide development. Most college coaches are looking for impact players day one that dont require additional training.

Depends on the coach and school I bet pretty much all of them want someone that continues to get better before they show up on campus, so they are ready (which means a team you're starting). But even then, because of other issues noted, freshmen may not start and maybe redshirt, because well, they still gotta keep getting better. Some players don't like these situations so they don't transfer, but if you're there for a degree, you should stick it out and enjoy the ride. All depends on what your goals are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.

https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/

It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player.

The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect.

To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman.

All this underscores the importance of finding the best coach/team you can to continue to develop, which means playing time. So, that could mean playing up or it could mean playing on age. It also means trying to stand out in other ways at ID camps, ODP or even semi-pro teams. And it means try to figure out which schools you want to go to and be deliberate about it and focused sharing your journey and while you're a good fit.

Underlying theme of clubs agreeing with you and are flexible depending on the situation.

Lower level D2 D3 and "other" schools might provide development. Most college coaches are looking for impact players day one that dont require additional training.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.

https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/

It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player.

The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect.

To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman.

All this underscores the importance of finding the best coach/team you can to continue to develop, which means playing time. So, that could mean playing up or it could mean playing on age. It also means trying to stand out in other ways at ID camps, ODP or even semi-pro teams. And it means try to figure out which schools you want to go to and be deliberate about it and focused sharing your journey and while you're a good fit.

Underlying theme of clubs agreeing with you and are flexible depending on the situation.

Lower level D2 D3 and "other" schools might provide development. Most college coaches are looking for impact players day one that dont require additional training.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.

https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/

How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this.

If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make.

Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only.

College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available.

But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players.

Because

https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups

"The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team."

Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it.

The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class.

Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I will say current Aug high-level players will have the best chance to continue to play up -- although will it do them any good if they are bench players?

Players that end up playing in college generally don't ride the bench. It doesnt matter which level they play at. If you think your kid will ride the bench if they play on the team thats their correct grade in school most likely they're not going to play in college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.

https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/

How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this.

If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make.

Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only.

College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available.

But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players.

Because

https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups

"The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team."

Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it.

The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class.

Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I will say current Aug high-level players will have the best chance to continue to play up -- although will it do them any good if they are bench players?

Players that end up playing in college generally don't ride the bench. It doesnt matter which level they play at. If you think your kid will ride the bench if they play on the team thats their correct grade in school most likely they're not going to play in college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.

https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/

How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this.

If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make.

Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only.

College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available.

But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players.

Because

https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups

"The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team."

Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it.

The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class.

Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I will say current Aug high-level players will have the best chance to continue to play up -- although will it do them any good if they are bench players?

You cant chamge when you were born and college coaches use gradation year for recruiting. These are facts.

Aug birthdays depending on their school district will go from playing up in BY to playing with their grade or playing down in SY. Parents and players will have a choice to make and no matter which choice is made there will be repercussions. Playing with your grade will be what college coaches want to see. If you don't like this fine, hold your kid back a grade and they'll play on the correct grade team in club and their HS graduation year will be aligned.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.

https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/

It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player.

The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect.

To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman.

All this underscores the importance of finding the best coach/team you can to continue to develop, which means playing time. So, that could mean playing up or it could mean playing on age. It also means trying to stand out in other ways at ID camps, ODP or even semi-pro teams. And it means try to figure out which schools you want to go to and be deliberate about it and focused sharing your journey and while you're a good fit.

Underlying theme of clubs agreeing with you and are flexible depending on the situation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.

https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/

It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player.

The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect.

To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman.

All this underscores the importance of finding the best coach/team you can to continue to develop, which means playing time. So, that could mean playing up or it could mean playing on age. It also means trying to stand out in other ways at ID camps, ODP or even semi-pro teams. And it means try to figure out which schools you want to go to and be deliberate about it and focused sharing your journey and while you're a good fit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.

https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/

How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this.

If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make.

Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only.

College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available.

But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players.

Because

https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups

"The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team."

Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it.

The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class.

Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I will say current Aug high-level players will have the best chance to continue to play up -- although will it do them any good if they are bench players?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.

https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/

How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this.

If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make.

Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only.

College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available.

But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players.

Because

https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups

"The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team."

Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it.

The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class.

Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I will say current Aug high-level players will have the best chance to continue to play up -- although will it do them any good if they are bench players?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.

https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/

How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this.

If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make.

Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only.

College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available.

But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players.

Because

https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups

"The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team."

Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it.

The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class.

Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches.

Anonymous wrote:Some reality of whats going on at the collegiate level with teams. I you think Aug birthdays playing down a year will open doors you're going to be sadly mistaken.

https://benslingerland.com/2025/02/19/the-changing-college-soccer-recruiting-landscape/

It’s a really tough time to be a good high school soccer player.

The upcoming NCAA D1 roster cap rule, limiting Division 1 soccer programs (outside of the Ivy’s) to carry a maximum of 28 players in the 2025-26 season, has caused a massive trickle-down effect.

To start, many programs are now cutting players to make room for their incoming classes. This has caused a record number of players to enter the transfer portal (+3500 on the men’s and women’s sides). In addition to players entering the transfer portal due to being cut, several others are entering the transfer portal to simply “level up.” Meaning, for example, if a student-athlete was at an all-conference selection within a mid-major conference, many of those players are now looking for opportunities to make it at a Power 4 school. And many coaches at those Power 4 schools, like the idea of a proven player at the college level rather than rolling the dice on a high school freshman.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another reddit thread with most posts recommending that August birthday players play up with their grade in SY.

https://www.reddit.com/r/youthsoccer/comments/1oe3s52/age_bracket_change/

How about those in September that are also in the higher grade. If you are going to allow August then do the same for September. It’ll be a mess for large clubs to manage this.

If Sept birthdays are a grade up in school but in the lower grade eligibility window in club they'd be in the same situation as Aug birthdays. It all depends on how their school district splits things out. It becomes an even more difficult choice to make.

Just because your district is weird for when they chose to start school doesn't change how college coaches will view players. They see all players by graduation year or grade in school only.

College coaches track graduation year to see when they are allowed to talk to recruits and when they would be available.

But they don't care what age groups they are in as youth players.

Because

https://www.eastsidefc.or.../agegroups

"The new two-year age group structure will not negatively impact college recruiting. College coaches evaluate players based on their performance, development, and potential—not the exact age grouping of their club team."

Correct college coaches use Graduation Year for recruiting. You're finally starting to get it.

The next phase is to admit that players playing down are the least likely to be recruited for their graduation year / class.

Playing with your grade will address the issue making Aug birthday players more marketable to College coaches.