Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new soccer age range in Aug. 1 - July 31. There is no mention of grade. If you have an Aug birthday, congrats! You're the new January kid and will benefit accordingly. Top teams are not going to care what grade their players are in, nor are the scouts. But keep telling yourself whatever you want, it's not going to change anything. Some Aug players will choose to find teams that are in the older age range to match their grade, but a lot will also choose to stay in their age range (regardless of grade). Life goes on.

This is not true when college recruiting is taken into account.

You keep repeating a lie.

College coaches said they don't care about your age or age group. They recruit foreign kids that don't cleanly compare our age groups who are often older, kids from bad youth teams and transfers. They have this recruiting thing down to evaluate talent regardless of who plays on your left or right or what their age is.

College coaches recruit by graduation year (grade in school) not age.

Playing on a grade down team in club makes the youngest players in their grade even less appealing.When compared to everyone else their grade

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new soccer age range in Aug. 1 - July 31. There is no mention of grade. If you have an Aug birthday, congrats! You're the new January kid and will benefit accordingly. Top teams are not going to care what grade their players are in, nor are the scouts. But keep telling yourself whatever you want, it's not going to change anything. Some Aug players will choose to find teams that are in the older age range to match their grade, but a lot will also choose to stay in their age range (regardless of grade). Life goes on.

This is not true when college recruiting is taken into account.

You keep repeating a lie.

College coaches said they don't care about your age or age group. They recruit foreign kids that don't cleanly compare our age groups who are often older, kids from bad youth teams and transfers. They have this recruiting thing down to evaluate talent regardless of who plays on your left or right or what their age is.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The new soccer age range in Aug. 1 - July 31. There is no mention of grade. If you have an Aug birthday, congrats! You're the new January kid and will benefit accordingly. Top teams are not going to care what grade their players are in, nor are the scouts. But keep telling yourself whatever you want, it's not going to change anything. Some Aug players will choose to find teams that are in the older age range to match their grade, but a lot will also choose to stay in their age range (regardless of grade). Life goes on.

This is not true when college recruiting is taken into account.

Why? College coaches now how to recruit and what to look for. They can see if a player is good or not, regardless of what year they graduate. Recruiting is much more about being proactive and reaching out to coaches to come watch your games, and much less about "being seen" by random coaches by chance. If you're doing your job as a recruit and contacting coaches with game schedules, film, etc. they're going to watch you play at these big events, regardless of your graduating class. If the coaches know you're eligible to be recruited, and you've done your legwork, they're going to come and watch. And if you're good and what they want in their program, you'll get an offer. It's that simple. You're overexaggerating an assumed disadvantage with misaligned kids.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRz0wvOpXDU&pp=ygUVVXN5cyB5b3V0aCBhZ2UgY2hhbmdl

President of Tennessee state soccer breaking it all down. Says this will align most kids but some kids like hold backs and kids who districts or parents started them early will still be misaligned.

My club ECNL also said no player will be forced onto an older age group team regardless of grade.

Criteria to play up is given to coaches/clubs to decide but what ECNL has told them is a player can play up if they are a top 5 player on the older team or is misaligned grade called it a reverse trap? But that player still has to be good enough to make and play 40% of the games.

Clubs won’t be held to this but this is the standard ECNL is looking for. Most kids will be moved to appropriate age group based off 8/1.

Explain this to me in simple terms please!

Jan. 13, 2026

US Club Soccer members:

I’m writing to share important and exciting news in US Club Soccer’s history. Effective today, the management agreements with US Club Soccer previously held by a subsidiary of Wasserman have been assigned to U.S. Soccer. The result is US Club Soccer, while still a National Association member of U.S. Soccer, is now also joining the newly formed “Soccer Services” division of the Federation, operating with the same autonomy we’ve had for 25 years but with a greater level of support and resources. If you haven’t already read the press release, you may do so here.

Anonymous wrote:The new soccer age range in Aug. 1 - July 31. There is no mention of grade. If you have an Aug birthday, congrats! You're the new January kid and will benefit accordingly. Top teams are not going to care what grade their players are in, nor are the scouts. But keep telling yourself whatever you want, it's not going to change anything. Some Aug players will choose to find teams that are in the older age range to match their grade, but a lot will also choose to stay in their age range (regardless of grade). Life goes on.

This is not true when college recruiting is taken into account.

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Anonymous wrote:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.

But you're ok with the current system now? For example, 9x 6th graders and 3x 5th graders on a team --which is what we currently have. Don't stress over it, the August and September born 7th graders playing on a predominantly 6th grade team will hardly impact much at all.

The new soccer age range in Aug. 1 - July 31. There is no mention of grade. If you have an Aug birthday, congrats! You're the new January kid and will benefit accordingly. Top teams are not going to care what grade their players are in, nor are the scouts. But keep telling yourself whatever you want, it's not going to change anything. Some Aug players will choose to find teams that are in the older age range to match their grade, but a lot will also choose to stay in their age range (regardless of grade). Life goes on.

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Anonymous wrote:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.

A club makes you a team offer. You accept or decline. Club decides other players. Grade not in travel, it is age based. All facts. Everybody has an opinion but they don't matter if you aren't a decision maker.

Are you dense? As soon as one player changes clubs because of a grade older kid playing down clubs wont allow older kids to play down any longer. If older players were good enough they'd be playing on their grade in school A team. If not they play on their grade in school B team.

Too much speculation to take serious.

Your choose is to be unhappy not dictate new rules that nobody else wants to protect your kid from playing with kids a grade older. They are going to have to toughen up for HS btw.

I don't want tall kids on my kid's team. Soccer should force tall kids to play up. I'm am so unhappy, woo is me.

Ok do whatever you want. Top players will find each other and they'll all group together on the same teams. Players playing down wont be invited.

Put together your mean girls rec team, have fun, nobody will miss you on travel. Playing down on age not allowed, time to move on.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.

A club makes you a team offer. You accept or decline. Club decides other players. Grade not in travel, it is age based. All facts. Everybody has an opinion but they don't matter if you aren't a decision maker.

Are you dense? As soon as one player changes clubs because of a grade older kid playing down clubs wont allow older kids to play down any longer. If older players were good enough they'd be playing on their grade in school A team. If not they play on their grade in school B team.

Too much speculation to take serious.

Your choose is to be unhappy not dictate new rules that nobody else wants to protect your kid from playing with kids a grade older. They are going to have to toughen up for HS btw.

I don't want tall kids on my kid's team. Soccer should force tall kids to play up. I'm am so unhappy, woo is me.

Ok do whatever you want. Top players will find each other and they'll all group together on the same teams. Players playing down wont be invited.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.

A club makes you a team offer. You accept or decline. Club decides other players. Grade not in travel, it is age based. All facts. Everybody has an opinion but they don't matter if you aren't a decision maker.

Are you dense? As soon as one player changes clubs because of a grade older kid playing down clubs wont allow older kids to play down any longer. If older players were good enough they'd be playing on their grade in school A team. If not they play on their grade in school B team.

Too much speculation to take serious.

Your choose is to be unhappy not dictate new rules that nobody else wants to protect your kid from playing with kids a grade older. They are going to have to toughen up for HS btw.

I don't want tall kids on my kid's team. Soccer should force tall kids to play up. I'm am so unhappy, woo is me.

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:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.

A club makes you a team offer. You accept or decline. Club decides other players. Grade not in travel, it is age based. All facts. Everybody has an opinion but they don't matter if you aren't a decision maker.

Are you dense? As soon as one player changes clubs because of a grade older kid playing down clubs wont allow older kids to play down any longer. If older players were good enough they'd be playing on their grade in school A team. If not they play on their grade in school B team.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.

A club makes you a team offer. You accept or decline. Club decides other players. Grade not in travel, it is age based. All facts. Everybody has an opinion but they don't matter if you aren't a decision maker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.

That's literally the situation right now.
School grade is irrelevant to an age based system regardless of when the cutoffs are.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way. They will gladly take the August kid on the SY A team if they are good enough to make it. Clubs care about winning far more than grade alignment.

Not when it causes drama and issues for the club.

Allowing kids to play up in bulk numbers is the drama leagues and clubs are avoiding at all costs.

That makes no sense

It does if you run a club. Many parents don't get it for sure, they think their DC deserves special treatment, that's the drama, that's the problem.

Kids wanting to play on teams.with other kids in their grade in school is normal. The fact that you cant see that is problematic.

It's also normal for kids to play with different grades, now in BY and before in SY, especially in travel when you typically don't play with actual classmates. Both should happen where appropriate.

No, playing on teams with players that are all a grade younger than your kid is not normal. In fact the entire switch back from BY to SY was done to allow more players to play on teams with other kids in their grade.

You want August players to compete against kids 13 months older because the school system doesn't have a standard cutoff date?

If my kid was an August birthday, yes I'd want them on a team with other players grade in school.

It's the "if" part that matters. Without an August kid, you don't get a vote on what any August kids does. Travel is 8/1 - 7/31. Thems the rules.

Nomsense I have just as valid of an opinion as any else. I also don't want grade older players on my kids team.