Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:18
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's a volunteer request to play up on a secondary team. Not the forced to play up based on verifiable grade documentation proof you are seeking. Please try again later.Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.
https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/
https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9
MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.
If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.
This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.
The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.
They are going to "force" Aug and Sept players to play on the team thats their grade in school.
Grade Alignment
We believe aligning players with their correct grade is an important factor to consider at tryouts. At MTA, we are taking the extra step of providing the opportunity to submit a Grade Alignment Application to Aug/Sept born players with grade alignment issues. This will allow them to play and tryout with their correct grade.
Please review your player’s alignment carefully on the new age group grids below. If your child is already in the “correct” grade for their age group, no action is needed. If your player is a ‘trapped player’ (typically July birthdays), unfortunately this is out of our control as players cannot legally “play down”.
However, if your player is now on a team of the grade below them (typically August birthdays), please read the information below carefully.
Consider filling out this optional application if ALL of these apply:
Your player has a August or September birthdate
Your player’s grade does not align with their birthyear group (e.g. early school start)
Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season
This is completely optional and will not be forced. It can't be forced because the new groups are based on an age window. With that said, it's a positive step from some clubs to provide parents with that option. But it will not be forced, and should not be either. Unless you move to a grade system only.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:17
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
You just described Mr Aug poster. He is mad because an August girl a year up is about to take his daughter's spot on her team. He invented this must play on grade team thing to help his DD. She must play goalie because on a team if you were good enough to start, coaches usually just switch your position. And for girls usually 2 out for the year with knee injuries so starting spots open up no matter what.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
I will tell you the reality, for stronger/starter players' parents who kids playing time is not affected, they will be very happy about their team is getting stronger because this give them more bragging power on how strong their team is and show off their rankings. The only unhappy parents are the ones whose kids' spot got 'stollen'.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:15
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Some clubs are just being more transparent with their intentions. Age troll should take the hint. Aug birthdays playing with their grade will happen. Clubs just wont tell you that they're doing it.
Yep, here's the hint for Aug guy ... Sporting Blue Valley in Kansas -- an ECNL club ...
"School Grade is Irrelevant: It is much easier to consider the new age-group
placement as relative to the August 1st cutoff and is not tied to their school grade
level (whether they have been held back or are ahead)."
Page 19
"Can players play up a grade level?
SURVEY - Playing Up
SBV will retain the same policy we’ve always had: A player may play up an age
group only if they make the top team in that older division.
❖ Exceptions: Exceptions are rare and reserved for specific Goalkeeper situations
or to combine two small player pools to form a viable team.
Why we aren't delaying the changes:
❖ We have chosen to "rip the Band-Aid off" rather than kick the can down the road.
❖ While we could artificially keep current teams together by moving everyone to
an older age group, we would eventually be forced to fix it.
❖ We believe it is better to realign correctly now. This avoids years of confusion
and temporary fixes, ensuring every player is on the correct long-term
development path immediately"
https://storage.googleapis.com/msgsndr/YNEbnN...173966b1e3b3b9c2.pdf
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:14
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
They are not playing down. They would be on age. It is completely unfair and unethical to exclude a player based on grade of they are signed based on age group.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:14
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Case by case, nobody on high competitive teams forced to play on grade. You get to decide for your kid and fight with the club to let them play up if you want grade year so bad.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
Our age group’s B team is also very competitive and beats the younger A team consistently. This kid is very technical just small in his age group now. He can play a much bigger role in the younger group. In highly competitive clubs, no one care much about other parents feelings. Everyone wants play time and bigger role, You can either compete or not
Well, most people disagree with you're playing down scenario. Not only would they be play on a team with kids a younger grade in school. They'd also be taking a roster spot from a kid the correct grade/age for the team. Also if the corrext grade B team was competitive there’s literally no justification. Players would develop better on the B team.
No coach is taking your kid on their good team just because of their school grade
Works both ways Clubs wont let Aug birthdays play down just to be the biggest on the team. You need to develop withh players your grade to get recruited by college coaches
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:10
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Case by case, nobody on high competitive teams forced to play on grade. You get to decide for your kid and fight with the club to let them play up if you want grade year so bad.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
Our age group’s B team is also very competitive and beats the younger A team consistently. This kid is very technical just small in his age group now. He can play a much bigger role in the younger group. In highly competitive clubs, no one care much about other parents feelings. Everyone wants play time and bigger role, You can either compete or not
Well, most people disagree with you're playing down scenario. Not only would they be play on a team with kids a younger grade in school. They'd also be taking a roster spot from a kid the correct grade/age for the team. Also if the corrext grade B team was competitive there’s literally no justification. Players would develop better on the B team.
No coach is taking your kid on their good team just because of their school grade
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:10
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
In reality, do you know who cares winning more than the clubs/coaches/players? Let me give you a hint: the crazy parents who pay the money. If team is losing, strong players' parent would look for a new team without a thought.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:07
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Case by case, nobody on high competitive teams forced to play on grade. You get to decide for your kid and fight with the club to let them play up if you want grade year so bad.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
Our age group’s B team is also very competitive and beats the younger A team consistently. This kid is very technical just small in his age group now. He can play a much bigger role in the younger group. In highly competitive clubs, no one care much about other parents feelings. Everyone wants play time and bigger role, You can either compete or not
Well, most people disagree with you're playing down scenario. Not only would they be play on a team with kids a younger grade in school. They'd also be taking a roster spot from a kid the correct grade/age for the team. Also if the corrext grade B team was competitive there’s literally no justification. Players would develop better on the B team.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:07
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Some clubs are just being more transparent with their intentions. Age troll should take the hint. Aug birthdays playing with their grade will happen. Clubs just wont tell you that they're doing it.
No more player cards with DOB next season?
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:05
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Most importantly. This what clubs said they are doing, everyone plays on age and playing up for grade is for lower level teams.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
Our age group’s B team is also very competitive and beats the younger A team consistently. This kid is very technical just small in his age group now. He can play a much bigger role in the younger group. In highly competitive clubs, no one care much about other parents feelings. Everyone wants play time and bigger role, You can either compete or not
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:05
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
I will tell you the reality, for stronger/starter players' parents who kids playing time is not affected, they will be very happy about their team is getting stronger because this give them more bragging power on how strong their team is and show off their rankings. The only unhappy parents are the ones whose kids' spot got 'stollen'.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:04
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:You can't steal a roster spot that you are eligible for. You crazy.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.
They even crazier talking about stealing from kid in correct grade when there's no grades in club soccer
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:03
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
LOL, clubs going to force grade year without actually knowing or caring about kids grades.Anonymous wrote:Some clubs are just being more transparent with their intentions. Age troll should take the hint. Aug birthdays playing with their grade will happen. Clubs just wont tell you that they're doing it.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:02
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
The form is voluntary and you only fill it out if "Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season"Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's a volunteer request to play up on a secondary team. Not the forced to play up based on verifiable grade documentation proof you are seeking. Please try again later.Anonymous wrote:Clubs are starting to figure it out.
https://mnthunderacademy.org/age-group-change-2026-2027-season/
https://forms.gle/3oh48imdcJrGkxJp9
MTA Grade Alignment Application
This optional application is ONLY for players with an August/September birthdate AND in a school grade that does not align with their typical birth-year group (e.g., they started school early) AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season.
If your child is already in the "correct" grade for their age group, no action is needed.
This Grade Alignment Application is not a "play up" request based on skill, but an application to tryout at the older age group to align a player on a team that matches their academic grade level.
The club will review all applications and confirm placement based on the provided school documentation. Once your petition has been accepted, you will only be required to tryout in the new age group. You will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new structure to ensure the best possible development experience for all our players.
They are going to "force" Aug and Sept players to play on the team thats their grade in school.
Grade Alignment
We believe aligning players with their correct grade is an important factor to consider at tryouts. At MTA, we are taking the extra step of providing the opportunity to submit a Grade Alignment Application to Aug/Sept born players with grade alignment issues. This will allow them to play and tryout with their correct grade.
Please review your player’s alignment carefully on the new age group grids below. If your child is already in the “correct” grade for their age group, no action is needed. If your player is a ‘trapped player’ (typically July birthdays), unfortunately this is out of our control as players cannot legally “play down”.
However, if your player is now on a team of the grade below them (typically August birthdays), please read the information below carefully.
Consider filling out this optional application if ALL of these apply:
Your player has a August or September birthdate
Your player’s grade does not align with their birthyear group (e.g. early school start)
Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season
Do you understand what forced means?
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:00
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
You can't steal a roster spot that you are eligible for. You crazy.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am a parent of an Aug. My kid prefers to play with his grade because it suits him better socially and I think it makes sense too as he is the strongest and fastest on his BY team. But I fully understand another Aug parent on our team to put his son in a lower grade team as his son is late in his puberty, small, sitting on the bench on our team most of the time.
Do you believe less talented Aug birthdays playing down should be on A teams or should they be put on a correct grade in school B team?
This is the issue. If they're playing down on an A team players and parents would look at that player as stealing a roster spot from a kid in the correct grade.