Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:56
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Nice of them to let players that aren't trying to play competitively play up for secondary even if they lack the talent to play up. "AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season."Anonymous wrote:ECNL 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.
It's standard case by case stuff.
Play up even if you’re not good enough to play up?
Does anyone take any of this crap seriously?
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:44
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Clubs are saying the opposite. We might give your player latitude to play up if requested.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Um yeah. They don't know who they are unless the fill out the special request form.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ECNL 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.
Don't miss the most critical part ... it's voluntary.
"Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season"
Yea a club that went through all the effort to clearly define that Aug birthdays play with their grade and also clearly said that they believe in players playing on correct grade in school teams. Will totally let Aug birthdays play on grade down teams 🤣🤣🤣
Give it up youre not going to trick the club into letting your kid play down.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:42
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
FC Copa from transcript, "..had separate conversations with college coaches Those coaches made it incredibly clear that it does not matter what age the player is they will only recruit them when they hit their junior and senior years."
Eastside said something similar and a bunch of pages backnactual coaches said as much on Facebook.
Ample evidence, substantiated evidence, that playing in age will not hurt college recruiting according to college coaches. Horses mouth not opinion of random posters.
Eastside said something similar and a bunch of pages backnactual coaches said as much on Facebook.
Ample evidence, substantiated evidence, that playing in age will not hurt college recruiting according to college coaches. Horses mouth not opinion of random posters.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:41
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Um yeah. They don't know who they are unless the fill out the special request form.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ECNL 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.
Don't miss the most critical part ... it's voluntary.
"Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season"
Yea a club that went through all the effort to clearly define that Aug birthdays play with their grade and also clearly said that they believe in players playing on correct grade in school teams. Will totally let Aug birthdays play on grade down teams 🤣🤣🤣
Give it up youre not going to trick the club into letting your kid play down.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:30
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Um yeah. They don't know who they are unless the fill out the special request form.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ECNL 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.
Don't miss the most critical part ... it's voluntary.
"Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season"
Yea a club that went through all the effort to clearly define that Aug birthdays play with their grade and also clearly said that they believe in players playing on correct grade in school teams. Will totally let Aug birthdays play on grade down teams 🤣🤣🤣
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:10
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:ECNL 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.
Don't miss the most critical part ... it's voluntary.
"Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season"
Yea a club that went through all the effort to clearly define that Aug birthdays play with their grade and also clearly said that they believe in players playing on correct grade in school teams. Will totally let Aug birthdays play on grade down teams 🤣🤣🤣
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:10
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Nice of them to let players that aren't trying to play competitively play up for secondary even if they lack the talent to play up. "AND requesting to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season."Anonymous wrote:ECNL 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.
It's standard case by case stuff.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:05
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Also, they are saying these kids aren't playing up based on skill. They are voluntarily agreeing to tryout in the higher age group, and will be placed accordingly.
"Note that this Grade Alignment Application is not a “play up” request based on skill, but a formal request to place a player on a team that matches academic grade level."
"Note that this Grade Alignment Application is not a “play up” request based on skill, but a formal request to place a player on a team that matches academic grade level."
Anonymous
02/01/2026 14:01
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:ECNL 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.
Don't miss the most critical part ... it's voluntary.
"Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season"
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:59
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't see a lot of things. Like how to spell lieing or argueing correctly.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There would have beeN no real way to notice. Kids don't run around the field with grade numbers on their backs.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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
Another ECNL club ...
Will this impact college recruiting?
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.
https://www.eastsidefc.org/agegroups
Thats not how it worked pre 2017 (before switching to BY) which is why you never heard of players playing down back then. Everyone played on their grade in school team.
Some 5% of players -- an average of 1 team played not in the correct grade last time.
Not on good teams. I never saw it or heard about it.
And I believe you said you were a parent with a kid on a high-level time, right? So, just because you never noticed meant it never happened? That's rich. Be curious, dude!
Ok 👍 whatever you want to believe. I never saw or heard of players playing down because we switched to BY.
You sit on this thread 24/4 trying to make your dream of kids playing down a reality
What's 24/4?
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:58
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
ECNL 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.
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.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:57
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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
For those in the back AND because Aug guy likes to go on comment storms to push away evidence that he doesn't like.
Hahahaha mr rage post.
We all know its you because the responses happen all in the span of a couple of minutes.
Some people have jobs and families and can make a few points before gong back to reality.
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:56
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Not true, I have not been for or against Biobanding. I am merely observing what the new rules are, from 1/1 - 12/31 to 8/1 - 7/31. Pretty simple unless you are simple.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't see a lot of things. Like how to spell lieing or argueing correctly.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There would have beeN no real way to notice. Kids don't run around the field with grade numbers on their backs.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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
Another ECNL club ...
Will this impact college recruiting?
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.
https://www.eastsidefc.org/agegroups
Thats not how it worked pre 2017 (before switching to BY) which is why you never heard of players playing down back then. Everyone played on their grade in school team.
Some 5% of players -- an average of 1 team played not in the correct grade last time.
Not on good teams. I never saw it or heard about it.
And I believe you said you were a parent with a kid on a high-level time, right? So, just because you never noticed meant it never happened? That's rich. Be curious, dude!
Ok 👍 whatever you want to believe. I never saw or heard of players playing down because we switched to BY.
You sit on this thread 24/4 trying to make your dream of kids playing down a reality
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:54
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't see a lot of things. Like how to spell lieing or argueing correctly.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There would have beeN no real way to notice. Kids don't run around the field with grade numbers on their backs.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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
Another ECNL club ...
Will this impact college recruiting?
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.
https://www.eastsidefc.org/agegroups
Thats not how it worked pre 2017 (before switching to BY) which is why you never heard of players playing down back then. Everyone played on their grade in school team.
Some 5% of players -- an average of 1 team played not in the correct grade last time.
Not on good teams. I never saw it or heard about it.
And I believe you said you were a parent with a kid on a high-level time, right? So, just because you never noticed meant it never happened? That's rich. Be curious, dude!
Ok 👍 whatever you want to believe. I never saw or heard of players playing down because we switched to BY.
You sit on this thread 24/4 trying to make your dream of kids playing down a reality
The GY showcases rumor you were trying to spread didnt pan out because you dont understand how the u18/u19 group works.. A know it all and ignorant with a play down agenda are a difficult combination
Anonymous
02/01/2026 13:53
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
What this club is doing matches what other top tier clubs are saying but they are more explicit. All you August through December kids get back, back I say to your new age group. Grade isn't in the rules and we follow the rules. Carry on and don't complain.Anonymous wrote: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