Anonymous wrote:
PLAYING UP

Play-up opportunities on our national level teams will be minimized to safeguard long term player development, competitive integrity, and roster balance. State teams will have greater flexibility.

Any consideration for team placement because of age/grade anomalies will be made collaboratively by the Directors and Coaching Staff. When considering a player to play up, the following criteria will guide the decision – Impact on player development, competition level and recruitment opportunities as well as team needs and roster balance. Guiding Principle – All decisions will prioritize what is best for the player and the overall team environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heres an ECNL club since you're too good for USYS

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

Aswe move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.

You understand that if your dc decides to play up, they could find themselves on a lower level team?

Anonymous wrote:Heres an ECNL club since you're too good for USYS

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

Aswe move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:An entire Facebook thread with parents recommending Aug/Sept/Nov players play on the team that is their grade in school

https://www.facebook.com/groups/scholarshipsforsocceracademy/posts/25741948872099537/

This one is kind of interesting because you have Aug/Sept/Nov birthday parents and because of BY their kids are currently playing up on a grade older team they want to stay with their current BY team which is a grade older. But most recommend playing on the correct grade in school team. Literally nobody recommended playing down a grade on a younger in school team.

Something else I've noticed is clubs that are in districts whose cutoff is Sept/Nov (New Jersey, Wisconsin, etc) are being very clear that Aug/Sept/Nov birthdays play with their grade in school team. Even if it means playing up. This is probabaly happening because they have 2-3 months of players that could potentially play down and it would cause chaos and be impossible for the club to manage. Everyone seems to use college recruiting as the rational for playing on the team thats your grade in school.

Clubs that aren't listening to parents and think they can dictate which teams Aug/Sept/Nov players will roster on (playing on a grade down team) will have issues.

It's been over a day, thought you were ill (like beyond mental).

You are completely misreading the thread. The person is trying to get their kid to stay on their BY team as they have a kid with a fall birth. Nobody likes change so no surprising. Contributors pointing out clubs generally block playing up.

Lower tier clubs allowing playing up moreso than competitive teams.

Clubs are in the process of pushing as many Aug-Dec birthdays as they can to play on age. Playing up in competitive clubs is for the best of the best, has nothing to do with grade.

No I dont work for the State of Virginia I cant sit online all day not working.

Being in Cali while on this thread all day, nobody suggesting you are from DMV area.

Hahahaha keep trying.

Only a few more months before rosters start being posted for next fall and SY team players are all the same graduating year (grade in school).

Grade just doesn't matter for club. Going to be more playing up off grade than down and you won't be able to find out because the only place that posts grade, ECNL, collects it voluntarily and has about 1 in 5 wrong.

It's over. Leagues said 8/1 and gave guidance that only the best play up. Clubs agreeing and willing to evaluate case by case. Nobody being forced up on top competitive teams.

You really need to get out and speak with other people to get their opinions. 99% of the comments online are for Aug/Sept/Nov birthdays to play on the team thats their grade in school.

It's just you spamming for playing down.

Anonymous wrote:More clubs are starting to get it

https://www.elmbrookunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FAQ-Document.pdf

My player has an August birthday, and the age matrix has them playing with the grade below
them. Will they be able to play with their grade level?
o Players with August birthdays will have the choice to play with their school year or stay
with their age group. You will make this choice when registering for the fall season (Rec
and Academy) or tryouts (Select).
o Whatever choice the player makes is for the entire year as rosters will be set after
registration (Rec and Academy) or tryouts (Select).
o If a player is unhappy with their choice, they may change it for the 2027-2028 season.
o EBU highly recommends having a discussion with your current coach prior to making
this decision.
o For incoming Freshmen only – if your August birthday allows you the choice to play on
the 8th grade team (U14), and you choose that option, you will need to commit to a full
year with your EBU team and forgo your Freshman year of high school soccer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An entire Facebook thread with parents recommending Aug/Sept/Nov players play on the team that is their grade in school

https://www.facebook.com/groups/scholarshipsforsocceracademy/posts/25741948872099537/

This one is kind of interesting because you have Aug/Sept/Nov birthday parents and because of BY their kids are currently playing up on a grade older team they want to stay with their current BY team which is a grade older. But most recommend playing on the correct grade in school team. Literally nobody recommended playing down a grade on a younger in school team.

Something else I've noticed is clubs that are in districts whose cutoff is Sept/Nov (New Jersey, Wisconsin, etc) are being very clear that Aug/Sept/Nov birthdays play with their grade in school team. Even if it means playing up. This is probabaly happening because they have 2-3 months of players that could potentially play down and it would cause chaos and be impossible for the club to manage. Everyone seems to use college recruiting as the rational for playing on the team thats your grade in school.

Clubs that aren't listening to parents and think they can dictate which teams Aug/Sept/Nov players will roster on (playing on a grade down team) will have issues.

It's been over a day, thought you were ill (like beyond mental).

What do you have against October in your many, many posts?

You are completely misreading the thread. The person is trying to get their kid to stay on their BY team as they have a kid with a fall birth. Nobody likes change so no surprising. Contributors pointing out clubs generally block playing up.

Lower tier clubs allowing playing up moreso than competitive teams.

Clubs are in the process of pushing as many Aug-Dec birthdays as they can to play on age. Playing up in competitive clubs is for the best of the best, has nothing to do with grade.

No I dont work for the State of Virginia I cant sit online all day not working.

Being in Cali while on this thread all day, nobody suggesting you are from DMV area.

Hahahaha keep trying.

Only a few more months before rosters start being posted for next fall and SY team players are all the same graduating year (grade in school).

Grade just doesn't matter for club. Going to be more playing up off grade than down and you won't be able to find out because the only place that posts grade, ECNL, collects it voluntarily and has about 1 in 5 wrong.

It's over. Leagues said 8/1 and gave guidance that only the best play up. Clubs agreeing and willing to evaluate case by case. Nobody being forced up on top competitive teams.

You really need to get out and speak with other people to get their opinions. 99% of the comments online are for Aug/Sept/Nov birthdays to play on the team thats their grade in school.

It's just you spamming for playing down.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how the age know it all suddenly is now an expert on biobanding. Total clown. I feel back for anyone that takes his advise.

Clubs with MLSN1 and biobanding have very high revenues and large demand for rosters. People are just pointing out you wrong in saying having biobanding would make these clubs undesirable.

Biobanding only works in Academy settings but you knew that. In p2p environments where teams are grouped by year it kills participation.

When coming up with something counterintuitive, like the top clubs in the DMV have reduced participation because of biobanding, actual evidence would be in order. Otherwise you are pissin in the wind.

Older players play down taking younger players opportunities. Over time younger players get the hint that if you want to play you play down. Some parents and players think playjng down is garbage and dont want to fund older players "development"so they quit playing because of it or find other places to play.

If players played in their grouping (or up) more players would keep playing longer.

Pretty simple + all because parents want plastic trophies and dont care how they get them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how the age know it all suddenly is now an expert on biobanding. Total clown. I feel back for anyone that takes his advise.

Clubs with MLSN1 and biobanding have very high revenues and large demand for rosters. People are just pointing out you wrong in saying having biobanding would make these clubs undesirable.

Biobanding only works in Academy settings but you knew that. In p2p environments where teams are grouped by year it kills participation.

When coming up with something counterintuitive, like the top clubs in the DMV have reduced participation because of biobanding, actual evidence would be in order. Otherwise you are pissin in the wind.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how the age know it all suddenly is now an expert on biobanding. Total clown. I feel back for anyone that takes his advise.

Clubs with MLSN1 and biobanding have very high revenues and large demand for rosters. People are just pointing out you wrong in saying having biobanding would make these clubs undesirable.

Biobanding only works in Academy settings but you knew that. In p2p environments where teams are grouped by year it kills participation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how the age know it all suddenly is now an expert on biobanding. Total clown. I feel back for anyone that takes his advise.

Clubs with MLSN1 and biobanding have very high revenues and large demand for rosters. People are just pointing out you wrong in saying having biobanding would make these clubs undesirable.

Biobanding only works in Academy settings but you knew that. In p2p environments where teams are grouped by year it kills participation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like how the age know it all suddenly is now an expert on biobanding. Total clown. I feel back for anyone that takes his advise.

Clubs with MLSN1 and biobanding have very high revenues and large demand for rosters. People are just pointing out you wrong in saying having biobanding would make these clubs undesirable.