Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:57     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Think about it...

Why would FC Copa choose to group Aug birthdays with their grade in school after speaking with college coaches and getting their feedback on the topic?


It's a big country. You'll see different clubs do different things.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:57     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Think about it...

Why would FC Copa choose to group Aug birthdays with their grade in school after speaking with college coaches and getting their feedback on the topic?
Simple because they play like a rec plus club and rec is grade based.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:56     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Think about it...

Why would FC Copa choose to group Aug birthdays with their grade in school after speaking with college coaches and getting their feedback on the topic?


Because they thought it was best for them. So did a club in Wisconsin, but a great many clubs, especially high level ones who have to compete nationally are not, because they understand there's a nuance to this.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:55     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares what some random club in some random place is doing.

You keep bringing them up and trying to twist what they said. Specifically "college recruiters dont care about a players age". While this is true its because the only thing college recruiters care about is graduating year or grade in school.

FC Copa is a USL club and they're being honest with player and parents saying that Aug birthdays will play up on their teams based on feedback from college coaches.

If you wouldnt keep lieing about what they said others wouldnt have to keep correcting you.


That's fine -- Your problem is your not honest about all the other clubs doing case-by-case. You invent how they're doing something else behind the scenes. The poster is just doing what you are to "win" an online argument. So silly.

Its because I was around pre 2017 and you never heard of players playing down when it was SY back then.

It's also just easier for clubs to group Aug/Sept birthdays up with their correct grade in school team. Accommodating play downs is difficult and causes challenges for clubs. My experience in life is no matter what you can always count on people being lazy and choosing the easier path.


Yep lazy clubs who don't care about fielding the best teams OR caring about what's best for that kid. That tracks in youth soccer. But top level clubs with their sh*t together will do right and be rewarded.
You say lazy but a crazy amount of effort for clubs to track and verify grades when no real documentation exists while also tracking birthdays. This helps explain why only a few low to mid clubs are pushing grade.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:54     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Think about it...

Why would FC Copa choose to group Aug birthdays with their grade in school after speaking with college coaches and getting their feedback on the topic?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:52     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Where does it say kids should play on grade whenever possible? Your reading into it.


It's call inference - a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. I learned it along with my other reading comprehension skills in grade school.

FC Copa

https://youtu.be/H_MCwT85SKY?

"So we will look to ensure that players are in their correct graduation year going into their high school years."
That's one club that where they have a -78 GD in 10 games at my kids AG and just as bad in others. This is not the club setting the standard for the rest of us. Whatever they do, they aren't a vanguard, it fits a goal of the club that wasn't decided in a vacuum.

But they did talk to college coaches and fortunately told us what college coaches said. "We had separate conversations with several college coaches. Those college coaches made it incredibly clear that it does not matter what age is they will only recruit them once they hit their junior and senior years."

And your continued silence on Eastside is an admission that college recruiting is based on talent not age group.

Eastside

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

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.

For players already in the club, their body of work over the previous year—training, games, tournaments, and coach feedback—will continue to be the primary factor in college recruiting exposure. For new players, tryouts provide the opportunity to demonstrate skills and fit within the club environment.

Additionally, Eastside FC will continue to provide structured recruiting support through workshops, panels, and guidance for players and families. The new age group system may actually provide more consistent training and development opportunities by balancing teams across two birth years, helping players continue to grow in a competitive and supportive environment.

Think about it...

Why would FC Copa choose to group Aug birthdays with their grade in school after speaking with college coaches and getting their feedback on the topic?
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:50     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Where does it say kids should play on grade whenever possible? Your reading into it.


It's call inference - a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. I learned it along with my other reading comprehension skills in grade school.
So you drew your own conclusion based on your biases and a lack of information when the statement didn't say at all that kids should be forced to play up. Got it. Because the no guidance has said go grade year whenever possible. Ecnl and Ncsl said to follow birthdays and limit playing up.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:47     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares what some random club in some random place is doing.

You keep bringing them up and trying to twist what they said. Specifically "college recruiters dont care about a players age". While this is true its because the only thing college recruiters care about is graduating year or grade in school.

FC Copa is a USL club and they're being honest with player and parents saying that Aug birthdays will play up on their teams based on feedback from college coaches.

If you wouldnt keep lieing about what they said others wouldnt have to keep correcting you.


That's fine -- Your problem is your not honest about all the other clubs doing case-by-case. You invent how they're doing something else behind the scenes. The poster is just doing what you are to "win" an online argument. So silly.

Its because I was around pre 2017 and you never heard of players playing down when it was SY back then.

It's also just easier for clubs to group Aug/Sept birthdays up with their correct grade in school team. Accommodating play downs is difficult and causes challenges for clubs. My experience in life is no matter what you can always count on people being lazy and choosing the easier path.


Yep lazy clubs who don't care about fielding the best teams OR caring about what's best for that kid. That tracks in youth soccer. But top level clubs with their sh*t together will do right and be rewarded.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:46     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Where does it say kids should play on grade whenever possible? Your reading into it.


It's call inference - a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. I learned it along with my other reading comprehension skills in grade school.

FC Copa

https://youtu.be/H_MCwT85SKY?

"So we will look to ensure that players are in their correct graduation year going into their high school years."
That's one club that where they have a -78 GD in 10 games at my kids AG and just as bad in others. This is not the club setting the standard for the rest of us. Whatever they do, they aren't a vanguard, it fits a goal of the club that wasn't decided in a vacuum.

But they did talk to college coaches and fortunately told us what college coaches said. "We had separate conversations with several college coaches. Those college coaches made it incredibly clear that it does not matter what age is they will only recruit them once they hit their junior and senior years."

And your continued silence on Eastside is an admission that college recruiting is based on talent not age group.

Eastside

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

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.

For players already in the club, their body of work over the previous year—training, games, tournaments, and coach feedback—will continue to be the primary factor in college recruiting exposure. For new players, tryouts provide the opportunity to demonstrate skills and fit within the club environment.

Additionally, Eastside FC will continue to provide structured recruiting support through workshops, panels, and guidance for players and families. The new age group system may actually provide more consistent training and development opportunities by balancing teams across two birth years, helping players continue to grow in a competitive and supportive environment.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:41     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares what some random club in some random place is doing.

You keep bringing them up and trying to twist what they said. Specifically "college recruiters dont care about a players age". While this is true its because the only thing college recruiters care about is graduating year or grade in school.

FC Copa is a USL club and they're being honest with player and parents saying that Aug birthdays will play up on their teams based on feedback from college coaches.

If you wouldnt keep lieing about what they said others wouldnt have to keep correcting you.


That's fine -- Your problem is your not honest about all the other clubs doing case-by-case. You invent how they're doing something else behind the scenes. The poster is just doing what you are to "win" an online argument. So silly.

Its because I was around pre 2017 and you never heard of players playing down when it was SY back then.

It's also just easier for clubs to group Aug/Sept birthdays up with their correct grade in school team. Accommodating play downs is difficult and causes challenges for clubs. My experience in life is no matter what you can always count on people being lazy and choosing the easier path.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:38     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

Every league announcement said it wouldn't be perfect. Deal with it. There's no playing down unless it's biobanding. Not everyone cares about playing with their grade.

Fewer recruiters OR families are interested in B OR C teams. They get less experienced coaches and less support from there clubs. So, kids forced there will likely quit earlier. Being the youngest means that's more likely. This is why you give more choice and flexibility for parents and clubs.

So dumb just to think there's one path and to create loopholes for playing up.


In all of my years playing soccer and having kids who play soccer, I've never once met a kid who is interested in playing with a younger grade. I've certainly met plenty of kids who are interested in playing with a higher grade. What you are saying is nonsense and sounds ridiculous - just so you know.


You are correct.

The play down troll has been advocating for playing down a grade for over a year on this and other threads.

Unfortunately hes just going to need to experience SY and Aug birthdays playing with their grade before reality settles in. Even then he'll shop around looking for a loser club that will let him play his kid down. You're also correct in that college coaches will ignore the play downs when recruiting.
Nobody advocating for biobanding here, not that there's anything wrong with that. FYI, the PP didn't mention college recruiting and college coaches actually told teams that they don't care what age group you are in. You just have to reach out to colleges to let them know you are interested. Close to every club is not forcing grade year on anyone.

Keep lieing...

FC Copa

https://youtu.be/H_MCwT85SKY?

"So we will look to ensure that players are in their correct graduation year going into their high school years."

Since you're too dumb to understand what this means I'll spell it out for you. FC Copa will play Aug and Sept birthdays (they're in New Jeresy who's school start date is in Sept) with their correct graduation year (grade in school team) team. This was decided after speaking with several college coaches and getting their feedback on aligned vs misaligned players.


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.or.../agegroups


College coaches told clubs they don't care what age group players are in.

I have noticed that you have not offered a shred of evidence that college coaches said that they care what age group a recruit is in (as long as they can matriculate).
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:35     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Where does it say kids should play on grade whenever possible? Your reading into it.


It's call inference - a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. I learned it along with my other reading comprehension skills in grade school.

FC Copa

https://youtu.be/H_MCwT85SKY?

"So we will look to ensure that players are in their correct graduation year going into their high school years."
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:35     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares what some random club in some random place is doing.

You keep bringing them up and trying to twist what they said. Specifically "college recruiters dont care about a players age". While this is true its because the only thing college recruiters care about is graduating year or grade in school.

FC Copa is a USL club and they're being honest with player and parents saying that Aug birthdays will play up on their teams based on feedback from college coaches.

If you wouldnt keep lieing about what they said others wouldnt have to keep correcting you.


That's fine -- Your problem is your not honest about all the other clubs doing case-by-case. You invent how they're doing something else behind the scenes. The poster is just doing what you are to "win" an online argument. So silly.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:29     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Where does it say kids should play on grade whenever possible? Your reading into it.


It's call inference - a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. I learned it along with my other reading comprehension skills in grade school.
Anonymous
Post 02/10/2026 11:23     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Nobody cares what some random club in some random place is doing.

You keep bringing them up and trying to twist what they said. Specifically "college recruiters dont care about a players age". While this is true its because the only thing college recruiters care about is graduating year or grade in school.

FC Copa is a USL club and they're being honest with player and parents saying that Aug birthdays will play up on their teams based on feedback from college coaches.

If you wouldnt keep lieing about what they said others wouldnt have to keep correcting you.