Anonymous
02/10/2026 23:28
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Nice parroting your own post.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Wait!
What?
In college the kids don't play on grade?
Thats why college coaches will ignore Aug birthdays that choose to play down. If you cant handle playing with your grade in High School you definitely wont be able to handle playing against players 3-5 years older and 3-4 grades older in. college.
Pretty simple.
100% correct age troll just wants a way to play down. College coaches see through the Trojan Horses that aren't good enough to play with their grade.
Only can play down in MLSN. College coaches don't care about kids ages or their teams. They take the best players whether transfers, internationals or HS regardless of their team. Beyond puberty, the differences in age groups have shrunk. Evaluators know how to evaluate, don't you worry.
Yes they do know how to evaluate. Which is why they'll pass on the play downer trojan horses.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 23:05
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Nice parroting your own post.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Wait!
What?
In college the kids don't play on grade?
Thats why college coaches will ignore Aug birthdays that choose to play down. If you cant handle playing with your grade in High School you definitely wont be able to handle playing against players 3-5 years older and 3-4 grades older in. college.
Pretty simple.
100% correct age troll just wants a way to play down. College coaches see through the Trojan Horses that aren't good enough to play with their grade.
Only can play down in MLSN. College coaches don't care about kids ages or their teams. They take the best players whether transfers, internationals or HS regardless of their team. Beyond puberty, the differences in age groups have shrunk. Evaluators know how to evaluate, don't you worry.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 22:49
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Wait!
What?
In college the kids don't play on grade?
Thats why college coaches will ignore Aug birthdays that choose to play down. If you cant handle playing with your grade in High School you definitely wont be able to handle playing against players 3-5 years older and 3-4 grades older in. college.
Pretty simple.
100% correct age troll just wants a way to play down. College coaches see through the Trojan Horses that aren't good enough to play with their grade.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 22:47
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:One "will" and one "if" in your post you make stuff up.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Wait!
What?
In college the kids don't play on grade?
Thats why college coaches will ignore Aug birthdays that choose to play down. If you cant handle playing with your grade in High School you definitely wont be able to handle playing against players 3-5 years older and 3-4 grades older in. college.
Pretty simple.
A club's post carries more weight than an anonymous poster.
Eastside said, "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
Anonymous
02/10/2026 22:38
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
One "will" and one "if" in your post you make stuff up.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Wait!
What?
In college the kids don't play on grade?
Thats why college coaches will ignore Aug birthdays that choose to play down. If you cant handle playing with your grade in High School you definitely wont be able to handle playing against players 3-5 years older and 3-4 grades older in. college.
Pretty simple.
A club's post carries more weight than an anonymous poster.
Eastside said, "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
Anonymous
02/10/2026 22:34
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Wait!
What?
In college the kids don't play on grade?
Thats why college coaches will ignore Aug birthdays that choose to play down. If you cant handle playing with your grade in High School you definitely wont be able to handle playing against players 3-5 years older and 3-4 grades older in. college.
Pretty simple.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 21:53
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Wait!
What?
In college the kids don't play on grade?
Anonymous
02/10/2026 21:42
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
When you start playing college soccer, don't you start playing with others who are three or four years older? So why would one year make a difference?
Anonymous
02/10/2026 21:20
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If this is your logic then it is clear you lack the ability for inference Basing a conclusion on 2 out of about 500 clubs is unwise.
If you read all of Penn Fusion, it's clear they are talking about grade for those who neatly align. For exceptions, it's really case-by-case.
"Selected players may be asked to play in an age group different to their school grade for developmental reasons per the Technical Staff (*only if their DOB allows this).
Academy/Travel:
Playing up may be an option for select players, for developmental reasons only.
These ‘select’ players will be contacted by the Technical Staff ahead of tryouts.
Communication will be only initiated by the Technical Staff to families (not in reverse order).
Rec Players:
Players may only ‘play up’ if it aligns players with their appropriate school grade."
I think it's pretty straightforward. Playing up making sense when kids are playing with grad year, which will mainly impact a small number of Aug/Sept kids. Most of the kids from Aug-Dec will be in the grade below, but many will still want to stay with their existing teams, and clubs don't want all of those parents contacting them asking for special exceptions. That's why they have this language to discourage parents from bugging them.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 21:20
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Funny you had to invent your own meaning for the term playing down which is inaccurate to try to make a speculative assumption.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
College coaches don't care about age groups or teams played on, they want the kid only.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 21:03
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
The truth is there are many pathways to getting recruited and it's a journey, an extended job interview, not a sprint. I can tell you parents are worried about Aug guy says BUT not everyone agrees with that perspective. There probably are coaches who would do what he says. Then there are others who would look beyond that. You just can't pigeonhole people one way or another. That's just not how it works. There are so many different factors that evolve over time. That's why you have to listen to coaches, mentors and those who have been in the game a long time. Trust their wisdom more than any anonymous board.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 20:54
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
They're not seeking you out unless they think you're a possible fit. That's so much higher on the list than grade. Besides, if you're not there, that's the worst-case scenario.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 20:22
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
And they go to the Showcase only to find Aug birthdays playing down. Then immediately move on to the next player.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 20:07
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.
This is it. You impress at an ID camp and the coach says, tell me where/when I can watch you at the next showcase. So, getting to the showcase where you both will be at is critical. Not all teams/clubs can get you to that showcase.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 15:18
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:It's obvious that you're a youngers parent and dont understand how olders + college recruiting works (with girls).
Not a mystery, pretty basic, as Eastside said, "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
And then their are multiple guides like this recent one helping players realize that they need to do a bunch to initiate and maintain communication and how to get noticed. "For players aspiring to play soccer at the collegiate level, understanding the recruiting process is essential. One of the best ways to engage with college coaches and build relationships is through college ID camps."
https://www.dcxiproject.com/post/how-to-get-recruited-to-play-college-soccer
There are a bunch of guides and they all point out that you being proactive is recruiting.