Anonymous
02/23/2026 23:03
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
At this point, the most logical conclusion for why this thread lives on is that there are two trolls trolling each other and they don’t even realize it.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 22:25
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
At U15 and up most club coaches are usually very aware of what grade players are in, particularly those that might also be a HS coach on the side.
When it comes down to it, I suspect that it won't be the clubs giving specific orders on where to play misaligned August or September players, but rather coaches making that decision during the tryout/offer process. After that, it's up to the players and parents on which option they want to take.
When it comes down to it, I suspect that it won't be the clubs giving specific orders on where to play misaligned August or September players, but rather coaches making that decision during the tryout/offer process. After that, it's up to the players and parents on which option they want to take.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 20:34
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Your take just doesn't work because they said, "Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up."Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hahaha you cant help but respond.
Its obvious that Arlington is planning to group Aug birthdays by grade to everyone but you.
I'm not the same person you are arguing with, and it's also not obvious to me.
The reason Arlington asked for players grade is because they plan to group Aug birthdays with their grade in school team. Which can mean playing up or down. It depends on what your school districts cutoff was when they started school.
They do this because its better for college recruiting when players get older, theres no weird 8th grade season when 9th grade players that play high school soccer, and most important teams become all one grade which makes things easier for the club to manage.
If they were forcing grade year, they wouldn't have that as policy.
Then the rest of your take is a crumbling house of cards based on not forcing kids to play up.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 20:13
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Hahaha you cant help but respond.
Its obvious that Arlington is planning to group Aug birthdays by grade to everyone but you.
I'm not the same person you are arguing with, and it's also not obvious to me.
The reason Arlington asked for players grade is because they plan to group Aug birthdays with their grade in school team. Which can mean playing up or down. It depends on what your school districts cutoff was when they started school.
They do this because its better for college recruiting when players get older, theres no weird 8th grade season when 9th grade players that play high school soccer, and most important teams become all one grade which makes things easier for the club to manage.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 20:02
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Hahaha you cant help but respond.
Its obvious that Arlington is planning to group Aug birthdays by grade to everyone but you.
I'm not the same person you are arguing with, and it's also not obvious to me.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 19:59
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:But why did Arlington ask for players grade in school at tryouts this year when they never did before?
Quite a conundrum
Maybe it's so when parents ask for their player to play up with their grade, they have the info handy?
It's still case by case and not forced.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 19:44
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
They might let some kids play up on lower level teams based on grade but when they write "grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up" it is abundantly clear no one is forced to play up, they are limiting playing up to those that can hang. Arl and other clubs issue is trying to get Aug-Dec on age from BY and limit playing up.
School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 19:00
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Hahaha you cant help but respond.
Its obvious that Arlington is planning to group Aug birthdays by grade to everyone but you.
Its obvious that Arlington is planning to group Aug birthdays by grade to everyone but you.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 18:45
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Only a conundrum for you. They are transparent, case by case without being forced to play up.Anonymous wrote:But why did Arlington ask for players grade in school at tryouts this year when they never did before?
Quite a conundrum
Q: Can players play up an age group?
A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.
Q: Can a player born between August 1 and September 30 play up if they are in the higher school grade?
A: School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
But Arlington didnt ask for players grade in school last year at tryouts. Why did they ask for grade in school this year at tryouts?
What ever could be different this year?
What do you think they plan to do with players grade in school information?
Whether BY or SY, most kids play on age group.
Whether BY or SY, less kids play up an age group.
Whether BY or SY, even less kids play down an age group, and only if league rules allow.
Not many players have a choice. Pretty simple.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 18:45
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Arlington posted what they are doing, case by case without being forced to play up.Anonymous wrote:Arlington players "played up" on a case by case basis last year but they didnt ask for grade in school.
Something is different this season I just dont know whatever it could be.
Maybe asking for grade in school has something to do with the BY to SY change.
Q: Can players play up an age group?
A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.
Q: Can a player born between August 1 and September 30 play up if they are in the higher school grade?
A: School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 18:40
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Arlington players "played up" on a case by case basis last year but they didnt ask for grade in school.
Something is different this season I just dont know whatever it could be.
Maybe asking for grade in school has something to do with the BY to SY change.
Something is different this season I just dont know whatever it could be.
Maybe asking for grade in school has something to do with the BY to SY change.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 18:30
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Not a Scooby Doo mystery. They are transparent, case by case without being forced to play up.Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Only a conundrum for you. They are transparent, case by case without being forced to play up.Anonymous wrote:But why did Arlington ask for players grade in school at tryouts this year when they never did before?
Quite a conundrum
Q: Can players play up an age group?
A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.
Q: Can a player born between August 1 and September 30 play up if they are in the higher school grade?
A: School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
But Arlington didnt ask for players grade in school last year at tryouts. Why did they ask for grade in school this year at tryouts?
What ever could be different this year?
What do you think they plan to do with players grade in school information?
Q: Can players play up an age group?
A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.
Q: Can a player born between August 1 and September 30 play up if they are in the higher school grade?
A: School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 17:51
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Anonymous wrote:Only a conundrum for you. They are transparent, case by case without being forced to play up.Anonymous wrote:But why did Arlington ask for players grade in school at tryouts this year when they never did before?
Quite a conundrum
Q: Can players play up an age group?
A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.
Q: Can a player born between August 1 and September 30 play up if they are in the higher school grade?
A: School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
But Arlington didnt ask for players grade in school last year at tryouts. Why did they ask for grade in school this year at tryouts?
What ever could be different this year?
What do you think they plan to do with players grade in school information?
Anonymous
02/23/2026 17:30
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
Only a conundrum for you. They are transparent, case by case without being forced to play up.Anonymous wrote:But why did Arlington ask for players grade in school at tryouts this year when they never did before?
Quite a conundrum
Q: Can players play up an age group?
A: Playing up is a coaching and technical decision based primarily on the player’s skill level, soccer maturity, and overall development needs. While Arlington Soccer allows flexibility in certain cases, playing up is the exception rather than the rule. Each situation is carefully evaluated by the technical staff to ensure it is in the best interest of both the individual player and the team.
Q: Can a player born between August 1 and September 30 play up if they are in the higher school grade?
A: School grade may be considered as part of the evaluation, but the decision to allow a player to play up is ultimately based on technical criteria including the player’s skill, maturity, and readiness for the older age group. Grade alone does not guarantee that a player will play up.
Anonymous
02/23/2026 16:24
Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2
But why did Arlington ask for players grade in school at tryouts this year when they never did before?
Quite a conundrum
Quite a conundrum