Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 10:26     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.


Stop commenting to yourself.
They’d call it 2027, 2028, 2029s….
Or like MLSN just call it the age group it is but allow the players in the same grade to join the group for showcases.
MLSN doesn’t change the name of its ages based of biobanding players joining the group.

So to accommodate play downs leagues will just stop using the u16 u17 u18 etc system and start using GRADUATING YEAR?

Hahahahaha

But you are the guy trying to tell people that graduating year aka grade in school doesnt exist in club soccer. I guess it does exist when you want play downs to be involved.

The hypocrisy is off the charts


The age guy is so ridiculous

He wants to allow 1 to 2 years older play downs which basically forces everyone else to play up against 1 to 2 year older players. But he uses RAE when Aug birthdays are 1-2 months outside of a made up 12 month eligibility window play up.

So dishonest and 100% weasel.
Sounds like some don't wanting play down and others see playing up as a safety issue. Good compromise would be a 12 month window per age group with no playing up or down.

The play down guy wants players up to 36 months older playing down.

The play up guy wants players at most 3 months younger playing on teams that are made up with players their grade in school.

Which one do you think cares about kids. Which one just wants to play older kids againt younger kids for wins?
Doesn't matter what anon forum people say.

Colorado Rapids says

Developmental Fairness: When age gaps widen beyond 12 months, the disparity in talent and physical maturity widens considerably. Keeping the grouping within the August 1–July 31 window ensures players compete with and against peers of similar physiological, emotional, and social maturity.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 10:22     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.


Stop commenting to yourself.
They’d call it 2027, 2028, 2029s….
Or like MLSN just call it the age group it is but allow the players in the same grade to join the group for showcases.
MLSN doesn’t change the name of its ages based of biobanding players joining the group.

So to accommodate play downs leagues will just stop using the u16 u17 u18 etc system and start using GRADUATING YEAR?

Hahahahaha

But you are the guy trying to tell people that graduating year aka grade in school doesnt exist in club soccer. I guess it does exist when you want play downs to be involved.

The hypocrisy is off the charts


The age guy is so ridiculous

He wants to allow 1 to 2 years older play downs which basically forces everyone else to play up against 1 to 2 year older players. But he uses RAE when Aug birthdays are 1-2 months outside of a made up 12 month eligibility window play up.

So dishonest and 100% weasel.
Sounds like some don't wanting play down and others see playing up as a safety issue. Good compromise would be a 12 month window per age group with no playing up or down.

The play down guy wants players up to 36 months older playing down.

The play up guy wants players at most 3 months younger playing on teams that are made up with players their grade in school.

Which one do you think cares about kids. Which one just wants to play older kids againt younger kids for wins?

And on top of that the concept of a "12 month eligibility window" doesnt even exist because leagues allow playing up. So the comment about 3 months younger than the 12 month eligibility window is invalid.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 10:18     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.


Stop commenting to yourself.
They’d call it 2027, 2028, 2029s….
Or like MLSN just call it the age group it is but allow the players in the same grade to join the group for showcases.
MLSN doesn’t change the name of its ages based of biobanding players joining the group.

So to accommodate play downs leagues will just stop using the u16 u17 u18 etc system and start using GRADUATING YEAR?

Hahahahaha

But you are the guy trying to tell people that graduating year aka grade in school doesnt exist in club soccer. I guess it does exist when you want play downs to be involved.

The hypocrisy is off the charts


The age guy is so ridiculous

He wants to allow 1 to 2 years older play downs which basically forces everyone else to play up against 1 to 2 year older players. But he uses RAE when Aug birthdays are 1-2 months outside of a made up 12 month eligibility window play up.

So dishonest and 100% weasel.
Sounds like some don't wanting play down and others see playing up as a safety issue. Good compromise would be a 12 month window per age group with no playing up or down.

The play down guy wants players up to 36 months older playing down.

The play up guy wants players at most 3 months younger playing on teams that are made up with players their grade in school.

Which one do you think cares about kids. Which one just wants to play older kids againt younger kids for wins?
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 10:10     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.


Stop commenting to yourself.
They’d call it 2027, 2028, 2029s….
Or like MLSN just call it the age group it is but allow the players in the same grade to join the group for showcases.
MLSN doesn’t change the name of its ages based of biobanding players joining the group.

So to accommodate play downs leagues will just stop using the u16 u17 u18 etc system and start using GRADUATING YEAR?

Hahahahaha

But you are the guy trying to tell people that graduating year aka grade in school doesnt exist in club soccer. I guess it does exist when you want play downs to be involved.

The hypocrisy is off the charts


The age guy is so ridiculous

He wants to allow 1 to 2 years older play downs which basically forces everyone else to play up against 1 to 2 year older players. But he uses RAE when Aug birthdays are 1-2 months outside of a made up 12 month eligibility window play up.

So dishonest and 100% weasel.
Sounds like some don't wanting play down and others see playing up as a safety issue. Good compromise would be a 12 month window per age group with no playing up or down.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 10:06     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

This is for next fall when SY starts. Same as above.

11v11 = U18/U19 = 8/1/2007 + younger = Senior
11v11 = U17 = 8/1/2009 + younger = Junior
11v11 = U16 = 8/1/2010 + younger = Sophmore
11v11 = U15 = 8/1/2011 + younger = Freshman
11v11 = U14 = 8/1/2012 + younger = 8th grade
11v11 = U13 = 8/1/2013 + younger = 7th grade
11v11 = U12 = 8/1/2014 + younger = 6th grade
9v9 = U11 = 8/1/2015 + younger = 5th grade
9v9 = U10 = 8/1/2016 + younger = 4th grade
7v7 = U9 = 8/1/2017 + younger = 3rd grade
7v7 = U8 = 8/1/2018 + younger = 2nd grade
4v4 = U7 = 8/1/2019 + younger = 1st grade
4v4 = U6 = 8/1/2020 + younger = kindergarten
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 10:05     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.


Stop commenting to yourself.
They’d call it 2027, 2028, 2029s….
Or like MLSN just call it the age group it is but allow the players in the same grade to join the group for showcases.
MLSN doesn’t change the name of its ages based of biobanding players joining the group.

So to accommodate play downs leagues will just stop using the u16 u17 u18 etc system and start using GRADUATING YEAR?

Hahahahaha

But you are the guy trying to tell people that graduating year aka grade in school doesnt exist in club soccer. I guess it does exist when you want play downs to be involved.

The hypocrisy is off the charts


The age guy is so ridiculous

He wants to allow 1 to 2 years older play downs which basically forces everyone else to play up against 1 to 2 year older players. But he uses RAE when Aug birthdays are 1-2 months outside of a made up 12 month eligibility window play up.

So dishonest and 100% weasel.
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 10:00     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.


Stop commenting to yourself.
They’d call it 2027, 2028, 2029s….
Or like MLSN just call it the age group it is but allow the players in the same grade to join the group for showcases.
MLSN doesn’t change the name of its ages based of biobanding players joining the group.

So to accommodate play downs leagues will just stop using the u16 u17 u18 etc system and start using GRADUATING YEAR?

Hahahahaha

But you are the guy trying to tell people that graduating year aka grade in school doesnt exist in club soccer. I guess it does exist when you want play downs to be involved.

The hypocrisy is off the charts

Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 09:20     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fall 2026

Age Group Birth Dates
U3 August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024
U4 August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023
U5 August 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022
U6 August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021
U7 August 1, 2019 - July 31, 2020
U8 August 1, 2018 - July 31, 2019
U9 August 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018
U10 August 1, 2016 - July 31, 2017
U11 August 1, 2015 - July 31, 2016
U12 August 1, 2014 - July 31, 2015
U13 August 1, 2013 - July 31, 2014
U14 August 1, 2012 - July 31, 2013
U15 August 1, 2011 - July 31, 2012
U16 August 1, 2010 - July 31, 2011
U17 August 1, 2009 - July 31, 2010
U18 August 1, 2008 - July 31, 2009
U19 August 1, 2007 - July 31, 2008

Below is the same info. But I've removed July 31st because its not needed (leagues allow playing up) and added in grade and game type. This is the information that parents need. Its ironic that we're changing from BY to SY because of trapped players and grade in school. But US soccer wont include grade in school on its matrices.

11v11 = U18/U19 = 8/1/2007 + younger = Senior
11v11 = U17 = 8/1/2009 + younger = Junior
11v11 = U16 = 8/1/2010 + younger = Sophmore
11v11 = U15 = 8/1/2011 + younger = Freshman
11v11 = U14 = 8/1/2012 + younger = 8th grade
11v11 = U13 = 8/1/2013 + younger = 7th grade
11v11 = U12 = 8/1/2014 + younger = 6th grade
9v9 = U11 = 8/1/2015 + younger = 5th grade
9v9 = U10 = 8/1/2016 + younger = 4th grade
7v7 = U9 = 8/1/2017 + younger = 3rd grade
7v7 = U8 = 8/1/2018 + younger = 2nd grade
4v4 = U7 = 8/1/2019 + younger = 1st grade
4v4 = U6 = 8/1/2020 + younger = kindergarten
Grade doesn't equate perfectly (=) to birthdates. Always been the problem. Age based is not grade based. Kids go to school at different times, get held back, bounce grades and sometimes go to schools without grades. Birthdays are factual. More importantly, the rules are set by DOB.

The problem is college coaches recruit by graduating year aka grade in school. Which is why you want to play on the correct grade in school team.
College coaches told Eastside they don't care your age group. They will recruit from all HS age groups if eligible, transfers and foreign, and evaluate the player not their team

Bending the truth again.

College coaches dont care about age because they only care about graduating year or grade in school. This determines when they can communicate with players and when they can show up on campus.

This is why playing on the correct grade in school team (and not being misaligned) is so important.


Did someone say Grad Year?

Not GY because you cant play down and 8/1 is the oldest player can be for each level. (No holdbacks)


If it's not grade year, then what is it exactly? Serious question.

SY with players playing up on their correct grade in school team. End result is all players on. the team are the same grade in school and no holdbacks.
But then it isn't all players in the same grade because many June and July kids are held back. It's a half measure to grade year for some but not all. Doesn't make any sense with all the states having different cuttoffs.

There are very few schools that start in July. I dont know of any district in the entire US that starts in June.

Holdbacks are older by choice. Clubs do not need to accommodate cheaters.


Wait until you see the U16-19 rules for showcases next year not just ECNL but for all of USYS and US Club.

If correct.

Nothing like holdbacks to kill the bottom line at clubs.


I don’t think aligning kids for a showcase based on playing with kids in their same graduating class for 16 and up isn’t going to affect them at all.

Im sure the parents of the kids that actually paid for the showcase will love the play downs joining their team and taking the minutes they paid for.
The parents I know would take a collection to cover the costs for a star on their kids team so the team looks better. No, they won't mind trading out a weak link for an older kid.


Coaches won't select or play a weaker player. They have egos

Any kid who takes your kid's spot is usually a better player or fit for the team
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 09:18     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Fall 2026

Age Group Birth Dates
U3 August 1, 2023 - July 31, 2024
U4 August 1, 2022 - July 31, 2023
U5 August 1, 2021 - July 31, 2022
U6 August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021
U7 August 1, 2019 - July 31, 2020
U8 August 1, 2018 - July 31, 2019
U9 August 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018
U10 August 1, 2016 - July 31, 2017
U11 August 1, 2015 - July 31, 2016
U12 August 1, 2014 - July 31, 2015
U13 August 1, 2013 - July 31, 2014
U14 August 1, 2012 - July 31, 2013
U15 August 1, 2011 - July 31, 2012
U16 August 1, 2010 - July 31, 2011
U17 August 1, 2009 - July 31, 2010
U18 August 1, 2008 - July 31, 2009
U19 August 1, 2007 - July 31, 2008

Below is the same info. But I've removed July 31st because its not needed (leagues allow playing up) and added in grade and game type. This is the information that parents need. Its ironic that we're changing from BY to SY because of trapped players and grade in school. But US soccer wont include grade in school on its matrices.

11v11 = U18/U19 = 8/1/2007 + younger = Senior
11v11 = U17 = 8/1/2009 + younger = Junior
11v11 = U16 = 8/1/2010 + younger = Sophmore
11v11 = U15 = 8/1/2011 + younger = Freshman
11v11 = U14 = 8/1/2012 + younger = 8th grade
11v11 = U13 = 8/1/2013 + younger = 7th grade
11v11 = U12 = 8/1/2014 + younger = 6th grade
9v9 = U11 = 8/1/2015 + younger = 5th grade
9v9 = U10 = 8/1/2016 + younger = 4th grade
7v7 = U9 = 8/1/2017 + younger = 3rd grade
7v7 = U8 = 8/1/2018 + younger = 2nd grade
4v4 = U7 = 8/1/2019 + younger = 1st grade
4v4 = U6 = 8/1/2020 + younger = kindergarten
Grade doesn't equate perfectly (=) to birthdates. Always been the problem. Age based is not grade based. Kids go to school at different times, get held back, bounce grades and sometimes go to schools without grades. Birthdays are factual. More importantly, the rules are set by DOB.

The problem is college coaches recruit by graduating year aka grade in school. Which is why you want to play on the correct grade in school team.
College coaches told Eastside they don't care your age group. They will recruit from all HS age groups if eligible, transfers and foreign, and evaluate the player not their team

Bending the truth again.

College coaches dont care about age because they only care about graduating year or grade in school. This determines when they can communicate with players and when they can show up on campus.

This is why playing on the correct grade in school team (and not being misaligned) is so important.


Did someone say Grad Year?

Not GY because you cant play down and 8/1 is the oldest player can be for each level. (No holdbacks)


If it's not grade year, then what is it exactly? Serious question.

SY with players playing up on their correct grade in school team. End result is all players on. the team are the same grade in school and no holdbacks.
But then it isn't all players in the same grade because many June and July kids are held back. It's a half measure to grade year for some but not all. Doesn't make any sense with all the states having different cuttoffs.

There are very few schools that start in July. I dont know of any district in the entire US that starts in June.

Holdbacks are older by choice. Clubs do not need to accommodate cheaters.


Wait until you see the U16-19 rules for showcases next year not just ECNL but for all of USYS and US Club.

If correct.

Nothing like holdbacks to kill the bottom line at clubs.

Why do you say this?

Because holdbacks take roster spots from correct grade in school players. This kicks off a "race to the bottom" about who can hold their kid back more and younger. In basketball you have 6'0" middle school students in 8th grade that were held back 2 years and can literally be 36 months older than the kids they're playing against.

For clubs what happens is the paying customers that follow the rules get pushed out by the parents of players that have no ethics and will do anything to win. Because these kind of people are aweful they'll find each other and create super teams compelely sidesteppjng anything leagues have setup for recruitment. On top of that all the holdbacks will be cheapskates going to whatever club lets them play for free.

The net is if holdbacks are allowed in leagues like ECNL clubs will lose money.


There is no such thing as correct grade in school for club travel soccer

It goes by age, month, year

Soon you'll want to group by hair color
Anonymous
Post 03/03/2026 05:19     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.


Hasn’t bankrupted the local club that consistently uses “biobanded” kids that aren’t actually qualified for biobanding just so their teams can win. Seems like parents are fine winning at any cost.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 23:53     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

My mistake it was from US Youth Soccer CEO Tom Condone not US Club.They are working together and following the same rules.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 23:52     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Players of the same graduating class will be participating together in high-level
tournaments and showcase matches.

This is from US Club admin.

What is high level? We will find out….

But don’t cry about it now that you’ve been warned.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 23:47     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.


Stop commenting to yourself.
They’d call it 2027, 2028, 2029s….
Or like MLSN just call it the age group it is but allow the players in the same grade to join the group for showcases.
MLSN doesn’t change the name of its ages based of biobanding players joining the group.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 19:17     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?

Hahahahaha I never thought about that.

Allowing players 1-2 years older to play down is the same thing as forcing younger players play 1-2 years up.
Anonymous
Post 03/02/2026 18:43     Subject: ECNL moving to school year part 2

Anonymous wrote:Looks like age guy is working overtime to pimp playing down again.

Biobanding works with MLS because they are acadamies. Allowing play downs in p2p leagues will bankrupt multiple clubs. Nobody wants to play against a cheater 3 years older then they are.

Don't worry I see it as well.

Just throwing this out there but how does the u15, u16, u17 naming convention work when players are allowed to play down?

Maybe something like u15+2, u16+2, u17+2? Or does u15 become u17, u16 become u18, u17 become u19, etc?