age change?

[Unregistered]

The answer is clear if you look at it from a $$$$ standpoint which is how soccer is 100% looked at:

Maximum amounts of players = happy players/parents.
Maximum amounts of players = maximum $$$$.

How do you get there?

If there was a reduction in players due to age change, the answer is clear. Go back to graduation year and this will allow maximum amounts of PAYING players.

Duh..........

[Unregistered]

Sorry, meant to add: PAYING PARENTS. We, the PARENTS, have the control, NOT YOU. There is always another sport to play....

Come on smarty pants soccer leaders.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Unregistered]

Wait, if this change goes through then how will PDA play Barca next year if they aren't on the same age platform?

#remember the 11

[Unregistered]

The change was forced by USSF when 99.9999% of US players will never play internationally so age alignment doesn't matter. Players who have the skills and drive to go pro can play against multiple years up. They dont' need a few months in their favor. It's something that is a detriment to many and benefits very few.

this was rumored to be happening even before Covid. Does it happen now with all the chaos? It might make sense to rip the bandaid off now to allow for a total re-set all at once. The argument can also be made there's just too much chaos this year.

Now is the time more than ever. More and more families will have budget and uncertainty reasons for dropping out of soccer. Give soccer some hope and at least put in the effort to help the sport now that there is time during this pause. If ECNL doesn’t do this after their fiasco every year with no u18 team and having to try to make u18/19 composite teams, then soccer deserves to lose out to lacrosse.

[Unregistered]

Wait, if this change goes through then how will PDA play Barca next year if they aren't on the same age platform?

#remember the 11

they never were. barca team was 1 year younger. with age group change they will only be 1/2 year younger and probably demolish pda like 4-0.

in any case, the international age group alignment is also probably driven by sponsors such as nike and adidas who want the crossover games and real competition. and with ecnl in nike's back pocket...

[Unregistered]

Now is the time more than ever. More and more families will have budget and uncertainty reasons for dropping out of soccer. Give soccer some hope and at least put in the effort to help the sport now that there is time during this pause. If ECNL doesn’t do this after their fiasco every year with no u18 team and having to try to make u18/19 composite teams, then soccer deserves to lose out to lacrosse.

BUT, thinking on the other side.....Those that did not start or get the playing time when they were the bottom half of that 18U are now the older, more experienced on that composite team the following year. Or maybe your little Suzy couldn't hack it even with the younger kids during the composite?

If the biggest reason to leave soccer is because of the age groups then maybe soccer wasn't really the sport for you.

[Unregistered]

Overall, soccer is down 1 million kids but on the flip side indoor has gone up.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/...us-since-2006/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...us-since-2006/

High School soccer has shown slightly more playing then before the age change.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/...school-soccer/


This could be due to the lower # of players per team then age. Used to be 6v6, 8v8, 9v9 and 11v11 with some leagues having u12-u15 9v9 divisions. When that changed to 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 you started benching players that used to start and removed the 9v9 divisions. When the change happened you lost a good number of the 08 players from the back half of the year as new players were now competing with ones with a year of playing time under them and 09s were tossed into travel really before they were ready. Not to mention the players that left when their teams broke up between age groups which wasn't always due to overall team but parents not wanting their kids playing with younger kids who may lose or the club or township making the decision of not allowing teams to stay together.

While I think the dip over the last 2 years was expected (due to these reason) the overall numbers will go back up especially as futsal becomes more popular.

[Unregistered]

BUT, thinking on the other side.....Those that did not start or get the playing time when they were the bottom half of that 18U are now the older, more experienced on that composite team the following year. Or maybe your little Suzy couldn't hack it even with the younger kids during the composite?

If the biggest reason to leave soccer is because of the age groups then maybe soccer wasn't really the sport for you.

There is no u18 team. It is U18/19 and U18/19 composite.

[Unregistered]

Overall, soccer is down 1 million kids but on the flip side indoor has gone up.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/...us-since-2006/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/...us-since-2006/

High School soccer has shown slightly more playing then before the age change.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/...school-soccer/


This could be due to the lower # of players per team then age. Used to be 6v6, 8v8, 9v9 and 11v11 with some leagues having u12-u15 9v9 divisions. When that changed to 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 you started benching players that used to start and removed the 9v9 divisions. When the change happened you lost a good number of the 08 players from the back half of the year as new players were now competing with ones with a year of playing time under them and 09s were tossed into travel really before they were ready. Not to mention the players that left when their teams broke up between age groups which wasn't always due to overall team but parents not wanting their kids playing with younger kids who may lose or the club or township making the decision of not allowing teams to stay together.

While I think the dip over the last 2 years was expected (due to these reason) the overall numbers will go back up especially as futsal becomes more popular.

sitting on a bench of an 11v11 U7 town team is not an indication of popularity or if it could be classified as soccer. kids just used to sit and chat.