ECNL wants to switch back to school year from birth year

[Guest]

If the change is happening, when's the latest we will know. And can we stop talking about it till that time?

[Guest]

Yes she’s been playing up with a team of girls that about 80% of them are a grade above her. She’s a trapped player playing up a grade. Not all kids are rejected socially especially if they knew each other from attending the same school or are physically older looking because they hit puberty earlier. Our daughter was a late bloomer, puberty wise, and not from the same towns as the other girls. Much harder to fit in. She overcame it the best she could and focused on her game rather than social connections but not all players are able to do that.

We have had the same exact experience. Our daughter born in May had zero social issues because she was in the same grade and interested in the same things, going through the same problems as the girls in her own grade. Our other daughter born in December knew nobody on her team, had middle school things going on while her team attended high school outings, drove later, dated later … everything later. The girls at this age can be tough and leave out the younger girls. Our December girl switched to lacrosse with friends and is doing well. Before leaving her team we talked to the coach, he was unable to do anything. We knew on this environment she would likely never end up being a leader. Our May girl is still playing soccer.

[Guest]

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[Guest]

Yes she’s been playing up with a team of girls that about 80% of them are a grade above her. She’s a trapped player playing up a grade. Not all kids are rejected socially especially if they knew each other from attending the same school or are physically older looking because they hit puberty earlier. Our daughter was a late bloomer, puberty wise, and not from the same towns as the other girls. Much harder to fit in. She overcame it the best she could and focused on her game rather than social connections but not all players are able to do that.

So she’s not playing up. Playing at age

[Guest]

Yes she’s been playing up with a team of girls that about 80% of them are a grade above her. She’s a trapped player playing up a grade. Not all kids are rejected socially especially if they knew each other from attending the same school or are physically older looking because they hit puberty earlier. Our daughter was a late bloomer, puberty wise, and not from the same towns as the other girls. Much harder to fit in. She overcame it the best she could and focused on her game rather than social connections but not all players are able to do that.

Gotcha. I could understand that. I'm curious, is she playing ECNL? In my experience, ECNL clubs do not typically roster girls to play up. They may play up occasionally for tournaments and such, but are, typically, rostered for their age groups. I have seen exceptions exceptions for girls at the USYNT level, for instance, but it's pretty rare.

[Guest]

So she’s not playing up. Playing at age

Yeah, I think I'm confused. The "trapped girl playing up a grade" is confusing. Is she playing her actual year and just has a late birthday, or playing up at the next age group altogether?

[Guest]

Yeah, I think I'm confused. The "trapped girl playing up a grade" is confusing. Is she playing her actual year and just has a late birthday, or playing up at the next age group altogether?

Seems she is not playing up. She is a trapped player playing age appropriate in current system. Parents just that label of ‘playing up”.

[Guest]

as December birthday she is both younger and a grade level below most of her teammates. Thus she is physically and socially behind, but she is not playing up. She is with her BY

[Guest]

as December birthday she is both younger and a grade level below most of her teammates. Thus she is physically and socially behind, but she is not playing up. She is with her BY

To clarify.,, She’s not playing up in terms of current rules but she is playing up a grade which has social and physical disadvantages.
Whether you agree to current birth year problems the problems mentally and physically for a middle school girl essentially playing up with high school girls is real. This will be fixed with the new cut off of Sept 1. Good for those kids. Too late for mine.

[Guest]

To clarify.,, She’s not playing up in terms of current rules but she is playing up a grade which has social and physical disadvantages.
Whether you agree to current birth year problems the problems mentally and physically for a middle school girl essentially playing up with high school girls is real. This will be fixed with the new cut off of Sept 1. Good for those kids. Too late for mine.

So, she lived.
just like all the other girls with fall birthdays since 2017

[Guest]

To clarify.,, She’s not playing up in terms of current rules but she is playing up a grade which has social and physical disadvantages.
Whether you agree to current birth year problems the problems mentally and physically for a middle school girl essentially playing up with high school girls is real. This will be fixed with the new cut off of Sept 1. Good for those kids. Too late for mine.

I understand, but every girl with a late birthday is in the same situation. It affects some more than others. I am actually hoping they do not change the rule as being one of the younger girls, I believe, has been more of a benefit, at least to this point.

[Guest]

I think it’s a big recruiting benefit to have a trapped player from our experience this year. I have a 2026, October 2007, and we learned so much from the 2025s going through the process last year. No meeting, seminars or anything else will prepare you for June 15th as well as the first hand stories from teammates. Many coaches mentioned seeing my daughter play last summer while watching the 2025 players. Maybe it’d be the same attention for her anyway, but seems very doubtful. I don’t care if they change cutoff or not but you younger trapped player parents should be in favor of the current system if your kid is a good player.

If your daughter is already committed, a BIG congrats! If your daughter is not yet committed,this year could be tough. Your daughter is going into her junior year, and she is on a team of seniors? As you know, not much will happen for her this fall while high school is in season. If she is playing ECNL they are likely all or mostly committed. Find out what showcases they will be playing. And hope that your club can actually get parents to foot the bill for travel in their senior year. You might go to the Florida ECNL showcase. When you do go, be prepared for very light sideline attendance. Nothing like you have seen in the past. You will likely be on fields 20 & 21 at the very far end of the complex where college coaches just make a decision that it is not worth the walk given the number of players they can see in a given time. Often kids opt out of showcases if they are even offered for the U19 team. Be prepared for the spring season with senior trips, proms, banquets and senioritis in general. There are not typically spring showcases for U19. See if your club will allow her to attend showcases with the u17 team but don’t have high expectations. If your kid is not playing ECNL, this may not apply as there will typically be less players that are committed and you might do things like Jeff Cup in the spring. Not sure on the GA side. If your daughter is looking at local colleges, you are in luck as college coaches can come to league games. Being a junior on a team of seniors is tough and it has absolutely nothing to do with level of play or social circles. It has more to do with where the players are in their life. I wish your daughter well as she closes out her high school soccer career.

[Guest]

I’m the other poster with the kid who went to Lacrosse. It seems there are few parents here with trapped 8th graders or who had trapped 8th graders. The problems are real. Those of you saying they are not have zero experience.

[Guest]

Too many of you are acting like your idiosyncratic personal experiences matter on a broad policy basis. Everyone has their own crosses and burdens and this is not stuff that is crucial for their life. It's a side sport that will not be part of their career. Get out of it what you can, and move on.

[Guest]

Of course they will live, the *******s who keep posting that are ridiculous. Your January Mia will also live when it goes back to grade year. She just may lose her roster spot.

Keep kids playing with friends in their own grade. Don't force 20-30% to feel as outcasts because they happened to be born later. Going back to grade year solves all of that and helps recruiting.