ECNL wants to switch back to school year from birth year

[Guest]

I don’t care personally but it’s just disgusting how people push for things that make their situation better at the expense of others. I guess it’s a mass soccer forum I shouldn’t be surprised

Are you aware that it is the college coaches pushing for the change? Historically it had always been grade not birth year because BY always means two grades per team and occasionally three grades per team. The coaches just want to watch specific recruiting cohorts play each other.

[Guest]

A) Because I know everything. If you knew everything, you would know that.
B) You answered your own question. They WERE ultimately recruited.

Those hoops were far more likely to be due to their ability (or Covid) not because they were trapped.

Most Juniors on ECNL teams commit before Spring of Junior year. They get 3 years of visibility starting in 8th grade spring when they attend events with the 9th graders. Coaches come to specific games to see Players A and B, and while there, their job is to scan the field, and mark players of interest. They can't directly communicate until 6/15 after Soph year, but the lists start way before that. Coaches communicate with Clubs, and clubs let players know who is interested. Players then reach out directly to express interest in that college and share schedule. In my experience the fall born BY players are given a head start and a better platform for showcasing since older players are perceived as stronger.

Considering that you know the "3 trapped players" were ultimately recruited, it would imply their process had overlap with COVID. Therefore, is it possible that Covid was more of the reason these 3 players were not committed by spring of their Junior Year?.

1. College coaches are not looking at 8th graders when they can’t even talk to them for another 2 years
2. What 8th grader you know, has any clue what they are looking for in a college? Would love to see those pre-tournament emails they send to a coach
3. Lots of physical maturing between 8th grade and high school. Coaches not interested in wondering what that will do for or to a player when they can see 1000s upon 1000s of other players of recruiting age. Coaches not looking 4 years out.
4. You really think a college coach is scanning the field, sees the smaller player, checks their little sheet and recognizes that they are younger. Hahahahaha
5. Very few players are spotted randomly and followed up on by college coach. Coaches get hundreds and hundreds of emails daily leading up to a tournament. They are not wasting a second those that did not express interest.

[Guest]

Are you aware that it is the college coaches pushing for the change? Historically it had always been grade not birth year because BY always means two grades per team and occasionally three grades per team. The coaches just want to watch specific recruiting cohorts play each other.

It’s got nothing to do with grade. It’s changing the cutoff to now group teams together by Aug 1 - July 31. That’s it. If your kid is skipping grades or staying back nobody cares.

[Guest]

I don’t care personally but it’s just disgusting how people push for things that make their situation better at the expense of others. I guess it’s a mass soccer forum I shouldn’t be surprised

What’s baffling to me is how you can be so disgusted by something you clearly have zero understanding of, despite 28 pages of discussion of the topic.

[Guest]

It’s got nothing to do with grade. It’s changing the cutoff to now group teams together by Aug 1 - July 31. That’s it. If your kid is skipping grades or staying back nobody cares.

Exactly but that date range makes teams 98% one grade. Irrespective of who redshirts. Although I still think they should just simplify everything and have kids check a box indicating what grade they’re in and that’s the team they play with period. There just aren’t many families willing to have a teenager repeat a school year. Sure some families might start kindergarten a year later but there isn’t going to be a mass of kids reclassing.

[Guest]

What’s baffling to me is how you can be so disgusted by something you clearly have zero understanding of, despite 28 pages of discussion of the topic.

Because it’s horrible behavior. You’re willing to sacrifice someone else for your betterment. At the end of the day everyone is out for themselves and would gladly sacrifice someone else to get a leg up. The change clearly has downside which you just want to ignore. Your just a selfish *****. own it

[Guest]

Because it’s horrible behavior. You’re willing to sacrifice someone else for your betterment. At the end of the day everyone is out for themselves and would gladly sacrifice someone else to get a leg up. The change clearly has downside which you just want to ignore. You’re just a selfish *****. own it

Again, a display of complete lack of understanding. It has nothing to do with “my betterment” as my kid was born in June. It has everything to do with the current birth year system impacting kids born Sept-Dec negatively, while moving to Aug 1 cutoff would only impact kids born in August negatively. So moving to Aug 1 cutoff would impact only 1/4th the number of kids negatively compared to the current system.

[Guest]

Again, a display of complete lack of understanding. It has nothing to do with “my betterment” as my kid was born in June. It has everything to do with the current birth year system impacting kids born Sept-Dec negatively, while moving to Aug 1 cutoff would only impact kids born in August negatively. So moving to Aug 1 cutoff would impact only 1/4th the number of kids negatively compared to the current system.

lol no and sept and oct. you’re shifting the issue. Not solving anything.

[Guest]

lol no and sept and oct. you’re shifting the issue. Not solving anything.

You are either trolling or stupid. Going to Aug cutoff solves so many problems. Just curious, what issue do you think it is it not solving?

[Guest]

Is NEFC going to do this too?

[Guest]

Is NEFC going to do this too?

No clubs have announced anything. But if the league they operate under GA or ECNL changes to Aug 1 cutoff then yes the clubs in these leagues will have to follow. It will have a spiral down effect in which it will affect all clubs and leagues eventually. It’s honestly the best thing for the most players.

[Guest]

You are either trolling or stupid. Going to Aug cutoff solves so many problems. Just curious, what issue do you think it is it not solving?

It’s not solving a thing. You say your kid is a June bday that’s likely a lie. You’re pushing so hard for this because your kid is likely an August birthday making them an older player on a younger team. Like I’ve said several times, you’re cool screwing other kids so your kid can benefit a typical mass soccer dad

[Guest]

It’s not solving a thing. You say your kid is a June bday that’s likely a lie. You’re pushing so hard for this because your kid is likely an August birthday making them an older player on a younger team. Like I’ve said several times, you’re cool screwing other kids so your kid can benefit a typical mass soccer dad

Aug 1- July 31 will be the new grouping for players.
its not by grade it’s basically mid year to mid year which has least affect on the most players.
Players born in July will be the youngest and born in August will be the oldest.

That’s how it’s going to go. You all need to stop fighting over it. Coaches from ECNL to GA all the way down to the lowest NECSL teams are discussing this. Some have already adjusted how they will develop their trapped 8th graders this fall as they are the last group of trapped 8th graders and the best thing clubs can do to support them is let them play/practice with 2011s this fall. No they can’t be rostered for league games, so parents of 2011s don’t stress they aren’t bumping your child off the roster this fall. BUT they can travel to tournaments with 2011s and get some playing time if 2011 team plays up in u-15 for tournaments in Aug, Oct, and Nov.

[Guest]

It’s not solving a thing. You say your kid is a June bday that’s likely a lie. You’re pushing so hard for this because your kid is likely an August birthday making them an older player on a younger team. Like I’ve said several times, you’re cool screwing other kids so your kid can benefit a typical mass soccer dad

Most parents are for the change because currently most players are affected :
The fall 8G kids who have to train with a different team
The kids from said team that lose playing minutes to those fall kids
Those fall kids who don't get seen as freshmen but then can't get seen as sophomores
Same fall kids when they are juniors and everyone else is recruited from their team
The kids those fall kids displace in their senior year

Personally my child is one of the oldest on the team and a starter so the current rule worked just fine for me.
But it's wrong and unfair. So I am in support of the change

I

[Guest]

My daughter has an October birthday, so she would benefit with the change as she would no longer be trapped. But, it will be interesting to see how it affects rosters. She will now be in the next lower age group and that team at our club is just not very good, at least as currently rostered. This change could actually force us to a different club.