ECNL wants to switch back to school year from birth year

[Guest]

It’s going by grad year regardless of when you were born.

You are correct

[Guest]

The increased number of trapped players is the most obvious proof.

That’s not proof that it isn’t actually benefiting them.

[Guest]

The so called "news" keeps changing. Is this really happening or just wishful thinking?

[Guest]

That’s not proof that it isn’t actually benefiting them.

In Massachusetts, enrollment numbers for kids from Sep1 to Dec 31 should make up approx 33% of the population but it makes up less than 25% of club soccer enrollment. You’re stopping kids from playing with their friends so they drop out before even getting a chance to develop a love for the sport.

[Guest]

That’s not proof that it isn’t actually benefiting them.

So not having a fall season to play in 8th grade and lack of showcase opportunities in 11th grade are benefits now?

[Guest]

The so called "news" keeps changing. Is this really happening or just wishful thinking?

I agree; this seems more speculative than factual. A few podcasts by the ECNL crew doesn't indicate a tangible, unified change. I will believe it when i see concrete information.

[Guest]

The so called "news" keeps changing. Is this really happening or just wishful thinking?

It’s happening. I would prefer it didn’t but 100% happening. Not just because ECNL wants it. It’s a club wide change wanted by all clubs

[Guest]

In Massachusetts, enrollment numbers for kids from Sep1 to Dec 31 should make up approx 33% of the population but it makes up less than 25% of club soccer enrollment. You’re stopping kids from playing with their friends so they drop out before even getting a chance to develop a love for the sport.

Club soccer enrollment isn’t, or shouldn’t be, the yardstick for whether ulittles are playing with their friends and developing a love for the game.

[Guest]

It’s happening. I would prefer it didn’t but 100% happening. Not just because ECNL wants it. It’s a club wide change wanted by all clubs

Yes as mentioned earlier from the coaches side all leagues are discussing this not just ECNL. All club owners and coaches from ECNL/ GA to the lowest leagues have essentially gotten the memo. We all know we have to start shifting and luckily we have a year to get it all organized. I feel terrible for the trapped 8th graders this year and the 11th graders. We are all doing our best to support them. This was a poor decision made for the ring reasons years ago that benefitted nobody. What our club will do this year for 8th grade girls is have them train with 2011 boys and the 2011 girls. They will train/scrimmage 4x a week. They will play in a few tournaments this fall as well. Playing with the boys will help them with quicker decision making. Training with our top 2011 team (girls) also give our girls solid training and let those trapped 8th graders get to know future teammates for next year since they will essentially be on a team with 2/3 2011 players next fall 2025.
Our club coaches are making a solid effort to support 8th graders trapped this final year. What are your clubs doing?

[Guest]

Currently dealing with this as we have a trapped player this fall and the club has no plan for her. Some bigger clubs do but the smaller clubs don’t have enough trapped players to create a team. This change will happen a year too late for our kid but for the rest of the kids coming up I hope it’s fixed.

The reality is that no club has enough players to create a team of trapped players. Nor are they willing to staff it with a coach. Sure kids are allowed to train with the younger team in the fall but coaches are not playing them in games as it would cause havoc with the parents to have who are actually on that team sit so an outsider can play. Just not worth it to them.

Those parents who are worried that there little one would become the youngest on the team are short sighted. In the current system, that kid could easily find themselves without a spot as seniors as those trapped players are integrated into the rising u17 team. The return to an Aug cutoff eliminates that issue.

[Guest]

Does this mean tryouts this spring will be nuts? Lots of previously trapped girls trying to get on higher level ECNL teams on what used to be the year younger team. And fall born kids that are happy on current ECNL team trying to stay put. Lots of moving parts.

[Guest]

Does this mean tryouts this spring will be nuts? Lots of previously trapped girls trying to get on higher level ECNL teams on what used to be the year younger team. And fall born kids that are happy on current ECNL team trying to stay put. Lots of moving parts.

Probably no different from every year.

[Guest]

The reality is that no club has enough players to create a team of trapped players. Nor are they willing to staff it with a coach. Sure kids are allowed to train with the younger team in the fall but coaches are not playing them in games as it would cause havoc with the parents to have who are actually on that team sit so an outsider can play. Just not worth it to them.

My daughter was with NEFC when she was a trapped 8th grader. The club was able to scrape together enough players to field a team for the Fall season (NECSL level) for an additional fee. It was something but it would have been much better to not have to deal with it

[Guest]

Yes as mentioned earlier from the coaches side all leagues are discussing this not just ECNL. All club owners and coaches from ECNL/ GA to the lowest leagues have essentially gotten the memo. We all know we have to start shifting and luckily we have a year to get it all organized. I feel terrible for the trapped 8th graders this year and the 11th graders. We are all doing our best to support them. This was a poor decision made for the ring reasons years ago that benefitted nobody. What our club will do this year for 8th grade girls is have them train with 2011 boys and the 2011 girls. They will train/scrimmage 4x a week. They will play in a few tournaments this fall as well. Playing with the boys will help them with quicker decision making. Training with our top 2011 team (girls) also give our girls solid training and let those trapped 8th graders get to know future teammates for next year since they will essentially be on a team with 2/3 2011 players next fall 2025.
Our club coaches are making a solid effort to support 8th graders trapped this final year. What are your clubs doing?

CFC ECNL does not support trapped players

[Guest]

It’s going by grad year regardless of when you were born.

I dont think this is correct. Other sports that go solely by graduation year (like lacrosse) still have age cut-offs. I cant see Soccer going from entirely based on birth year to just based on grade


example:
https://www.usalacrosse.com/sites/de...2-23-24pdf.pdf