ECNL wants to switch back to school year from birth year

[Guest]

In Florida, we get affected by lightning a lot in the Fall/Winter. A lot of training cancellations.

Should have said rain and lightning. While most training is canceled for lightning, it can also be canceled due to soggy fields.

[Guest]

3 months of shift at 12 represents 2% of her life and during a phase when puberty was beginning to upset the order of things on teams. RAE is consequential in the early years 6-11 when a few months difference affects is based on minor differences in speed, coordination, and reaction time. Those January advantages drop out by early teen years, but the problem is that during that time horizon those early birthdays were celebrated by coaches (pygmalion effect) and given more opportunities (playing up, more games, better teams) at the same time as later birthdays dropped out of the sport at high rates. Effects of RAE in high school are historical. This is also probably why you see a lot of team changes in years 12-15. Yes puberty has something to do with it, but by this time there is little difference biologically with your age. So you either then actually have a differential in skill compared to your peers or you don’t. Our U10 team consisted of 11 players with birthdays January to May and my son was late June. It stayed this way for a couple years. My daughters team is the same way. A change to GY now would only significantly affect kids who just are entering the sport now. In your teens if you can’t hack it playing with or against someone a couple months older you aren’t going to make it anyway.

Maybe that’s why Shaw went pro at 18. She was a trapped player and didn’t get the attention she wanted from college recruiters.

Since we are sharing anecdotes about our kids youth teams. My daughters 3 top players were born in June August and October. They all went on to play ECNL as starters. Imagine if they had all been born 5 months earlier.

[Guest]

Should have said rain and lightning. While most training is canceled for lightning, it can also be canceled due to soggy fields.

Podcast talks about FL. Probes at the question as to why FL, who has similar weather advantages to CA and TX isn’t generating the same volume of talent as those areas and the Southwest in general. They talked about the humidity a little but focused on the Wild West nature of the clubs and owners in the state. Basically said they wouldn’t emulate successful clubs because the didn’t want anyone telling them what to do.

[Guest]

Podcast talks about FL. Probes at the question as to why FL, who has similar weather advantages to CA and TX isn’t generating the same volume of talent as those areas and the Southwest in general. They talked about the humidity a little but focused on the Wild West nature of the clubs and owners in the state. Basically said they wouldn’t emulate successful clubs because the didn’t want anyone telling them what to do.

That's interesting. I'll have to listen to the podcast.

As to weather advantage, I'd be interested in knowing if CA and TX have the same lightning and rain issues we do in Florida. It is not uncommon in the Fall to have anywhere from 1-3 training sessions canceled a week due to rain and lightning.

As to the Wild West state of Florida ECNL clubs, I honestly don't know. Florida ECNL is all we have known. It does seem a bit crazier than everywhere else. Just go check out our TS board if you want a taste. There is a reason I come here for general youth soccer discussion. We have 9 ECNL clubs (basically two for every "major" city) who each have varying degrees of success year to year. I'd say our club is probably middle of the pack, some good teams, some bad teams. We seem to have had pretty good coaches and my daughter has done pretty well. But, you're right, for our population and relative weather advantage, we should be better.

[Guest]

Wow this thread is crazy! A post 80 pages ago mapped out the problem using a current Q4 sophomore as an example. If you are a Q4 08 you are currently a sophomore on a team that is 70-80% juniors. There will be a lot of showcase activity this year but college coaches are interested in the juniors and club coaches are understandably focused on getting their juniors committed. Everyone tells the sophomores we'll loop back next year. Fast forward to 25-26 and the Q4 08s are juniors but they're now on a team of 70-80% committed seniors who no longer want to attend showcases. The seniors certainly aren't traveling spring of senior year. In the rare event they do go to showcases the college coaches are across the complex looking at teams that are predominantly juniors. Fast forward again to 26-27 and the Q4 08 seniors legitimately no longer have a team and have to drop down to play. This is the reality for 30% of players and it is ridiculous. Now consider those 08s play graduation year. This year they play with sophomores. Next year they play with juniors and are actually given a fair shot at being recruited. I'm sure this terrifies SOME Q1/Q2 parents with kids skating on their date of birth but if you have a talented kid competing against kids in your same recruiting or graduation year shouldn't present a problem. Looking at this scenario there can be now reasonable excuse not to change to graduation year other than you are afraid your player will no longer be able to compete. If that's the case then you have some reflecting to do.

[Guest]

Wow this thread is crazy! A post 80 pages ago mapped out the problem using a current Q4 sophomore as an example. If you are a Q4 08 you are currently a sophomore on a team that is 70-80% juniors. There will be a lot of showcase activity this year but college coaches are interested in the juniors and club coaches are understandably focused on getting their juniors committed. Everyone tells the sophomores we'll loop back next year. Fast forward to 25-26 and the Q4 08s are juniors but they're now on a team of 70-80% committed seniors who no longer want to attend showcases. The seniors certainly aren't traveling spring of senior year. In the rare event they do go to showcases the college coaches are across the complex looking at teams that are predominantly juniors. Fast forward again to 26-27 and the Q4 08 seniors legitimately no longer have a team and have to drop down to play. This is the reality for 30% of players and it is ridiculous. Now consider those 08s play graduation year. This year they play with sophomores. Next year they play with juniors and are actually given a fair shot at being recruited. I'm sure this terrifies SOME Q1/Q2 parents with kids skating on their date of birth but if you have a talented kid competing against kids in your same recruiting or graduation year shouldn't present a problem. Looking at this scenario there can be now reasonable excuse not to change to graduation year other than you are afraid your player will no longer be able to compete. If that's the case then you have some reflecting to do.

You should run for ECNL President. Aptly summarized.

[Guest]

Wow this thread is crazy! A post 80 pages ago mapped out the problem using a current Q4 sophomore as an example. If you are a Q4 08 you are currently a sophomore on a team that is 70-80% juniors. There will be a lot of showcase activity this year but college coaches are interested in the juniors and club coaches are understandably focused on getting their juniors committed. Everyone tells the sophomores we'll loop back next year. Fast forward to 25-26 and the Q4 08s are juniors but they're now on a team of 70-80% committed seniors who no longer want to attend showcases. The seniors certainly aren't traveling spring of senior year. In the rare event they do go to showcases the college coaches are across the complex looking at teams that are predominantly juniors. Fast forward again to 26-27 and the Q4 08 seniors legitimately no longer have a team and have to drop down to play. This is the reality for 30% of players and it is ridiculous. Now consider those 08s play graduation year. This year they play with sophomores. Next year they play with juniors and are actually given a fair shot at being recruited. I'm sure this terrifies SOME Q1/Q2 parents with kids skating on their date of birth but if you have a talented kid competing against kids in your same recruiting or graduation year shouldn't present a problem. Looking at this scenario there can be now reasonable excuse not to change to graduation year other than you are afraid your player will no longer be able to compete. If that's the case then you have some reflecting to do.

Nice detail. What college coaches are focusing on Juniors?
D1 coaches are focused on SOPHOMORES to prioritize calls for 6/15 and get first offers out before Labor Day.

If your lived experience is that coaches are focusing Jrs then you need to tell the truth to everyone else about the level of your club team and the the target level of those colleges.

No coach would tell a sophomore they would circle back next year unless they were being kindly dismissive or they were D3. Nothing wrong with D3, but as explained 80 pages ago you dont need showcases to go NESCAC/Liberty Leagues. Get good grades and go to their camps.

[Guest]

You should run for ECNL President. Aptly summarized.

replying to your own post :):) you’re a whiny dolt with no idea how recruiting works.

yes, it sux to fear your D will be overlooked, i understand, and I bet it will work out for her in the end. Just saw IG today with a 2025 ECRL going local D2. All should be happy, and that timeline makes sense.

while much can be learned from failure, you are learning what NOT to do. So people… Don’t come on TS and whine, don’t think recruiting starts Junior year, don’t set targets for colleges that are above where her club team usually commits, don’t forget to reach out to coaches and go to their camp

[Guest]

replying to your own post :):) you’re a whiny dolt with no idea how recruiting works.

yes, it sux to fear your D will be overlooked, i understand, and I bet it will work out for her in the end. Just saw IG today with a 2025 ECRL going local D2. All should be happy, and that timeline makes sense.

while much can be learned from failure, you are learning what NOT to do. So people… Don’t come on TS and whine, don’t think recruiting starts Junior year, don’t set targets for colleges that are above where her club team usually commits, don’t forget to reach out to coaches and go to their camp

When you are awake at night or stuck in traffic with your own vapid thoughts I want you to realize THIS is why no one likes you. Sure sure sure you think you're beloved. You're not. I can tell you unequivocally that people dread interacting with you. Both on random soccer forums and most certainly in real life.

[Guest]

Nice detail. What college coaches are focusing on Juniors?
D1 coaches are focused on SOPHOMORES to prioritize calls for 6/15 and get first offers out before Labor Day.

If your lived experience is that coaches are focusing Jrs then you need to tell the truth to everyone else about the level of your club team and the the target level of those colleges.

No coach would tell a sophomore they would circle back next year unless they were being kindly dismissive or they were D3. Nothing wrong with D3, but as explained 80 pages ago you dont need showcases to go NESCAC/Liberty Leagues. Get good grades and go to their camps.

Wow are genuinely ignorant or willfully obtuse? I'm sure it will be a struggle but replace the Q4 08 in the scenario with a current Q4 09 who is a freshman on a team full of sophomores. Now can you grasp the situation?

[Guest]

When you are awake at night or stuck in traffic with your own vapid thoughts I want you to realize THIS is why no one likes you. Sure sure sure you think you're beloved. You're not. I can tell you unequivocally that people dread interacting with you. Both on random soccer forums and most certainly in real life.

This is hands down the best reply I have ever seen on TS

[Guest]

Wow are genuinely ignorant or willfully obtuse? I'm sure it will be a struggle but replace the Q4 08 in the scenario with a current Q4 09 who is a freshman on a team full of sophomores. Now can you grasp the situation?

Yes. It was my D and many many others along with and after her. The coaches go to the games that are predominantly sophomores and, like EVERY game since the BY change, they know the pitch is full of players from 2 GYs. They don’t have special glasses that blur out the freshman. They take notes on every player. Then when they send a note to the club coach after the game re the sophomore(s) they cast the net and mention the freshman that caught their eye.

This is not hard to understand. The prime “recruiting” season is Sophomore year, and no coach at any level is ignoring sophomores. Elite D3 may need to wait on Junior grades to do anything about it, but if they say they are not looking at Sophs, what you need to hear is they aren’t interested.

[Guest]

Yes. It was my D and many many others along with and after her. The coaches go to the games that are predominantly sophomores and, like EVERY game since the BY change, they know the pitch is full of players from 2 GYs. They don’t have special glasses that blur out the freshman. They take notes on every player. Then when they send a note to the club coach after the game re the sophomore(s) they cast the net and mention the freshman that caught their eye.

This is not hard to understand. The prime “recruiting” season is Sophomore year, and no coach at any level is ignoring sophomores. Elite D3 may need to wait on Junior grades to do anything about it, but if they say they are not looking at Sophs, what you need to hear is they aren’t interested.

So where are all the Q4 07 and Q1-3 08 D1 commitments? Shouldn't they all be locked down by now? Instagram pages should be lighting up with endless offers!

[Guest]

When you are awake at night or stuck in traffic with your own vapid thoughts I want you to realize THIS is why no one likes you. Sure sure sure you think you're beloved. You're not. I can tell you unequivocally that people dread interacting with you. Both on random soccer forums and most certainly in real life.

when beaten with facts attack the source

Beyond attacking me, which I admit was both funny and well written, do you have something to offer

[Guest]

So where are all the Q4 07 and Q1-3 08 D1 commitments? Shouldn't they all be locked down by now? Instagram pages should be lighting up with endless offers!

One of the first 2026 came out last week. 2025 been out for a while