The Girls 2008 Thread

[Guest]

It shouldn't, any more than it would for another sport where players of different graduating classes compete on the same team. Basketball coaches don't have a problem knowing which player on an AAU or high school team is from which class, I think soccer can brave those difficult evaluation rapids.

The reality is, that it doesn't affect how they recruit at all.

Kids email coaches, and as always they list their graduation year among other things like GPA, position etc.

Coaches filter their list based on graduation year, need and then look at players who they might go see. They then go see players at showcases as communicated by the player.

They don't just roll up on a showcase field sit and wonder what year any of these kids are graduating.

[Guest]

Please explain how it fundamentally changes how college coaches recruit?

Your reading comprehension is clearly not great. I never said it changes how coaches recruit. But it doesn’t make it easier. Of course coaches are working of of a list of specific players at showcases. If they are focused on the class of 2024, those players being split across 2 age groups (vs. all playing in the same age group) likely means more games that need to be seen overall. Because, you know…. math.

It’s very unlikely that it will change back and it’s worked out great for my kid, but to say that birth year isn’t disruptive to the players affected, the clubs (putting together training or teams for trapped players each fall) and college coaches (it doesn’t make things easier), is disingenuous.

[Guest]

I don’t think it really matters so much once kids hit high school. But, I’ll tell you where kids are affected having one kid born in February and one in November. My February kid was always at an advantage because she was older, more mature, and felt like a leader compared to the kids born in the fall. She had more confidence and was a stand out player because of all the above. She then was pulled on to the better teams as she played soccer, better trainings, better coaches, in turn better opportunities that lead her to a spot on ECNL blue. Younger daughter, born in November. She was able to not only kick the ball around with older sister she was the youngest so when she was in 4th grade she was playing w 5th graders. This made her a better player in terms of speed of play and technically. But, she felt like she didn’t fit in, she felt small, she felt left out of conversations and so on. At times she was also intimidated by the bigger girls who had also hit puberty early. So even though I feel she is a better player technically than my older daughter, she lacks confidence and definitely didn’t have as much fun always playing with older kids. She has not made the ECNL blue team. It’s not due to lack of speed or technical. She is small and her shaky confidence holds her back at times. I don’t think she’d be a timid player if she had grown up playing w kids in her grade. I think she would have had more fun.

I know though, most of you could care less as this does not apply to your kid.

[Guest]

Your reading comprehension is clearly not great. I never said it changes how coaches recruit. But it doesn’t make it easier. Of course coaches are working of of a list of specific players at showcases. If they are focused on the class of 2024, those players being split across 2 age groups (vs. all playing in the same age group) likely means more games that need to be seen overall. Because, you know…. math.

It’s very unlikely that it will change back and it’s worked out great for my kid, but to say that birth year isn’t disruptive to the players affected, the clubs (putting together training or teams for trapped players each fall) and college coaches (it doesn’t make things easier), is disingenuous.

Recruiting is a continuum. They will still catch those 24's as well as a preview of the 25s in that second game, because "math".

[Guest]

I don’t think it really matters so much once kids hit high school. But, I’ll tell you where kids are affected having one kid born in February and one in November. My February kid was always at an advantage because she was older, more mature, and felt like a leader compared to the kids born in the fall. She had more confidence and was a stand out player because of all the above. She then was pulled on to the better teams as she played soccer, better trainings, better coaches, in turn better opportunities that lead her to a spot on ECNL blue. Younger daughter, born in November. She was able to not only kick the ball around with older sister she was the youngest so when she was in 4th grade she was playing w 5th graders. This made her a better player in terms of speed of play and technically. But, she felt like she didn’t fit in, she felt small, she felt left out of conversations and so on. At times she was also intimidated by the bigger girls who had also hit puberty early. So even though I feel she is a better player technically than my older daughter, she lacks confidence and definitely didn’t have as much fun always playing with older kids. She has not made the ECNL blue team. It’s not due to lack of speed or technical. She is small and her shaky confidence holds her back at times. I don’t think she’d be a timid player if she had grown up playing w kids in her grade. I think she would have had more fun.

I know though, most of you could care less as this does not apply to your kid.

Shocker, parent wants the same advantage for his younger daughter that his older daughter hade.

[Guest]

Shocker, parent wants the same advantage for his younger daughter that his older daughter hade.

It’s not about wanting advantage it’s about seeing the extremes in development and opportunities between two kids same family, same club etc. on has to wonder if it’s more about giving the younger one more equal opportunity as the older one by fixing birth year.

[Guest]

It’s not about wanting advantage it’s about seeing the extremes in development and opportunities between two kids same family, same club etc. on has to wonder if it’s more about giving the younger one more equal opportunity as the older one by fixing birth year.

And those advantages are based on not much more than physical maturity at early ages based on cutoff dates.

Yes, you do want those advantages. If you were actually concerned about development you would champion for split years at U10 and younger but instead you don't want you younger child to be disadvantaged after you have experienced the advantages that your older daughter had.

No matter when the cutoff is the older kids always get the advantages while the youngest kids get the shaft. For you, it is just convenient that switching back to school year would fall inline with your youngest kid.

[Guest]

Lots of research been ongoing on this issue and it is a problem even if it’s not for your particular child. ODP recognizes this issue. And say what you will about ODP, they split the kids in tryouts, and for trainings etc by grade not by birth year. Oldest half played together and youngest half played together for trainings.

[Guest]

It’s not about wanting advantage it’s about seeing the extremes in development and opportunities between two kids same family, same club etc. on has to wonder if it’s more about giving the younger one more equal opportunity as the older one by fixing birth year.

Players should be banded based on skill, not age, but we know that will never ever fly with parents.

[Guest]

In some cases they already are. Look at all the players playing up 1 year or the few playing up 2 years. They get bombarded out here on these threads.

[Guest]

Lots of research been ongoing on this issue and it is a problem even if it’s not for your particular child. ODP recognizes this issue. And say what you will about ODP, they split the kids in tryouts, and for trainings etc by grade not by birth year. Oldest half played together and youngest half played together for trainings.

ODP does organize as birth year like club - you’re right though that it essentially does become school year (for the most part) because for tryouts and trainings they group the kids Jan-June and July-December

[Guest]

In some cases they already are. Look at all the players playing up 1 year or the few playing up 2 years. They get bombarded out here on these threads.

They're the outliers because most teams won't play someone up unless they're going to be a top player on the older team. Banded by skill more similarly skilled players would play together.

Not the op but I can only imagine parent reaction to that idea. Of course Michael is just as good as Theo!

[Guest]

ODP does organize as birth year like club - you’re right though that it essentially does become school year (for the most part) because for tryouts and trainings they group the kids Jan-June and July-December

Only for the younger years. U12 and 13 I think. After that it goes full year. Intention is to negate the physical development advantage that the extra 6 mo gives to younger kids. By u14 they figure it has equalized.

[Guest]

Only for the younger years. U12 and 13 I think. After that it goes full year. Intention is to negate the physical development advantage that the extra 6 mo gives to younger kids. By u14 they figure it has equalized.

How does it equalize? Puberty and growth spurts? Maybe physically not mentally. A freshman and a sophomore different mental maturity and confidence.

[Guest]

Its closer to equalized for girls who go through puberty earlier and with more predictable stoppage about two years after their first period around 12-13. Boys can be all over the map. Some could shave in 8th grade, others sprout 6" senior year.

Maturity also has its own bell curve with plenty of outliers