ECNL Girls playing up a year

[Guest]

according to PDA brass only YNT level players are awarded that honor, not manipulative parents.

So ok at PDA just because but MF is wrong because the reason is different than at PDA?

Is the result the same?

[Guest]

So ok at PDA just because but MF is wrong because the reason is different than at PDA?

Is the result the same?

No, as a parent of the MFA ECNL girls 07’s the players that were brought up did nothing to help our team except take playing time away from much better players.

[Guest]

No, as a parent of the MFA ECNL girls 07’s the players that were brought up did nothing to help our team except take playing time away from much better players.

So you have kids at MF and PDA? Are you really that slow that you can't understand a player playing up is taking time from an age appropriate player at any club be it PDA or MF or WC?

Might want to sit this out.

[Guest]

No, as a parent of the MFA ECNL girls 07’s the players that were brought up did nothing to help our team except take playing time away from much better players.

So the result is the same since a younger player is taking playing time/spot from an age appropriate player by playing up.

Some are just denser than others.

[Guest]

Sorry but the idea of player’s level of play being dictated by age instead of skill is regressive and frankly one of the contributing factors why soccer continues to struggle in America.

Age is absolutely nothing but a number and should in practical terms not be a restrictive factor on what teams players can be rostered to play. Players’ skill levels, physical abilities, and overall maturity level should determine what teams they play.

A competent coaching staff should possess the ability to effectively evaluate players and roster them on teams where their development can be maximized while contributing positively to the team’s success. This hullabaloo should not about players playing up rather coaches failing to properly evaluate their talents and thus placing players on the wrong teams. Worth mentioning that players playing up might struggle at the onset until they get into their comfort zone with new teammates… you just have to trust your coaches if they know what they are doing.

Btw did Messi play up? How about other superstar players - did many of them play up at the academy level? While you’re busy moaning over players playing up in ECNL; Red Bulls and several MLS teams have signed 15 years old kids to PRO contracts. Obviously these professional clubs are not limiting themselves to adult AGED players.

[Guest]

Sorry but the idea of player’s level of play being dictated by age instead of skill is regressive and frankly one of the contributing factors why soccer continues to struggle in America.

Age is absolutely nothing but a number and should in practical terms not be a restrictive factor on what teams players can be rostered to play. Players’ skill levels, physical abilities, and overall maturity level should determine what teams they play.

A competent coaching staff should possess the ability to effectively evaluate players and roster them on teams where their development can be maximized while contributing positively to the team’s success. This hullabaloo should not about players playing up rather coaches failing to properly evaluate their talents and thus placing players on the wrong teams. Worth mentioning that players playing up might struggle at the onset until they get into their comfort zone with new teammates… you just have to trust your coaches if they know what they are doing.

Btw did Messi play up? How about other superstar players - did many of them play up at the academy level? While you’re busy moaning over players playing up in ECNL; Red Bulls and several MLS teams have signed 15 years old kids to PRO contracts. Obviously these professional clubs are not limiting themselves to adult AGED players.

You are correct however the big linchpin is competent coaching staff. Where are those folks hiding?

I forgot to also mention money is the biggest factor. Everyone is a star so pay me.

[Guest]

Sorry but the idea of player’s level of play being dictated by age instead of skill is regressive and frankly one of the contributing factors why soccer continues to struggle in America.

Age is absolutely nothing but a number and should in practical terms not be a restrictive factor on what teams players can be rostered to play. Players’ skill levels, physical abilities, and overall maturity level should determine what teams they play.

A competent coaching staff should possess the ability to effectively evaluate players and roster them on teams where their development can be maximized while contributing positively to the team’s success. This hullabaloo should not about players playing up rather coaches failing to properly evaluate their talents and thus placing players on the wrong teams. Worth mentioning that players playing up might struggle at the onset until they get into their comfort zone with new teammates… you just have to trust your coaches if they know what they are doing.

Btw did Messi play up? How about other superstar players - did many of them play up at the academy level? While you’re busy moaning over players playing up in ECNL; Red Bulls and several MLS teams have signed 15 years old kids to PRO contracts. Obviously these professional clubs are not limiting themselves to adult AGED players.

Majority of the kids being referred to are not prodigy types, lets be honest, it's typically done to keep parents from leaving and going to another ECNL clubs, not development. If your kid is truly dominating when playing up, it makes sense that you would continue to play up, but if your kid looks middle to low end of the team and is lacking physical, technical or tactical IQ to play a year up, do yourself a favor and stop.

[Guest]

Sorry but the idea of player’s level of play being dictated by age instead of skill is regressive and frankly one of the contributing factors why soccer continues to struggle in America.

Age is absolutely nothing but a number and should in practical terms not be a restrictive factor on what teams players can be rostered to play. Players’ skill levels, physical abilities, and overall maturity level should determine what teams they play.

A competent coaching staff should possess the ability to effectively evaluate players and roster them on teams where their development can be maximized while contributing positively to the team’s success. This hullabaloo should not about players playing up rather coaches failing to properly evaluate their talents and thus placing players on the wrong teams. Worth mentioning that players playing up might struggle at the onset until they get into their comfort zone with new teammates… you just have to trust your coaches if they know what they are doing.

Btw did Messi play up? How about other superstar players - did many of them play up at the academy level? While you’re busy moaning over players playing up in ECNL; Red Bulls and several MLS teams have signed 15 years old kids to PRO contracts. Obviously these professional clubs are not limiting themselves to adult AGED players.

The question I have is whether or not the older team is actually better than the younger team (or at least better enough to make a difference). Sometimes it is not, so playing up really doesn't make any sense in those cases.

[Guest]

FCB player was always playing the 2010 age now that that team broke up with the coach no longer coaching she’s on the 2011 PDA blue team. And she’s a late 2011

[Guest]

FCB player was always playing the 2010 age now that that team broke up with the coach no longer coaching she’s on the 2011 PDA blue team. And she’s a late 2011

She was below average on the 2010 Bucks team pre-PF defections and is average on a very good 2011 PDA blue team. Nice kid, just too weak without the necessary athleticisim and speed to compensate for lack of strength. Maybe puberity changes things for her, but not there yet. She'd be better off without Daddy hype machine talking her up so much too.

[Guest]

You are correct however the big linchpin is competent coaching staff. Where are those folks hiding?

I forgot to also mention money is the biggest factor. Everyone is a star so pay me.

Bingo. Most coaches can't coaches their way out of a wet paper bag. Banding based on skill rather than age is done more internationally because 1) staff have a clue 2) parents don't pay top dollar 3) a pro career is the goal not college

[Guest]

Playing up is rarely needed/appropriate part U14/post puberty other than for a unicorn top national player. Low level younger teams is a different story, but parents are better off moving their player to a stronger age appropriate team than playing up a year.

Some times there are no strong teams in your area and the best option is to play up rather than drive an hour away. My daughter played up for a number of years and she benefited from it a lot. Because all the other girls were bigger and faster she had to play smarter and she didn't develop bad habits. We sometimes had issues with other parents because my daughter was getting more playing time than their kids and she was younger but we just ignored them. The problem with playing up is always other parents complaining.

[Guest]

Some times there are no strong teams in your area and the best option is to play up rather than drive an hour away. My daughter played up for a number of years and she benefited from it a lot. Because all the other girls were bigger and faster she had to play smarter and she didn't develop bad habits. We sometimes had issues with other parents because my daughter was getting more playing time than their kids and she was younger but we just ignored them. The problem with playing up is always other parents complaining.

If she was a starter than that makes sense as in theory she should have improved the team as she was better than the girls at age who were on the roster. If she did not improve the team and was only played up due to parental influence, threats of leaving the club etc, the other parents had the right to complain.

[Guest]

If she was a starter than that makes sense as in theory she should have improved the team as she was better than the girls at age who were on the roster. If she did not improve the team and was only played up due to parental influence, threats of leaving the club etc, the other parents had the right to complain.

Dunno....to me, assuming say a roster of 18, if the kid is one of the best 18, it's fine. If not, then no. Presumably one kid was displaced, so they could complain but it's on deaf ears. Suggestion would be to be better, and frankly if you are at the bottom of a roster of 18 then your place is always in danger anyway.

[Guest]

Dunno....to me, assuming say a roster of 18, if the kid is one of the best 18, it's fine. If not, then no. Presumably one kid was displaced, so they could complain but it's on deaf ears. Suggestion would be to be better, and frankly if you are at the bottom of a roster of 18 then your place is always in danger anyway.

Half of every team would be playing up with this policy and the clubs would fall apart. I