Youth soccer age change

[Guest]

Inner circle is working on creating a Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec model by birth year so there are 2 divisions within an age group to limit the age gap between players. Expect to see more messaging and info after the November meeting. It’s high on the agenda. This will change the landscape altogether at the elite level.

[Guest]

Inner circle is working on creating a Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec model by birth year so there are 2 divisions within an age group to limit the age gap between players. Expect to see more messaging and info after the November meeting. It’s high on the agenda. This will change the landscape altogether at the elite level.

This doesn’t change anything for trapped players so doubt it is true.

[Guest]

This doesn’t change anything for trapped players so doubt it is true.

This sounds like an even dumber idea. Why don’t we complicate things even more? Like ***. Show me any sport that does anything like this. A two tiered birth year or 2 sub divisions. Not even the fools at the NCAA have thought. Up something this stupid.

[Guest]

Inner circle is working on creating a Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec model by birth year so there are 2 divisions within an age group to limit the age gap between players. Expect to see more messaging and info after the November meeting. It’s high on the agenda. This will change the landscape altogether at the elite level.

I assume this is only below U13? ODP does this now. If things change to 8/1 cutoffs, this should probably be Aug-Jan and Feb-Jul to make the transition to Aug-Jul groupings at U13 easier. If the discussion has gotten serious about RAE, instead of just lip service like the change to BY magically combatting it, this would be a good move. It also somewhat addresses the common complaint that we're too concerned with winning tournaments at young ages. People will care less if it's a "temporary" team for very young kids.

[Guest]

Inner circle is working on creating a Jan-Jun and Jul-Dec model by birth year so there are 2 divisions within an age group to limit the age gap between players. Expect to see more messaging and info after the November meeting. It’s high on the agenda. This will change the landscape altogether at the elite level.

You have teams that can't get 16 players from an entire year and they want to split the year. This looks to be the nations biggest youth sport money grab EVER if they do something as stupid as that.

[Guest]

This is tied into also changing game format so 11v11 doesn’t start until 15u. Keeping 5v5 at 8u-9u. 7v7 at 10u-12u. 9v9 at 13u-14u. Less players needed in this format. Keeps kids engaged longer and getting more touches. Follows what Europe does also.

[Guest]

This is tied into also changing game format so 11v11 doesn’t start until 15u. Keeping 5v5 at 8u-9u. 7v7 at 10u-12u. 9v9 at 13u-14u. Less players needed in this format. Keeps kids engaged longer and getting more touches. Follows what Europe does also.

This is the most positive thing I have EVER seen on TS. Seriously. I’m sure some parents would be against this approach but it truly is a step in the right direction from a development perspective. I’m sure the clubs will find a way to **** it up though due to $ and rankings.

[Guest]

This is the most positive thing I have EVER seen on TS. Seriously. I’m sure some parents would be against this approach but it truly is a step in the right direction from a development perspective. I’m sure the clubs will find a way to **** it up though due to $ and rankings.

Have you seen the U14 players in MLS Next these days? Early developers are the rule, not the exception. My son's U14 team has a handful of kids who are over 5'9" and 140 lbs+. And the majority of the kids are 5'6", 125 lbs+ in this league. Could not imagine these boys playing 9v9. There are less of these boys in U13 but they do still exist.

[Guest]

Have you seen the U14 players in MLS Next these days? Early developers are the rule, not the exception. My son's U14 team has a handful of kids who are over 5'9" and 140 lbs+. And the majority of the kids are 5'6", 125 lbs+ in this league. Could not imagine these boys playing 9v9. There are less of these boys in U13 but they do still exist.

and the skill set of the BIG kids in MLS Next is far less than that of those smaller kids. Hence the problem. They big kids are there strictly because of their size, not their skill. Too much focus on size, not enough focus on skill.

[Guest]

and the skill set of the BIG kids in MLS Next is far less than that of those smaller kids. Hence the problem. They big kids are there strictly because of their size, not their skill. Too much focus on size, not enough focus on skill.

This is the biggest problem with most clubs and coaches. Coaches value the big kids who are physical and bulldoze their way through someone over the smaller kids who have a ton of skill. This is also why so many teams play kick and run instead of possession because you actually need skill to possess. Most starters on many teams (not pda blue or MFA necessarily) are not technical enough to play quality soccer. They may win games but they don’t look pretty doing it. There is a lot of bad soccer out there in all age groups.

clubs are no longer “elite”. There are too many of them to keep academies special. Other than the top few teams, the rest are garbage and play like garbage.

[Guest]

Exactly, there’s a club team everywhere to the point that it’s comical. 20 years ago it was “elite” to play club, now there’s a club for everyone and the level of play is garbage across the board for the vast majority of them.

[Guest]

This is the biggest problem with most clubs and coaches. Coaches value the big kids who are physical and bulldoze their way through someone over the smaller kids who have a ton of skill. This is also why so many teams play kick and run instead of possession because you actually need skill to possess. Most starters on many teams (not pda blue or MFA necessarily) are not technical enough to play quality soccer. They may win games but they don’t look pretty doing it. There is a lot of bad soccer out there in all age groups.

clubs are no longer “elite”. There are too many of them to keep academies special. Other than the top few teams, the rest are garbage and play like garbage.

This is 95% of U14 boys teams. Even when they are taught possession they revert back to kick and run and win games that way, which provides clubs no incentive to prioritize skills development. We find it harder and harder to find teams that actually care if kids soccer skills improve or value having skills on the team.

[njguy0717]

Has anyone’s clubs reached out to them about the proposed change or provided any inside info? Are they preparing for it?

[Guest]

Has anyone’s clubs reached out to them about the proposed change or provided any inside info? Are they preparing for it?

Yes but no info beyond this may happen. I anticipate they won’t communicate anything until/if it becomes official

[Guest]

Has anyone’s clubs reached out to them about the proposed change or provided any inside info? Are they preparing for it?

Ours did an inventory of what grade all of the kids are in. They obviously know everyone's birthday. From here they are waiting to see what the rules and timing are.