Youth soccer age change

[Guest]

there will be June/July kids on the bubble who have been in youth soccer for 7+ years by this point who get very shafted even if the clubs do their best to make common sense decisions

To say the June/July kids will get shafted is to concede that Nov/Dec kids are being shafted under the current age range. And that will keep happening if there’s no change. All that to say that there’s no “fair” range considering how much growth happens in a year for pre-pubescent kids.

maybe they should consider moving to 6 month ranges — there are enough teams in NJ to make that work and very few clubs don’t have at least 2 teams at all ages up to 11v11.

[Guest]

To say the June/July kids will get shafted is to concede that Nov/Dec kids are being shafted under the current age range. And that will keep happening if there’s no change. All that to say that there’s no “fair” range considering how much growth happens in a year for pre-pubescent kids.

maybe they should consider moving to 6 month ranges — there are enough teams in NJ to make that work and very few clubs don’t have at least 2 teams at all ages up to 11v11.

The reality is, at U15 you have zero to complain about. Kids have had the benefit of being on the older end of the age group. At U15, if you are getting displaced by an older kid by a few months, you deserve it.

[Guest]

It’s an issue that sport is linked to education (High school, College). In a lot of countries this is separated and you can play in your age group 01/01-12/31. If you want to study you need to be smart and put work in to learning and not to be an athlete. Less than 1% will make it as a professional player, focus on studying and have fun and passion in your sport.

[Guest]

Sorry joined this thread late and haven’t read all comments but why are people assuming your birthday matters after you are through puberty? The only reason the older kids had an advantage was their biological age and most of that is neutralized post puberty and it should be based on who’s a better soccer player which has nothing to do with birthday. What am I missing?

[Guest]

To say the June/July kids will get shafted is to concede that Nov/Dec kids are being shafted under the current age range. And that will keep happening if there’s no change. All that to say that there’s no “fair” range considering how much growth happens in a year for pre-pubescent kids.

maybe they should consider moving to 6 month ranges — there are enough teams in NJ to make that work and very few clubs don’t have at least 2 teams at all ages up to 11v11.

Yeah but the Nov/Dec kids have known the system since they entered and chose to stay. Not fair to shaft the Jun/Jul kids now who are for example 7 years into their time in youth soccer. My family might have chosen a different sport to focus on 7 years ago if the cutoff wasn't 12/31 when we entered.

[Guest]

Yeah but the Nov/Dec kids have known the system since they entered and chose to stay. Not fair to shaft the Jun/Jul kids now who are for example 7 years into their time in youth soccer. My family might have chosen a different sport to focus on 7 years ago if the cutoff wasn't 12/31 when we entered.

That's such BS. You'd really pick a sport based on possible RAE advantage? Clearly this sport isn't for you.

[Guest]

Having trouble understanding how MLS Next is going to avoid following suit with this change. Heard they were sticking with birth years but then what happens with their NAL teams that share players? My kid is Sept 2010 on an MLS Next squad. If he stays MLS Next, he is one of the youngest and playing mostly with kids a grade higher. If he moved to NAL (down a soccer level) he would actually play an age level down as well with 2011s and align with his school grade kids?

[Guest]

Having trouble understanding how MLS Next is going to avoid following suit with this change. Heard they were sticking with birth years but then what happens with their NAL teams that share players? My kid is Sept 2010 on an MLS Next squad. If he stays MLS Next, he is one of the youngest and playing mostly with kids a grade higher. If he moved to NAL (down a soccer level) he would actually play an age level down as well with 2011s and align with his school grade kids?

They aren’t avoiding it

[Guest]

MLS next isn’t avoiding anything. They are going to absorb this change just like everyone else

[Guest]

U.S. Soccer seeking comments. Your chance to weigh in. Discussion in November. Future plans in later in year.

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-r...r-registration

[Guest]

Is the cutoff Aug or Sept?

[Guest]

Is the cutoff Aug or Sept?

Just going to have to wait and find out

[Guest]

Is the cutoff Aug or Sept?

July 31st./ August 1st.

[Guest]

they have also thrown around 8/31 cutoff. this is from the US Soccer link posted above. "school year (August 1-July 31 or September 1-August 31) registration"

[Guest]

they have also thrown around 8/31 cutoff. this is from the US Soccer link posted above. "school year (August 1-July 31 or September 1-August 31) registration"

It actually seems more likely they will make the date 9/1 because there are only like 4 states that are earlier. So they may say 9/1 with an exception of 8/1 for states like Missouri and Indiana that have an earlier cut off.