Shift to Jan. 1 cutoff next year or year after?

[Unregistered]

I am in no way saying it is unfair, nor boo-hooing. I'm saying US Soccer thinks the USMNT & youth boys national teams suck because the current system waters down the RAE to the oldest kids (Jan+) by giving it to the Aug+ kids in club. The Jan+ still get it in elite programs but it's not enough. That is the reason for the entire change: to make the strongest RAE with the oldest players (Jan+) in the int'l system so we can compete better vs all those Jan+ kids on all the other national teams.

You are correct. The youngest in any age group always gets screwed - just the way RAE works. Since the rest of the world gives all the RAE to Jan+ players, Jurgen thinks we need to also. It's not personal and has nothing to do with "fairness". It's just that they don't want or need to worry about developing any fall bday players anymore. If you're already a total Messi and you happen to be born in the fall, they'll let you in elite programs but otherwise, get out of the way so they can concentrate on the oldest ones in the group.

My kids are actually born early & summer so they're both helped by going birth year so I'm happy. Just reading the writing on the wall. I lived in England when they went birth year for the same reason. They even explained it that way. Don't worry though, the clubs will still want the fall players for $$$ so they can keep on living the club soccer dream.

They should have grandfathered older teams. That's what OYSA said us soccer was going to do.

We have ding dongs in charge of us soccer.

[Unregistered]

Look US Soccer has acknowledged this will drive down numbers. They are prepared to raise fees accordingly so they can continue to have the same revenue base. Do not worry.

Thank goodness. I was worried about their revenue and salaries.

[Unregistered]

Sent out today 11/17/15

Dear FC Portland Families,

US Soccer has recently announced a handful of initiatives that are required to be implemented by 2017. These initiatives include the shift from “school year” age brackets to “calendar year” age brackets.

Although we are accustomed to school-year registration, the calendar based age division will align US youth soccer with the standard around the world, and ultimately make the formation of Regional and National team rosters more continuous and simpler.

The timing of the age-group changes for FC Portland will follow the leagues which we participate in.
OYSA: Though no specifics of implementation and other ramifications have been given, OYSA has indicated their leagues will change to calendar based age divisions in the 2016-2017 season.
ECNL: There has not been any official word from ECNL at this time.

Change can always be a bit unnerving. The change to “calendar year” age brackets will mean that age groups and the players your son or daughter play with will change. We recognize that socially, it can cause anxiety. Our coaches are aware of the need to address that.

From a training standpoint, FCP’s pool system has helped prepare your son or daughter for this change. Although the players will be reorganized, our age groups will continue to train and compete within a pool of players. The competitive training system in which your son or daughter train will be very familiar to them.

Just like we do now, we will aim to create teams with each player’s best interest in mind while also considering what is best for each team. We want to place players in an environment where they are challenged, inspired, and enjoying the game. As a competitive club, we also aim to create the strongest possible teams in each age group. As such, every player needs to be ready to continue to compete for their positions on their teams, within their group.

As the age-groups are formed, our coaches will work together to communicate each player’s strengths, weaknesses, and backgrounds to the new coaches. Again, we feel that as a tight-knit club and coaching staff, our system and club is as prepared as possible to implement this change.

We fully understand that these changes will be difficult and that in some ways it will benefit some players more than others. Obviously, we would love to keep our teams as they are and continue to build the camaraderie between players and their families. However, these changes must be made eventually, so it is our job to do so in the best way possible. We ask that you do your best to accept these changes as they come and do your best to reduce the stress your players may be feeling.

Thank you for your time,
Rob Baarts (Boys DOC)
Mike dePinna (Girls DOC)

Having a dd at FCP for years, this will cause more anxiety then any real problems.

[Unregistered]

Having a dd at FCP for years, this will cause more anxiety then any real problems.

Agreed. It's a social problem more than a soccer problem. Too bad too, as it doesn't need to happen.

[Unregistered]

They should have grandfathered older teams. That's what OYSA said us soccer was going to do.

We have ding dongs in charge of us soccer.

Grandfathering at least u14 and above would have made sense. Prime college recruiting years are getting totally messed up for many kids who haven't committed yet.

[Unregistered]

Grandfathering isn't the answer. THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE GIRLS SIDE. The end game for girls is college. Colleges recruit by grad year so girls should have stayed on the scholastic year age group system. Changing the girls side to help the USMNT is ludicrous. Not sure why clubs and, particularly ECNL, didn't fight back for their female members.

[Unregistered]

Grandfathering isn't the answer. THEY NEVER SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE GIRLS SIDE. The end game for girls is college. Colleges recruit by grad year so girls should have stayed on the scholastic year age group system. Changing the girls side to help the USMNT is ludicrous. Not sure why clubs and, particularly ECNL, didn't fight back for their female members.

The problem is they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on dutch consultants. They would have looked dumb if they had ignored the recommendations. Now they look dumb following the recommendations.

Plus, have you ever seen someone star struck by a famous person? They laugh nervously at the movie star's dumb jokes. Kiss the senators leather loafers. That's what happened here. A famous men's soccer coach put pressure on them and they caved.

The clubs/state associations wanted grandfathering at a minimum on the girls side.

Ding dongs in charge of US Soccer.

For the amount of money the soccer community pays them (ten's of millions) they should be representing us, instead of dictating to us.

[Unregistered]

Grandfathering at least u14 and above would have made sense. Prime college recruiting years are getting totally messed up for many kids who haven't committed yet.

Grandfathering only makes the problem worse. Either make the change or don't. But don't go half way.

[Unregistered]

Grandfathering only makes the problem worse. Either make the change or don't. But don't go half way.

Exactly. Never should have mandated the change on the girls side. They keep changing info about the mandate. Not too late for usys to ask to not do it at least on the girls side.

[Unregistered]

Which birth year keeps the team name? The younger birth year because they are moving up to the next year and the fall older kids moving up 2 years. Or, all new names (for the clubs that use names)?

Also, will OYSA announce like WYSA that players can have the same jersey number but just need to use a dye or something to signify a difference? How will that work on rostering players? Who will pay for the new uniforms if kids have to change - the clubs?

I know they haven't even figured out the big picture yet but interesting details - especially the uni # issue because that is going to cost someone some money.

[Unregistered]

Which birth year keeps the team name? The younger birth year because they are moving up to the next year and the fall older kids moving up 2 years. Or, all new names (for the clubs that use names)?

Also, will OYSA announce like WYSA that players can have the same jersey number but just need to use a dye or something to signify a difference? How will that work on rostering players? Who will pay for the new uniforms if kids have to change - the clubs?

I know they haven't even figured out the big picture yet but interesting details - especially the uni # issue because that is going to cost someone some money.

Kit #'s aren't an issue if the club has a system whereby every player at each age has a unique number, and the players at the older/younger ages have numbers in a different range. At least one club in Oregon won't have a problem. As for the rest, changing numbers on jerseys is a 1 minute job at places like Far Post or Tursi's.

[Unregistered]

Which birth year keeps the team name? The younger birth year because they are moving up to the next year and the fall older kids moving up 2 years. Or, all new names (for the clubs that use names)?

Also, will OYSA announce like WYSA that players can have the same jersey number but just need to use a dye or something to signify a difference? How will that work on rostering players? Who will pay for the new uniforms if kids have to change - the clubs?

I know they haven't even figured out the big picture yet but interesting details - especially the uni # issue because that is going to cost someone some money.

Names will be whatever each club decides but in most cases a G02 team is mostly 2003's so likely the 2003 team would take the G02 name.

[Unregistered]

Kit #'s aren't an issue if the club has a system whereby every player at each age has a unique number, and the players at the older/younger ages have numbers in a different range. At least one club in Oregon won't have a problem. As for the rest, changing numbers on jerseys is a 1 minute job at places like Far Post or Tursi's.

Our club uses different numbers for the current age groups but the same numbers are used at U11-u18 so there could definitely be a lot of same #s on between the fall kids from current u younger team when they have to move up join their older birth year peers who currently play on the u older team. Maybe they'll have them draw straws to see who gets to keep their # and who had to get a new one.

[Unregistered]

Names will be whatever each club decides but in most cases a G02 team is mostly 2003's so likely the 2003 team would take the G02 name.

Makes the most sense.

[Unregistered]

As for the rest, changing numbers on jerseys is a 1 minute job at places like Far Post or Tursi's.

Are you serious? Have you been to Tursi's or Far Post? Takes 20 minutes to get there. A long time for them to figure out what to do, say 20 mins. 5 minutes to pay. 20 minutes to drive home.

One hour of free time gone. Times hundreds of families.

If you are a stay at home parent no big deal I suppose. Hey, you can stop for cocktails on the way home too.