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

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For 1 or 2 per age group, yes. But most play ups are actually developing slower than they would if they stayed on age. It's more a parent ego thing.

Okay....cut out the parent ego thing because there are plenty of supportive parents that keep their egos in check. Yes. Every team has parents, siblings, and extended families that need to be talked to about their behavior. I've watched a family member talking to another, sometimes arguments ensue, and sometimes someone walks away or is 'banned' from coming to training and games if they can't be positive support.

I've been playing the beautiful game for over 30 years and before retiring 8 years ago, I had the privilege to coach youth players in So Cal and Oregon. I've seen just about every kid of behavior. Coaches are definitely not exempt from an 'ego thing.'

If your child has been on an 'on-age' team such as ODP, then you likely have a better understanding of how this new requirement will work. If you have a child playing up on a mixed age group, then you've already experienced what to expect next year. If you had a child begin their classic/premier play in the mid-late 90s, then you know that U11 teams had to compete against other U11 AND U12 teams, in first, the Classic Qualifier Tournament and if your team survived it, advancement to the Premier Qualifier Tournament. How U11 teams did determined if they would play U12 Classic 1,2, 3 or U12 Premier leagues. Being a U11 team in a U12 Premier league was sometimes brutal, but between training and league, many of teams developed well enough to be accepted into out-of-state tournaments.

These kids are adults now, and some of them are back home coaching. Some also change schools, quit soccer, or even moved on to professional play. If kids go on to college or careers and demonstrate character, class, and reflections of positive youth soccer, then credit the players and what they learned in growing up. This banter about not developing enough to make into DI programs, especially on the girls' side is b.s. There are kids invited to play DI but opt to attend DII, DIII, NAIA, and even two-year schools. Academics, a life outside of soccer, and other interests is also part of the college experience.

Coaches and families in this forum who keep using sarcasm and insults keep drawing away from where discussions should be directed-Yes. Families of the youngest players and those heading off to high school are likely scared and upset about change. Change is part of a child's learning and their ability to adapt is a process of development. Please acknowledge that an adult's fear is a genuine concern because he/she wants to protect their child. Let the child learn and really listen if he/she chooses to explore other things in life.

[Unregistered]

More on playing up

There are two valid reasons for kids to consider playing up, particularly for children prior to puberty.

1) They are BETTER than their age group peers (by which I mean possess better soccer technique and/or tactical skill)

2) They are more PHYSICALLY DEVELOPED than their peers (bigger, faster, stronger, are further ahead on the motor skills curve).

In general, I'm of the opinion that kids that are in the SECOND group, particularly at younger ages, probably should be played up a year, and placed on a skill-appropriate team. Kids who are in the FIRST group, need to be promoted to the first team first, and then only should they be considered for playing in a higher age group. (If a kid is both bigger AND better, both may apply).

One annoying thing I see from a few local clubs, is an A team filled with behemoths who simply physically dominate other teams (except for the top ones), as opposed to an A team filled with great soccer players. I went to one boys U11 game this past year--where the goalie on the other side looked old enough to shave, and when he shouted directions to his teammates, he sounded like my teenager. He was about as tall as I am. This was a game for fifth-graders. While I'm not suggesting that someone forged his birth certificate... he might have been better off playing on a team with older players. (I'm speaking for his development--putting him in a goal that he can easily touch the top of while flatfooted might hamper his development in the long run, if he doesn't learn how to deal with shots to the upper 90...)

[Unregistered]

There are two valid reasons for kids to consider playing up, particularly for children prior to puberty.

1) They are BETTER than their age group peers (by which I mean possess better soccer technique and/or tactical skill)

2) They are more PHYSICALLY DEVELOPED than their peers (bigger, faster, stronger, are further ahead on the motor skills curve).

In general, I'm of the opinion that kids that are in the SECOND group, particularly at younger ages, probably should be played up a year, and placed on a skill-appropriate team. Kids who are in the FIRST group, need to be promoted to the first team first, and then only should they be considered for playing in a higher age group. (If a kid is both bigger AND better, both may apply).

One annoying thing I see from a few local clubs, is an A team filled with behemoths who simply physically dominate other teams (except for the top ones), as opposed to an A team filled with great soccer players. I went to one boys U11 game this past year--where the goalie on the other side looked old enough to shave, and when he shouted directions to his teammates, he sounded like my teenager. He was about as tall as I am. This was a game for fifth-graders. While I'm not suggesting that someone forged his birth certificate... he might have been better off playing on a team with older players. (I'm speaking for his development--putting him in a goal that he can easily touch the top of while flatfooted might hamper his development in the long run, if he doesn't learn how to deal with shots to the upper 90...)

All very sensible points and i agree with just about everything you wrote. However, the problem of playing up now is that coaches/clubs want to win so much that you can probably now find the right competition at your age level. I know of several teams at different clubs who have a disproportionate amount of Aug-Dec birth month players (greater than 60%) on their first team. It's easy to win when your team is older and more developmentally advanced...so the result is less play-ups. Again, I agree with what you wrote, but the reality maybe speaks to playing at age.

[Unregistered]

Those Aug-Dec born have to "play up" next year. This will help even teams out and also help the better Aug-Dec players develop more by playing with older/bigge/faster girls who have an additional year of soccer under their belts.

[Unregistered]

Those Aug-Dec born have to "play up" next year. This will help even teams out and also help the better Aug-Dec players develop more by playing with older/bigge/faster girls who have an additional year of soccer under their belts.

It doesn't change anything. Next year, it'll be Jan to April kids who may need to play up, but won't as they are needed to compete against coaches/clubs who care more about winning rather than developing. Opportunities will now be taken away from Aug to Dec kids who really weren't that good, only more developed/mature. I'd bet next year's first teams will be largely Jan to Apr.

[Unregistered]

It doesn't change anything. Next year, it'll be Jan to April kids who may need to play up, but won't as they are needed to compete against coaches/clubs who care more about winning rather than developing. Opportunities will now be taken away from Aug to Dec kids who really weren't that good, only more developed/mature. I'd bet next year's first teams will be largely Jan to Apr.

Same as now. Just shuffling the deck 5months different.

[Unregistered]

"A key difference between the GDA and the ECNL is that while the ECNL is age pure and requires clubs to field five teams, GDA teams will field three combined age group teams.

“The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years,” reads the U.S. Soccer statement.

Heinrichs calls it a way “to get players playing up more naturally.”

“If I had a list of player development initiatives that help players grow, one of the top, top, top things on that list is playing up,” she said.

In the age-pure setup, clubs may resist moving players up because it decreases their chances of winning trophies. In the DA setup, for example, a team’s star player one year will be among the younger players every two years. Fewer teams can also mean fewer roster-fillers -- players who might not be suited for the elite level but are needed to round out the squad."

[Unregistered]

"A key difference between the GDA and the ECNL is that while the ECNL is age pure and requires clubs to field five teams, GDA teams will field three combined age group teams.

“The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years,” reads the U.S. Soccer statement.

Heinrichs calls it a way “to get players playing up more naturally.”

“If I had a list of player development initiatives that help players grow, one of the top, top, top things on that list is playing up,” she said.

In the age-pure setup, clubs may resist moving players up because it decreases their chances of winning trophies. In the DA setup, for example, a team’s star player one year will be among the younger players every two years. Fewer teams can also mean fewer roster-fillers -- players who might not be suited for the elite level but are needed to round out the squad."

Basically, what US Soccer is saying is that none of the big clubs are interested in their DA offering so they'll be filling the league with small clubs who don't have a hope of fielding 5 teams. This DA league won't draw flies. Too many restrictions on the clubs and players to be attractive to all but the most delusional.

[Unregistered]

"A key difference between the GDA and the ECNL is that while the ECNL is age pure and requires clubs to field five teams, GDA teams will field three combined age group teams.

“The use of combined age groups will require clubs to form teams with a balanced roster of players from two distinct birth years,” reads the U.S. Soccer statement.

Heinrichs calls it a way “to get players playing up more naturally.”

“If I had a list of player development initiatives that help players grow, one of the top, top, top things on that list is playing up,” she said.

In the age-pure setup, clubs may resist moving players up because it decreases their chances of winning trophies. In the DA setup, for example, a team’s star player one year will be among the younger players every two years. Fewer teams can also mean fewer roster-fillers -- players who might not be suited for the elite level but are needed to round out the squad."

Yes, I caught that too and found it interesting at the same time they are switching to birth years, why? Soccer people are just crazy, parents do what is best for your kid and get together with other parents to go talk to the club leaders and coaches. Does anyone know if rec clubs are going to go birth year or stay with their grade? THUSC has select now, maybe this is a good time to expand. The problem with rec for us was that there were not many competitive teams to play, all this craziness may change things.

[Unregistered]

lol while the expand on the boys side down to U12 - because they said they need to expand the pool of younger players and begin the developmental process at an earlier age - they're not doing that on the girls side. Instead they just go right after ECNL's jugular.

[Unregistered]

lol while the expand on the boys side down to U12 - because they said they need to expand the pool of younger players and begin the developmental process at an earlier age - they're not doing that on the girls side. Instead they just go right after ECNL's jugular.

ECNL isn't worried. US Soccer is shooting themselves in the foot with all of the restrictions they are placing on the clubs and players. Very very few will want to be involved.

[Unregistered]

lol while the expand on the boys side down to U12 - because they said they need to expand the pool of younger players and begin the developmental process at an earlier age - they're not doing that on the girls side. Instead they just go right after ECNL's jugular.

Exactly. If they cared about development, they should've started at u12 and u13 and done single years.Then get all those who started at u12/u13 to move on up to GDAP for the older ages. Either they are morons or they just want to take on ECNL & don't care about girls development...or maybe both!

[Unregistered]

Any news on tryout dates in May? ECNL? All clubs running tryouts for all ages in May? Or any leaving HS in August?

[Unregistered]

Any news on tryout dates in May? ECNL? All clubs running tryouts for all ages in May? Or any leaving HS in August?

Eugene Timbers is leaving HS in August and only going birth year for younger ages.

[Unregistered]

Why is this whinefest of a thread still kicking?