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

[Unregistered]

Cons to keeping teams together from another forum

You may be right - and I have wondered that very same thing for other really strong teams. But then you have to consider that that 02/03 may be facing age pure 02 teams with a majority of the kids being older than the entirety of the 02/03 roster. That 02/03 team you describe may be better than it was but it may also be less competitive as it plays up.

I watched the 01/02G SoCal Blues team twice at Surf Cup - in a pool game and in the championship game. It is one of the top teams in the country - arguably THE top team - and will be a contender for next June's ECNL national championship. However even if that excellent team stayed together and played in the 01 division, while they will probably still be really good it is hard to imagine them being a top 5 team against other ECNL teams that are age pure 01s. And because of that, I'd imagine a club like SC Blues to simple move the ruler so that the 01s will form an excellent team, the 02s will, the 03s will and so forth.

Teams play up and are successful playing up - that has always happened. But elite teams playing up can be competitive against the majority of the older opponents but it is much to assume they'd continue to be "elite" againt older elite teams (that is why you seldom see younger teams playing up at events like Surf Cup). And for smaller clubs with a strong cohort spanning parts of 2 years, they stand to really lose in this shuffling since playing up likely means playing in a lower flight.

[Unregistered]

You may be right - and I have wondered that very same thing for other really strong teams. But then you have to consider that that 02/03 may be facing age pure 02 teams with a majority of the kids being older than the entirety of the 02/03 roster. That 02/03 team you describe may be better than it was but it may also be less competitive as it plays up.

I watched the 01/02G SoCal Blues team twice at Surf Cup - in a pool game and in the championship game. It is one of the top teams in the country - arguably THE top team - and will be a contender for next June's ECNL national championship. However even if that excellent team stayed together and played in the 01 division, while they will probably still be really good it is hard to imagine them being a top 5 team against other ECNL teams that are age pure 01s. And because of that, I'd imagine a club like SC Blues to simple move the ruler so that the 01s will form an excellent team, the 02s will, the 03s will and so forth.

Teams play up and are successful playing up - that has always happened. But elite teams playing up can be competitive against the majority of the older opponents but it is much to assume they'd continue to be "elite" againt older elite teams (that is why you seldom see younger teams playing up at events like Surf Cup). And for smaller clubs with a strong cohort spanning parts of 2 years, they stand to really lose in this shuffling since playing up likely means playing in a lower flight.

This play-up talk is ridiculous. If your kid's friendships are predicated on playing on the same team as their bff, then those friendships are destined to fade anyway as sports careers end during or after highschool. It's incredibly selfish and misguided for your kid to play up when they're not at that level. It wastes their time, and the time of their opponents who are looking for quality competition. To ask the other players to sacrifice their time and development for the sake of your kid's social life is as ridiculous as it sounds.

True friendships will last long after athletic careers are over. Let the kids simply enjoy the games they play regardless of whether or not their bff is playing next to them. If they're having fun playing a sport, then new friendships will naturally follow.

[Unregistered]

This whole "just keep teams together by having all the current Jan-July born players play up with their current Aug-Dec teammates (who will be forced to play in the higher birth year) is silly and selfish. Beyond that, if attempted it will hurt all the other teams above & below due to a ripple effect as well as make any current team that stays together have to drop a division or two to remain competitive. Don't worry, clubs aren't stupid enough to do that. Only the super small clubs with not enough players will be forced to do this if they don't have the numbers - and they will likely lose better players to bigger clubs. It's going to be fun to have all new teams next year. Only feel bad for ECNL because they just got started & now have to sort of start over again.

[Unregistered]

This whole "just keep teams together by having all the current Jan-July born players play up with their current Aug-Dec teammates (who will be forced to play in the higher birth year) is silly and selfish. Beyond that, if attempted it will hurt all the other teams above & below due to a ripple effect as well as make any current team that stays together have to drop a division or two to remain competitive. Don't worry, clubs aren't stupid enough to do that. Only the super small clubs with not enough players will be forced to do this if they don't have the numbers - and they will likely lose better players to bigger clubs. It's going to be fun to have all new teams next year. Only feel bad for ECNL because they just got started & now have to sort of start over again.

It's horrible and stupid!

[Unregistered]

Anyone that wants to play with their friends is a joke! Makes me sick.

[Unregistered]

If someone wants to play with their friends it means you have failed miserably as a parent. Anyone that thinks that's ok isn't fit to coach or be a parent for that matter. Probably doing a bunch of other things wrong in life too.

[Unregistered]

I can't believe this is even a topic of conversation. Are you out of your mind?? Kids should be thinking about soccer not friends. It's ludicrous and twisted thinking about keeping teams together. Not to mention stupid.

You should be ashamed of yourself.

[Unregistered]

This will be great. FC Portland will just get better.

Actually, all the best clubs will get stronger-this is the time to bail.
Anyone looking to leave has an excuse without offending their "friends"

[Unregistered]

Play up? Keep team together? That's about as smart as letting dick Cheney babysit your dog. Why would you even consider it???? Are you a hippy? This sounds like hippy thinking. Outrageous.

[Unregistered]

This change will destroy the ECNL teams.

[Unregistered]

Play up? Keep team together? That's about as smart as letting dick Cheney babysit your dog. Why would you even consider it???? Are you a hippy? This sounds like hippy thinking. Outrageous.

Agree! Sounds like TA thinking. Wanna keep DD's fourth tier team together or little boo boo may cryyyyyyyyyyyy

[Unregistered]

If someone wants to play with their friends it means you have failed miserably as a parent. Anyone that thinks that's ok isn't fit to coach or be a parent for that matter. Probably doing a bunch of other things wrong in life too.

Yes! Spot on.

[Unregistered]

This change will destroy the ECNL teams.

Won't affect the Thorns Academy. They already have a couple years of play ups playing.

[Unregistered]

This change will destroy the ECNL teams.

In that it will make them even stronger, yes.

[Unregistered]

Won't affect the Thorns Academy. They already have a couple years of play ups playing.

Thorns Academy had to take rec players and toddlers to fill rosters this year. They are completely out of the conversation with regards to "elite" soccer.