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

[Unregistered]

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.

Been to Far Post many times. Wouldn't deal with Tursi if my life depended on it. Maximum 5 minutes to change a jersey number at Far Post. Maximum.

[Unregistered]

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.

US-Soccer should have considered the drive time to 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.

This could be a big problem at Timbers clubs where all of the thugball players wear the same numbers as their favorite NFL D-line players...

[Unregistered]

The jersey thing is silly but players do get very attached to their numbers so and there will be conflicts so best for clubs to set a policy on it along with the other details of implementation.

[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.

Maybe they didn't fight back because people smarter than you have concluded this is the best direction for all of US soccer. The reality is nobody outside of your household cares about your dd's social life. Either she enjoys playing soccer, or she doesn't. If her participation in a sport is dependent on having certain friends on the team, then she isn't going anywhere with soccer anyway. Find another outlet that allows her to hang out with her friends, or help her gain some much needed maturity in dealing with change on the field and in life.

[Unregistered]

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.

Why do we have such poor leadership at US Soccer? Answer: apathy. Nobody wants to get involved. So we are stuck with ding dongs.

[Unregistered]

Any girls that likes playing soccer with their friends should quit. Just get out. That is such a bad attitude that I can't even begin to comprehend what poor parenting they have received.

They either love the game for the pure beauty of it and the deep desire to become the best in the world or GET OUT.

[Unregistered]

Why do we have such poor leadership at US Soccer? Answer: apathy. Nobody wants to get involved. So we are stuck with ding dongs.

It's crooked money. FIFA is corrupt from top to bottom. don't fool yourself thinking USYS is any different.

[Unregistered]

Any girls that likes playing soccer with their friends should quit. Just get out. That is such a bad attitude that I can't even begin to comprehend what poor parenting they have received.

They either love the game for the pure beauty of it and the deep desire to become the best in the world or GET OUT.

You're close...girls who will play ONLY if its with her chosen group of friends can find another way to spend her time or find a team willing to allow this (ie. rec). She's not the girl we should be tailoring any program for. Frankly, the personal and athletic development of the team would be better off without her on it.

Instead, fill the teams at all levels with kids who are open to making new friends, try hard, and enjoy playing the game. Everybody will be better off for it. Especially the kids who don't have a problem making new friends.

[Unregistered]

Birth year Communication

Re: Age Group change to Birth Year / Calendar year - US Soccer Part 2:
« Reply #345 on: Today at 02:55:05 pm »
from the Mothership

As we have previously communicated, US Soccer will be making changes regarding youth soccer birth year as opposed to the August 1st cutoff. US Soccer, our national governing body, is mandating that beginning 2017, players will play their own birth year. In an attempt to be proactive, our local, state, and regional league associations will implement these changes in 2016.

Our desire is to always balance being leaders in our industry with the best interest of player development at the forefront of our decision making. In order to provide our players with the most effective environment to develop and compete, we will align with US Soccer's age group mandate by offering birth year teams and programs starting in June 2016.

We have made this decision earlier than most clubs because we want the time to inform, educate, and to be a resource to our families so we maneuver through this transition effectively. There will inevitably be exceptions to this decision but they will be made with the best interest of the players in mind. Below you will find the guidelines we will follow leading into June 2016 tryouts:


Players born during the calendar years of 2003-2010 will tryout and play for their birth year.

Players born 1998-2002 will be encouraged to play their own age group; however, any exceptions will be evaluated and must be pre-approved by Executive Director *JS*. Exceptions will be made based on team make up, age group challenges, and developmental opportunities.

We have performed our due diligence through research, attending meetings, engaging in discussions with league leaders and top clubs in the country, and the general consensus amongst them is to embrace the upcoming changes this year. We pride ourselves in providing the best coaching staff, facilities, programs, and training. Those assets coupled with this adjustment will only further enhance our organization by creating a more successful, safer, and competitive environment for players and teams.

Many of us on the Midwest United FC leadership team have players in the club and understand the challenges this transition will present from both a soccer and personal standpoint. These players have developed trust in teammates, formed friendships, and found comfort in their current situations. We are confident that the same trust, friendships, and comfort will emerge in the new teams under the direction and training of our qualified and compassionate coaching staff.

During the month of January, we will host age specific meetings (see schedule below) to explain how these changes will impact the players. As we look to the future, we ask that you attend the meeting based on your player's birth year. It is important that you attend the birth year meeting since it will be tailored to that age group and league. While we have made this decision, there are still many nuances and organizational roll out decisions to be made.

Therefore, we respectfully ask that you refrain from sending questions to the coaches or staff until after your birth year meeting takes place. We want the message to be delivered consistently to the group versus individual emails or conversations. We will also be offering some birth year age group training sessions periodically during the winter months and spring seasons in an effort to ease the transition.

The table below shows the age breakdown and new relabelling of the "U" format from US Soccer that all clubs will comply with starting in June 2016.


We thank you for your continued support of Midwest United FC and look forward to a great winter training and spring season. Our hope is to have the coaching line up posted late January into early February. Click here for more information and FAQ from US Soccer regarding the upcoming changes. Please join our mailing list to receive updates regarding the birth year changes and other Midwest United FC information.

[Unregistered]

"Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
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."


Does anyone know how much of our player card fees go to US Soccer?

[Unregistered]

"Originally Posted by Unregistered View Post
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."


Does anyone know how much of our player card fees go to US Soccer?

$1 to USYS and $1 to US Soccer

[Unregistered]

$1 to USYS and $1 to US Soccer

Thanks. Do you know where the rest goes?

[Unregistered]

Our club has now said we will be going to birth year teams at try outs in May after all. After all the initial freaking out, everyone now seems quiet and resigned. The changeover will go smoother than anticipated.

[Unregistered]

Our club has now said we will be going to birth year teams at try outs in May after all. After all the initial freaking out, everyone now seems quiet and resigned. The changeover will go smoother than anticipated.

which club is that?