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

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There is too much concern with winning at clubs. In European academy systems elite players get identified and placed where it will benefit them as a player not kept on age level for wins. Bradley and Klinsman have both said pushing top players from a young age would help to build a better pool of talent.

Unfortunately, at clubs here in Oregon winning is more immediate and chosen over what's best for kids. Playing up weakens both the older and the younger teams but benefits development.

the people who are whining here about play ups are people who have a stake in wins. if you are a top player they want to keep you down to get more wins.

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the people who are whining here about play ups are people who have a stake in wins. if you are a top player they want to keep you down to get more wins.

Nope. Sorry. I'm just a parent who recognizes that sometimes clubs allow "play-ups" to pacify whiny parents. Unless your player is a starter/standout on the team he/she is "playing up" on... They should stick to their own age group. I actually appreciate and have no issue with a combined practice once a week or whatever in an academy training style. That's a reasonable solution... But "playing up" in every practice / game where you don't belong is no good for anyone. I'm also reasonable in understanding that this Spring may be different in all this since there may be birth year considerations so probably an old gripe on my part... But really it's an ongoing issue at my club.

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Quality clubs will put kids where they belong developmentally. In many cases this means kids are playing up. Low quality clubs will keep talented kids on age level to get more wins.

Poorly run clubs will keep kids on age level to promote team/club success.

The prioritization of winning over development really hurts our kids.

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the people who are whining here about play ups are people who have a stake in wins. if you are a top player they want to keep you down to get more wins.

This has always been the case.

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the people who are whining here about play ups are people who have a stake in wins. if you are a top player they want to keep you down to get more wins.

Seen far too many kids who play up for 2 to 3 years then move to a real club and find they can't even keep up on age. Instead of playing up at the Mickey Mouse club they should have been playing on age at a real club all along. But you can't tell the "my kid plays up" parents that.

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Poorly run clubs will keep kids on age level to promote team/club success.

The prioritization of winning over development really hurts our kids.

I guess maybe you are involved with a mediocre club ... If the only way to keep players at the club or if their own age group teams are not competitive (so that "playing up" is necessary), then you are likely at a mediocre club. Again, other than one or two REAL standouts (i.e. not kids with whiny parents), playing up should not be necessary. As stated before, I think an academy style practice between age groups, should be encouraged... I consider myself reasonable in that sense. :)

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I guess maybe you are involved with a mediocre club ... If the only way to keep players at the club or if their own age group teams are not competitive (so that "playing up" is necessary), then you are likely at a mediocre club. Again, other than one or two REAL standouts (i.e. not kids with whiny parents), playing up should not be necessary. As stated before, I think an academy style practice between age groups, should be encouraged... I consider myself reasonable in that sense. :)

Ours has two age groups scrimmage quite a bit (two A teams, not one A one B of same age). I think it's good, if anything just for more meaningful full sided scrimmages rather than half the team playing the other half. Often they mix the two teams up as well, change player positions, etc. Variety is a good learning experience

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Poorly run clubs will keep kids on age level to promote team/club success.

The prioritization of winning over development really hurts our kids.

Some do that - others let kids play up to keep whiny parents happy and keep the kid at the club. I've seen both, always at mediocre clubs that don't exactly have a wait list of players trying to get on a roster. A solid club sticks to its guns and lets a family walk if need be. They also clearly communicate the policy and allow it on such rare occasions for a truly exceptional player so it is evident to the others what it takes to play up.

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Previous post: "I'm also reasonable in understanding that this Spring may be different in all this since there may be birth year considerations so probably an old gripe on my part... But really it's an ongoing issue at my club."

Starting birth year this spring means all Aug-Sept players will be force to "play up" in the higher age group based on the more academic age groups they've played their entire lives. I sure hope playing up is good for these players and the teams they are going to (on which they currently "don't belong" according to many posters) or all of them are going to be messed up.

With birth year will come a new cutoff for playing up. Clubs will keep their same play-up policies but merely change the age group ranges to fit birth year. CA has already begun and the big clubs down there very rarely allow play ups. Doesn't seem to hurt those CA players. The same basically no play up policies will stay in effect for birth year teams as well.

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I guess maybe you are involved with a mediocre club ... If the only way to keep players at the club or if their own age group teams are not competitive (so that "playing up" is necessary), then you are likely at a mediocre club. Again, other than one or two REAL standouts (i.e. not kids with whiny parents), playing up should not be necessary. As stated before, I think an academy style practice between age groups, should be encouraged... I consider myself reasonable in that sense. :)

Top girls clubs in Portland have a history of players playing up.

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HS aged club soccer is going now and clubs are looking at rosters to get an idea of birth year teams for next year. This spring will be the last of the school year teams and then start with the newly shuffled birth year teams this May. My June daughter is super excited. My November daughter not as much but she looks forward to the new challenge of playing with the older group. Overall, our kids are taking the change better than we parents. Be happy when it's all done with and we can move on.

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Seen far too many kids who play up for 2 to 3 years then move to a real club and find they can't even keep up on age. Instead of playing up at the Mickey Mouse club they should have been playing on age at a real club all along. But you can't tell the "my kid plays up" parents that.

I know FC Portland has a history of play ups. Are you calling that club mickey mouse? Yeah right.

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I know FC Portland has a history of play ups. Are you calling that club mickey mouse? Yeah right.

Well... why do they do that? How many per year are "play ups"? Are each of those players worthy of playing up? How is the resentment level between the age groups (that they are playing up on and the age group below)?

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I know FC Portland has a history of play ups. Are you calling that club mickey mouse? Yeah right.

That has mostly been minimized. Very few play ups at FCP now.
Most play ups were U14 or below anyway, where early developers can do it and have it be worthwhile.

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Well... why do they do that? How many per year are "play ups"? Are each of those players worthy of playing up? How is the resentment level between the age groups (that they are playing up on and the age group below)?

Truth is nobody cares.