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

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@folsomsoccermom - I think chemistry can be a factor but it does not replace individual size, athleticism, speed, knowledge of the game. You are correct that Freshman can make HS varsity squads - boys and girls though possibly a tilt toward to the girls - but the strongest programs' varsity squads (especially starters) are almost always made up of Juniors and Seniors, even if the more technically skilled kids are the Freshman and Sophomores. Further, if it was as physically equal as you are suggesting, I think Mallory Pugh would not be the first HS player on the Senior squad since 2004 - I doubt there'd ever be large #s but it would not be as rare as it is.

A good team that wants to play up can still have "successful" results (in terms of wins) against older teams. But it is folly to think that those same girls will have the same "success" in terms of the exposure that comes in playing in the highest brackets of elite tournaments, in terms of getting that 4th or 5th game in a tournament weekend (6th if we are talking something like Surf Cup), in terms of "ranking points" that might bring scouts to earlier rounds or even a regular season game.

As you know, my daughter's team has played up in NPL (while playing within their age group for ECNL). It has been good for them but their results are not suggestive that they could stick together and continue to play up at ECNL or Champions League levels. And as good as the strong teams they have faced are (and two have stood out), I cannot imagine them playing up with the same level of success. If so, those teams should be dominating pretty much every time they step on the pitch against their age group or younger teams.

Top Oregon teams can't compete out of state nor in top tourneys as it is now so it doesn't make much difference if they want to stay together and play up in birth year & be even less competitive.

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Top Oregon teams can't compete out of state nor in top tourneys as it is now so it doesn't make much difference if they want to stay together and play up in birth year & be even less competitive.

Maybe we should start a petition or something.

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Top Oregon teams can't compete out of state nor in top tourneys as it is now so it doesn't make much difference if they want to stay together and play up in birth year & be even less competitive.

and if they keep teams together and have them play up next year it will only get worse, as most competitive clubs will follow calendar year only. Pull off the bandaid quickly and hope not to take too much of the scab off with it.

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and if they keep teams together and have them play up next year it will only get worse, as most competitive clubs will follow calendar year only. Pull off the bandaid quickly and hope not to take too much of the scab off with it.

Winner!

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and if they keep teams together and have them play up next year it will only get worse, as most competitive clubs will follow calendar year only. Pull off the bandaid quickly and hope not to take too much of the scab off with it.

The flood is coming. CA & WA are already changing to birth year only teams. The whole country is. Change or lose any chance of competitiveness. HS age teams have the most chemistry to lose but also need to compete well at showcases to get more looks. Despite the pain, best to rip off the bandaid and move ahead as quickly as possible or get left behind.

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Winner!

thank you. I have occasional moments of clarity :)

I fully believe that this time next year no one will think twice about this switch. Some people are in absolute freak out mode. Not surprisingly they're most likely to have an impacted child. I have one as well (and one that isn't) but am not worried. It's completely out of my hands so all I can do is try and figure out what the best next step is. Curling up in a ball in the corner and crying "not fair" doesn't do anyone any good. Just keep moving forward and things will fall into place.

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Top Oregon teams can't compete out of state nor in top tourneys as it is now so it doesn't make much difference if they want to stay together and play up in birth year & be even less competitive.

The problem is people like you that are soooooo focused on the competition and forget that players are not ready to compete until 19 years old.

You probably choose a club because of a team that plays in a certain league. If that is the case you are failing your child.

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Yeah the European academies are crappy clubs with a bunch of rec players...

Look at their play up philosophy.

All the national team coaches must not know anything either.

Don't listen to the anti play up people here. They have no idea what they are talking about.

One of the best things you can do for a talented kid is to put them up to wherever they fit, whether that is one or more years. Ignore everything and find the right fit to push their development.

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thank you. I have occasional moments of clarity :)

I fully believe that this time next year no one will think twice about this switch. Some people are in absolute freak out mode. Not surprisingly they're most likely to have an impacted child. I have one as well (and one that isn't) but am not worried. It's completely out of my hands so all I can do is try and figure out what the best next step is. Curling up in a ball in the corner and crying "not fair" doesn't do anyone any good. Just keep moving forward and things will fall into place.

Bingo. The players will all be just fine. Star players will still be star players & average players still average. A 5mo age shift won't change that. My kids will end up better players and people by taking on the new challenges. Clubs all across the country will form the best teams by birth year and we will all move in together. Carpe diem!

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thank you. I have occasional moments of clarity :)

I fully believe that this time next year no one will think twice about this switch. Some people are in absolute freak out mode. Not surprisingly they're most likely to have an impacted child. I have one as well (and one that isn't) but am not worried. It's completely out of my hands so all I can do is try and figure out what the best next step is. Curling up in a ball in the corner and crying "not fair" doesn't do anyone any good. Just keep moving forward and things will fall into place.

I could not agree with you more. I remember the OPL/OYSA split and the controversy was when do you go to 11 v 11. Everyone was freaking out! Now those kids, some played 8v8 at U11, some play 11 v 11 at u11, are all just fine!!! But wow, talk about freak out mode, we were killing soccer and it was going to die in Oregon! But fortunately, soccer is still here. We will all live through this too!

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Don't listen to the anti play up people here. They have no idea what they are talking about.

One of the best things you can do for a talented kid is to put them up to wherever they fit, whether that is one or more years. Ignore everything and find the right fit to push their development.

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.

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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.

not even that often. The general guideline is the younger player should be in the top 5 of the team they are playing up to, not that they're in the top 5 of the age appropriate team. It is the rare player that fits that bill. Even when they do it should be constantly re-assessed until kids are done with puberty. At some point (most often middle school) most have to move back down to their age appropriate team.

It's generally a good idea to avoid clubs that allow frequent play ups. They're doing it to keep the stronger players and ego-driven parents happy/shut up pain in the azz parents. It usually doesn't work out in the end.

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not even that often. The general guideline is the younger player should be in the top 5 of the team they are playing up to, not that they're in the top 5 of the age appropriate team. It is the rare player that fits that bill. Even when they do it should be constantly re-assessed until kids are done with puberty. At some point (most often middle school) most have to move back down to their age appropriate team.

It's generally a good idea to avoid clubs that allow frequent play ups. They're doing it to keep the stronger players and ego-driven parents happy/shut up pain in the azz parents. It usually doesn't work out in the end.

That's what I meant, 1 or 2 in the entire age group throughout the state, not 1 or 2 per team.

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Hmmmmm.

The problem is people like you that are soooooo focused on the competition and forget that players are not ready to compete until 19 years old.

You probably choose a club because of a team that plays in a certain league. If that is the case you are failing your child.

Your kid really that slow that they had to wait until they were 19? Wow. Clearly, you've never been around bright and competitive players.

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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.

Agree. Also, better for an Oregon superstar to play on age, lead their team to State Cup victory, FWRL & NWCL victories and then show well vs same birth year players from CA, WA, etc. Or play on age in ECNL, not up a year in ECNL. Playing up a birth year w/in Oregon isn't too hard for quite a few but even our Oregon superstars don't shine well playing ON age vs out of state teams, much less one year up. For example, one 2003 OR ODP girl made the Region 4 All-Star team. She could probably easily play up a year at her club (no 2002 from Oregon made it) and do fine and dandy. However, she certainly won't be able to do as well vs other states' full 2002 birth year teams. She already might be low down on the totem pole in the 2003 region all star team. Most girls want to show well for college. Show well vs the top California girls from your same birth year and colleges will come calling for you just like they'll be calling for those top CA & WA girls. Same holds for CA girls, which is why they are going birth year with almost no play-ups. Particularly the best teams! They want to stay competitive for surf and college showcases. Not worrying about competition until 19, sadly doesn't work if a player would like to play competitive soccer in college. CA girls are developing just fine and they start competing at u7!