Kids playing up a year

[Guest]

Some clubs are quick to move talented kids up an age group, while others keep players firmly in their own age bracket, even when they've got a standout talent. Take this scenario: One team has a 9-year-old talent playing with 10-year-olds, while another club keeps their equally talented 9-year-old right where he started. When these teams face off, the difference becomes crystal clear - the kid playing in his natural age group might totally steal the show.

It makes you wonder what's really driving these decisions. Is it the coach seeing something special? Are pushy parents pulling strings? Maybe it's about what the kid wants or feels comfortable with. Sometimes the reasoning seems totally random. You'll see kids playing up who aren't even the best players in their own age group, which drives parents crazy and leaves everyone confused.

There's no simple answer to whether kids should play up or stay put. Every child is different, every situation unique. What works for one player might be totally wrong for another. It's a delicate balance between challenging a kid and not overwhelming them, between nurturing talent and protecting their love of the game.

The whole thing is like a complicated chess match, with coaches, parents, and kids all trying to make the right move for a young athlete's future.

[Guest]

Its not complicated.

if a child is in the top half of starting players in an age up, they should play up. If they are in the top half of the starting 11 or starting 9 or starting 7 or starting 4, playing up a year, play up. You will get sugnificant minutes.

if not, the kid is likely not as special as you think, just an early developer and they would benefit from getting lots of minutes at age and building life long friends.

game minutes trumps playing up.

the other question is whether you are in the right league, team etc. is the level high enough for your child.

[Guest]

You'll see kids playing up who aren't even the best players in their own age group, which drives parents crazy and leaves everyone confused.

Most parents have no idea who the best players at a given age group are. It's like when people complain about mls academies taking kids who aren't the best. Maybe they see something you don't. Most often I see it with smaller kids that have vision. Coaches realize they need to play with kids that make the correct runs. Sometimes they have to play up so their potential can show.

[Guest]

Its not complicated.

if a child is in the top half of starting players in an age up, they should play up. If they are in the top half of the starting 11 or starting 9 or starting 7 or starting 4, playing up a year, play up. You will get sugnificant minutes.

if not, the kid is likely not as special as you think, just an early developer and they would benefit from getting lots of minutes at age and building life long friends.

game minutes trumps playing up.

the other question is whether you are in the right league, team etc. is the level high enough for your child.

Spot on. If a kid is in the top 5 ( 7 for 11 aside )of the play up A team they should play up, it's best for their development. They won't be challenged to improve otherwise. Playing up a year but ridding the bench only means they won't be playing up next .

[Guest]

I think it’s fine at younger ages if they are one of the better players on the up aged team. But once they get to HS ages it’s very rare and should be.

[Guest]

Your child's physical readiness, or size, is paramount.

Smaller players could become discouraged when constantly competing against larger, more developed teammates, potentially leading to reduced playing time and less enthusiasm. Similarly, larger children might feel understimulated if they aren't sufficiently challenged by their current age group. Need to find that balance between having competitive pressure to promote skill development without overwhelming the child's physical or emotional capabilities, so soccer can remain an enjoyable and growth-oriented experience.

[Guest]

Your child's physical readiness, or size, is paramount.

Smaller players could become discouraged when constantly competing against larger, more developed teammates, potentially leading to reduced playing time and less enthusiasm. Similarly, larger children might feel understimulated if they aren't sufficiently challenged by their current age group. Need to find that balance between having competitive pressure to promote skill development without overwhelming the child's physical or emotional capabilities, so soccer can remain an enjoyable and growth-oriented experience.

Especially out here where all the coaches want are big and fast players to go get the boot ball.

[Guest]

My kid plays up 2 years. I just brought him to the older teams tryout and didnt tell the coaches how old he was untill after offered him a spot that he earned vs all comers. Trust your kids talent if the coach club you have has other agendas leave. Easy as 1-2-3

[Guest]

What parents don’t understand is that playing a year or two year ups is not the answer. Young players need to be put in situations where they can have lots of game like repetitions. Your son playing two years up will have a lot less repetitions than a player playing with their own age. Players between 7-12 shouldn’t be playing up an age, they should be playing with their own age group and getting tons of repetitions. Players with more repetitions over a 5 year period will develop more over a player playing 1 or two years up. Anyways, parents and other coaches in the US are not ready for this conversation. They all think playing up will speed up your players development when in reality, you’re halting their potential. Yes, they will “develop” faster because they’re playing a year up, however, the ceiling will be not as high so you end up having players hit their potential way too early. Again, coaches and parents in the US are not ready for this conversation only because it hits their ego.

[Guest]

My kid plays up 2 years. I just brought him to the older teams tryout and didnt tell the coaches how old he was untill after offered him a spot that he earned vs all comers. Trust your kids talent if the coach club you have has other agendas leave. Easy as 1-2-3

2 years up? Really? A bit hard to believe unless he's really young.

[Guest]

When these teams face off, the difference becomes crystal clear - the kid playing in his natural age group might totally steal the show.

When those 10 and 9 year old teams meet (if they are on the same level), the kid playing in his natural age group will lose 0-6 and will not steal anything. If you are comparing playing up a year in a less competitive team, then usually there is no point, unless the kid's physical size is too big for his age group.