Get ready folks
- Thread starter soccer4us
- Start date
totally stupid
Not surprising. Every decision made so far and how this process was handled was bad so why not tack on one more for good measure. At least it will be over until another 6 years pass and data shows they messed it up yet again.
SuckItTrebek
BRONZE
Ya this link is about as useful as an UFO sighting fanpage. Absolutely nothing of substance or credibility. I am not sure why you would even make a post and then use this link to substantiate yourself. The last thing that came of this topic was back around the Thanksgiving holiday meeting in 2024. At that time the entire topic was officially tabled and a vote did not take place.
I would hope that if a vote did take place and the change to school year was approved, that the governing organization would give everyone at least 2 years (seasons) beyond the season that the vote takes place in, before it went into effect. This is going to place a heavy financial burden on all clubs and many may not survive the transition.
RandomSoccerFan
PREMIER
Our DOC was at AGM. It was confirmed that it was Sep 1. No idea why it hasn't been posted more publicly, but there you go. People can continue to believe that it isn't going to happen - unfortunately for them it already has.
Will MLS and GA also go to SY with 9/1?
RandomSoccerFan
PREMIER
No idea. IMO MLS N can probably get away with whatever the fudge they want to do with it, as integration with any other youth league doesn't really matter; it isn't a strong imperative. GA either has to choose to match their peers exactly, or set themselves even further apart as a secondary option. My take is that GA matches whatever the other major leagues will do. MLS N might still choose to as well, if they are pushing MLS2 as a bridge between all lower leagues and MLS N.
Code
GOLD
Finally, some people realized there was a problem.
More to come for sure, but this starts the process.
sprinkle genie
BRONZE
US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO Returning to Seasonal-Year Age Group Formation in 2026 - US Youth Soccer
FRISCO, Texas (March 5, 2025) – US Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer, and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), today announced that they have agreed to adopt the seasonal year age group formation cycle […]
www.usyouthsoccer.org
Official article posted from website of one of the big three mentioned in the tweet about. Nothing on national AYSO or Club soccer yet.
sprinkle genie
BRONZE
Imagine Lots of teams are gonna blow up next February in the younger ages-
Any old timers recall try-out turmoil in 2017 with the last age cut-off change?
Any old timers recall try-out turmoil in 2017 with the last age cut-off change?
So at least 32% of August birthdays will now be trapped by themselves. In reality, a lot more, as many August kids start the following year bc school actually starts in August before they turn 5.
Surprised they didn’t stay with August 1-July 31…as it was before BY. Seems to leave the trapped player problem intact.
soccerdad247
BRONZE
The big question becomes what do MLS Next and GA do? If they stick to BY, seems like it will create chaos for those MLSN or GA teams trying to enter tournaments that will have teams from ECNL, NPL, etc? But
It is because those higher up in the decision making process have kids with later birthdays and this gives them a better advantage from RAE perspective
. Never about the players as is always the case with us soccer.
RandomSoccerFan
PREMIER
Clearly that must be it.It is because those higher up in the decision making process have kids with later birthdays and this gives them a better advantage from RAE perspective
A blast from the past.
Apparently all the assumptions they made and the reasons they gave in this press release were completely incorrect.
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/08/five-things-to-know-about-birth-year-registration
Now more than ever it is true,
US Soccer, you have no idea why you do what you do.
Beginning on Aug. 1, 2017, the way in which youth players in the United States register for youth soccer teams will be based on their year of birth. This new standard will help create clarity, improve understanding about developmental progress and enhance playing environments as a part of the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives (PDI’s).
Here are five things you should know about the new registration rules to age groups.
What is birth year registration?
Currently, youth players in the United States sign up for same-age group clubs and teams based on the traditional calendar of a school year, from August to July. Under this system of registration, a player born before August 1, 2007 would have played in a U-11 age group (players age 11 and under) for the upcoming 2017-2018 season, while a player born after August 1, 2007 would have played in a U-10 age group.
Beginning August 1, for the upcoming 2017-2018 season, any player born from January 1 to December 31 of 2007 will play in a U-11 age group. Birth year will be the only determinant for youth team registration. There will no longer be a mid-year cut-off to decide in which age group a player will play.
The United States and Canada have been the only FIFA member nations to use this model.
This PDI brings youth soccer in the United States in line with the rest of the world by using a normal calendar year of each player’s birth year to determine their age group.
Why are the youth soccer registration standards changing?
The change in age group registration aims to support player development, and goes hand-in-hand with the new standards for small-sided games. Using birth year registration ensures that players are training and playing in the proper age group, each with their own developmental needs.
The new standard also strives to lessen relative age effect (RAE). RAE is a selection bias towards players born earlier in the calendar year. Players born in early months are naturally older and more mature, but not necessarily better players. While the change to birth year registration won’t completely solve the problem, it will make it easier to identify and understand.
Birth year registration is determined by the year a soccer season ends. For seasons that span from fall to spring or summer overlapping across two calendar years, players will register based on their age during the second year of the season. To simplify, an age group can be determined by subtracting the birth year from the year the season ends.
Year Season Ends – Birth Year = Age Group
2017 to 2018 – 2003 = U-15
Short-Term Changes, Long-Term Benefits
The current iteration of some teams will change with the implementation of the birth year registration rule, but the changes will affect different clubs depending on how they organize their teams. Some clubs may use mixed age group teams such as a combined U-11/U-12 team. For younger age groups, where RAE may be more prominent, more than one team could be created for each birth year. Players also still have the option to play up in older age groups, if they need stronger competition. In the short term, team compositions may change, but in the long term this shift prioritizes individual player development over team success, the driving purpose behind PDIs.
Easier to Understand and Creates Awareness
Shifting to a birth year registration system makes it easier to understand what age group a youth player belongs in. Previously, two players born in the same year could be in different age groups. Now, every player born in the same calendar year will play in the same age group. This makes it easier for parents to figure out where their child should be playing and for both coaches and parents to become more aware of how players develop based on age and how individual needs may vary.
This change also aligns the U.S. youth soccer calendar with the rest of the world. The United States was one of only two countries that used a school year calendar to determine age group. Now, the United States joins nearly every other FIFA federation. U.S. youth players will now develop and train in the same age group environment as leading soccer nations worldwide.
Apparently all the assumptions they made and the reasons they gave in this press release were completely incorrect.
https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/08/five-things-to-know-about-birth-year-registration
Now more than ever it is true,
US Soccer, you have no idea why you do what you do.
Five Things to Know About Birth Year Registration
Beginning on Aug. 1, 2017, the way in which youth players in the United States register for youth soccer teams will be based on their year of birth. This new standard will help create clarity, improve understanding about developmental progress and enhance playing environments as a part of the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives (PDI’s). Here are five things you should know about the new registration rules to age groups.Beginning on Aug. 1, 2017, the way in which youth players in the United States register for youth soccer teams will be based on their year of birth. This new standard will help create clarity, improve understanding about developmental progress and enhance playing environments as a part of the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives (PDI’s).
Here are five things you should know about the new registration rules to age groups.
What is birth year registration?
Currently, youth players in the United States sign up for same-age group clubs and teams based on the traditional calendar of a school year, from August to July. Under this system of registration, a player born before August 1, 2007 would have played in a U-11 age group (players age 11 and under) for the upcoming 2017-2018 season, while a player born after August 1, 2007 would have played in a U-10 age group.
Beginning August 1, for the upcoming 2017-2018 season, any player born from January 1 to December 31 of 2007 will play in a U-11 age group. Birth year will be the only determinant for youth team registration. There will no longer be a mid-year cut-off to decide in which age group a player will play.
The United States and Canada have been the only FIFA member nations to use this model.
This PDI brings youth soccer in the United States in line with the rest of the world by using a normal calendar year of each player’s birth year to determine their age group.
Why are the youth soccer registration standards changing?
The change in age group registration aims to support player development, and goes hand-in-hand with the new standards for small-sided games. Using birth year registration ensures that players are training and playing in the proper age group, each with their own developmental needs.
The new standard also strives to lessen relative age effect (RAE). RAE is a selection bias towards players born earlier in the calendar year. Players born in early months are naturally older and more mature, but not necessarily better players. While the change to birth year registration won’t completely solve the problem, it will make it easier to identify and understand.
- Learn more about PDIs: PDI Presentation | Five Things About PDIs | Small-Sided Games
- U.S. Soccer Member Organizations Adopt PDIs to Support Youth Soccer Development
- U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives Officially Implemented
Birth year registration is determined by the year a soccer season ends. For seasons that span from fall to spring or summer overlapping across two calendar years, players will register based on their age during the second year of the season. To simplify, an age group can be determined by subtracting the birth year from the year the season ends.
Year Season Ends – Birth Year = Age Group
2017 to 2018 – 2003 = U-15
Short-Term Changes, Long-Term Benefits
The current iteration of some teams will change with the implementation of the birth year registration rule, but the changes will affect different clubs depending on how they organize their teams. Some clubs may use mixed age group teams such as a combined U-11/U-12 team. For younger age groups, where RAE may be more prominent, more than one team could be created for each birth year. Players also still have the option to play up in older age groups, if they need stronger competition. In the short term, team compositions may change, but in the long term this shift prioritizes individual player development over team success, the driving purpose behind PDIs.
Easier to Understand and Creates Awareness
Shifting to a birth year registration system makes it easier to understand what age group a youth player belongs in. Previously, two players born in the same year could be in different age groups. Now, every player born in the same calendar year will play in the same age group. This makes it easier for parents to figure out where their child should be playing and for both coaches and parents to become more aware of how players develop based on age and how individual needs may vary.
This change also aligns the U.S. youth soccer calendar with the rest of the world. The United States was one of only two countries that used a school year calendar to determine age group. Now, the United States joins nearly every other FIFA federation. U.S. youth players will now develop and train in the same age group environment as leading soccer nations worldwide.