04 on a dominantly 03 aged team

My dd is an 04 on a primarily 03 AP team and was curious if parents have heard this from coaches.
1. I plan on keeping team together - all 04's will play up with the 03's to the new division.
2. Your dd shouldn't have to worry bout the AP for a couple of years as it all gets worked out.

I know grain of salt to coach speak, however as the April/May mayhem approaches, I am a bit unsettled for my 04 dd on this type of team.  She's got decent skills and size, but we all know there is a difference between a April 04 and a Feb 03.  Maybe this thread is too early as spring just started, but wondering if others are watching their games a bit closer than usual in anticipation.

No, I would keep your eyes open for other alternatives. From our stand point age pure means age pure. But if she is the the stud of the group the coach could have her play up.
It would be pretty hard for a coach to give up his top players to another coach. Evaluate your DD position on the team.

IMO it depends on your dd and how much playing time she gets currently. If she starts and/or plays a majority of the time, she should continue to improve and can probably play with the 03's. If she doesn't get much playing time it might be beneficial for her to be on an 04 team to get that time. My dd is in same position as an 04 on a primarily 03 aged team. The team will stay together and play as an 03 team next fall. I plan to let her stay on this team and see how year goes. If she competes and continues to get playing time, great! If not, we may re-rack next summer and look for an 04 team.

Some of these teams can't stay together, so many players are trying for ECNL.

Here is where you have to be a parent, and not a cheerleader, for your DD. Take a step back and be as objective as possible regarding where your DD stands relative to the rest of the team. If you can objectively say that your DD is a starter and is in the top half of the players on the team, then she's probably going to be alright staying with the '03's and playing up. If not, then you can always make a move in the future.

However, if your objective view tells you that your DD is in the bottom half of the team from a contribution standpoint, and/or isn't a regular starter, then the better decision may be to move her to an '04 AP team. If she is struggling to keep up now, it definitely isn't going to get any easier if she moves up with the '03's next year.

"I plan to keep the team together" = I don't want to lose my current players until I know better replacements are interested in joining.

"Your dd shouldn't have to worry bout the AP for a couple of years as it all gets worked out" = I really want you to stick around until I make the decision.

Why give up a year of development in hope of playing up? Find her a team that is a good fit and move on. Let's be honest, everything you hear from a coach or club between now and June will be spin. Most will want to string your DD along until some "better 03" comes in June.

I much rather be in your shoes. My DD is two weeks too old for 04 and now may have to find a spot as one of the youngest 03's out there. Add to that the NTX mentality of bigger is better and I feel my spring may become a nightmare.

I agree with ElClassico, move on to an AP team and her future will be better.  My DD is a keeper with an October birthday and has to move from an 05 team to be a younger 04 where all the girls are in a higher grade level, which leaves her pretty much screwed her senior year.

The bigger clubs will have an easier time playing age pure as they'll have more players to fill both age groups. The smaller clubs and indy teams have less options are may have to play mixed age (04's and 03's in an 03 league in this case) out of necessity.

Thanks for all the candid feedback.  Not sure what will happen, but can guarantee it will be total DRAMA this Spring as possible scenarios unfold.

Will the new playoffs this year even matter if team goes 03?  Anyone have an extra bye?  How's is the whole N+x going to work.  I heard all 03's are eligible for ECNL or even more confusing -the new US Development Academy should create new fun on the board.

Need a machine to send my dd back to elementary school.  Things were so simpler then.

"I heard all 03's are eligible for ECNL"
What does that mean?

Any DD that is AP '03 can tryout out for ECNL whether they were playing on an '03 or '04 team this year.

My DD is AP '03 on an '03 Team. Agree with others that this is the better situation since it gives an option to play up to '02 with the team or earn a slot on an '03 team (ECNL).

pingpong85 wrote:Thanks for all the candid feedback.  Not sure what will happen, but can guarantee it will be total DRAMA this Spring as possible scenarios unfold.

Will the new playoffs this year even matter if team goes 03?  Anyone have an extra bye?  How's is the whole N+x going to work.  I heard all 03's are eligible for ECNL or even more confusing -the new US Development Academy should create new fun on the board.

Need a machine to send my dd back to elementary school.  Things were so simpler then.

DRAMA!?! Everyone knows there's no drama in girls competitive soccer.

newbiefornow wrote:Any DD that is AP '03 can tryout out for ECNL whether they were playing on an '03 or '04 team this year.

My DD is AP '03 on an '03 Team. Agree with others that this is the better situation since it gives an option to play up to '02 with the team or earn a slot on an '03 team (ECNL).

An age pure '04 can also tryout for an '03 ECNL spot, correct?

Wouldn't the concern of an age pure 04 playing up to 03 need to be tempered by the fact that most of the current 03 team's players will be playing up to 02, etc.?So in essence everyone will just be ratcheting up one notch so to speak? It would seem to me that a player who is presently able to compete at the level she is currently playing at should be able to compete playing up if their current team opts to do so.

An AP '04 can try out for AP '03 ECNL. There is no specific prohibition on playing up and according to the US Soccer DA announcement it's encouraged. However this year will see a lot of '04 and '03 displacement since kids that are AP '03 and '02 will be forced to move "up" whether they want to or not. That will increase the competition for those slots since some or all of them will be filled with kids that are already in them and the clubs will want to fill them with AP kids rather than lose those kids to other clubs.

It's musical chairs and each level up has some folks that are already sitting down. If an '03 kid suddenly finds herself competing for an '02 Slot it seems reasonable to give her preference over an '03 kids that doesn't have to compete for that slot at least if you want to maximize your participation. Obviously is you're the '03 and can compete at '02 you have a different perspective. Make sense?

Not sure if I understand correctly that an age pure 03 or 02 will be forced to move up. Is this correct?

So next year if an AP 02 DD is on an '03 Team and wants to be in ECNL they will need to try out for current '02 ECNL since they will no longer be eligible for '03. Their existing LHGCL team may just play up to '02 but if they stay '03 that kid will be out of the team.

A current '04 that is AP '03 will have a similar dilemma.

What will happen to all the 03 LH teams that are overloaded with 02s - most likely they move up to play or challenge for 02 spots? And then will those 03 spots be open to AP03 teams? Will there be QT to see who takes those spots?

newbiefornow wrote:So next year if an AP 02 DD is on an '03 Team and wants to be in ECNL they will need to try out for  current '02 ECNL since they will no longer be eligible for '03. Their existing LHGCL team may just play up to '02 but if they stay '03  that kid will be out of the team.

A current '04 that is AP '03 will have a similar dilemma.

Yes, I understood that, but you said that they would be "forced" to move up which is what confused me. I thought I was maybe missing something. No one is being forced. If said DD wishes to play age pure can just find age pure team to play on.

Using your example above, if said AP 02 is only good enough to be ECNL if playing with a bunch of 03's maybe she is not really ECNL worthy. Not meaning to sound harsh but if she good enough to be ECNL she good enough to be ECNL. And if she only good enough to be ECNL in name only and gonna be say #18-30 on the roster, whats the point anyway? Unless we talking bragging rights at the water cooler..

04 team will become an 03 team with the age pure. Looking for some players. If looking for a team let me know.
bbgwood@att.net
FriscoFusionsoccer.com

simplified for the fall -
1. 04 can choose to stay with current 03 team and will play in U14 div in the fall. Assuming 03 team releases any and all 02 players. (04 will play up)

2. if an 04 is playing on 03 team now, and that team has 02's on it - the coach may decide to play his 03 and 04 players up to 02 U15  - or the 02s need to find another team.

3. 04 can find a new AP 04 team and play in U13 div (go AP)

Hi,
we are an AGE PURE 04 Andromeda West Team.  We are looking for players just like your daughter.  Feel free to check us out at practice!

We play strong possession-style soccer, so players need to:  
1. Be versatile players (good speed & have quick reaction time)
2. Be able to play the ball well
3. Be in shape
4. Have strong leadership & communication from the goal                  
5. Willing to attend both practice & training sessions.

Current PPIL D2 team looking to advance into LHGCL              
                                                                                     
Practice Times:                                              
Monday/Wednesday
6:00-7:30pm
Andromeda practice fields-Covenant Church (Glade Rd) Colleyville,tx

Coach Rick Lopez
214-796-9990