Skye Eddy Bruce lists possible adverse effects of U.S. Soccer’s mandate to changethe birth-year registration from an August-July format to January-December. “What are Madison or Michael’s parents going to think when they are told their child can’t play with 52% theirFirst Grade classmates, but instead, their 6-year-old First Grader, because of their late birthday, has to play on a team made up of 52% of Second Grade children?”
They should tell them “thats how its done in the rest of the world” or “you should play up son if you want to play with ur friends so bad”. This argument is more about clubs worried they will lose $$$ with players deciding they wont sign because they wont get to play with their friends. If kids are worried about that then they shouldnt be playing Travel or compettive soccer anyway.
That’s nonsense. This has nothing to do with clubs losing money. The sport has grown BECAUSE CLUBS and SCHOOLS support each other. This change drives a stake through the well-being of youth soccer and anyone who doesn’t see that is too far above reality to recognize the truth. All the traction and growth we’ve seen through the last decade will take a hit because of idiotic decision making from the top. Eventually it may stabilize again but I question the need to do this and smack a growing sport right in the teeth.