A History of Change

Back in 2017 U.S. Soccer changed the age of eligibility for rosters from school year to birth year, 8/1 – 7/31 to 1/1 – 12/31. This meant that a child’s age group was based on when they were born and not what grade in school they were in.

This change aimed to create more even playing fields and better align with international standards. It also helped coaches focus on long-term development instead of short-term results.

Why the Revisit?

You might be wondering, “If they changed it back in 2017, why are we talking about it again now?” Well, US Soccer is always looking for ways to improve, and they’ve been re-evaluating the birth year system to see if it’s truly the best approach.

Some people have raised concerns about the birth year system, suggesting it might create disadvantages for players born later in the year. These players might be physically smaller or less mature compared to their teammates who were born earlier in the same year.

US Soccer is taking these concerns seriously and wants to make sure they’re doing what’s best for all players.

How Does This Impact Players?

Let’s break down how the school year vs. birth year systems can affect players:

School Year System

• Advantages:
  • Can group players with similar physical and mental maturity, especially in younger age groups.
  • May benefit players born later in the year, as they won’t be the youngest and smallest in their group.
• Disadvantages:
  • Can create uneven playing fields as players within the same age group can have nearly a year’s difference in age.
  • Makes it harder to compare and compete with international teams that use a birth year system.

Birth Year System

• Advantages:
  • Aligns with international standards, making it easier to track player progress and compete globally.
  • Creates more consistent age groups, ensuring players are competing against others at a similar developmental stage.
• Disadvantages:
  • Can put players born later in the year at a disadvantage, as they might be physically smaller or less mature than their older teammates.
  • May require coaches to pay closer attention to individual player development and avoid comparing players solely based on age.

Examples

Meet the Players:

• Alex: Born November 15th, 2010
• Jamie: Born August 1st, 2011

Both Alex and Jamie are passionate about soccer and eager to play on a team. Let’s see how their journey unfolds in both systems:

Scenario 1: The School Year System

• Age Determination: In most states, the cutoff for starting kindergarten is around September 1st. This means Alex, despite being born in late 2010, would start kindergarten in the fall of 2016. Jamie, with an August birthday, would also start kindergarten the same year.
• Team Placement: Under a school year system, both Alex and Jamie would be considered the same age for soccer. They’d likely end up on the same team, playing with other kids born between September 1st, 2010 and August 31st, 2011.
• The Impact: In this scenario, Alex has a significant advantage. He’s almost a full year older than Jamie, likely bigger, stronger, and more coordinated. This could lead to Alex getting more playing time, scoring more goals, and generally having an easier time on the field. Jamie, while just as skilled, might struggle to keep up physically.

Scenario 2: The Birth Year System

• Age Determination: Now, only the year of birth matters. Alex, born in 2010, would play in the 2010 age group. Jamie, born in 2011, would play in the 2011 age group.
• Team Placement: Alex and Jamie are now on different teams, playing with others born in their respective years.
• The Impact: This creates a more level playing field. Alex plays with kids his own age and developmental stage, and so does Jamie. Jamie might still be one of the younger players on his team, but the age gap is much smaller. This system emphasizes long-term development, allowing players to progress at their own pace without feeling overshadowed by older peers.

Key Takeaway:

This example highlights how the school year system can create significant discrepancies within the same team. The birth year system aims to minimize these gaps, ensuring fairer competition and a focus on individual growth.

While the birth year system isn’t perfect, and relative age differences still exist within a year, it’s a step towards creating a more equitable and development-focused environment for young soccer players in the US.

Playing Up in the Birth Year System

“Playing up” refers to a talented player participating in an older age group. This is often done to provide more challenging competition and accelerate development. However, the birth year system can make playing up a bit trickier.

• Limited Opportunities: Since age groups are strictly defined by birth year, a player might face restrictions on how much they can play up. For example, a talented child born in December 2011 might be ready for a higher level of play, but they might not be allowed to join the 2010 age group due to the birth year cutoff.
• Increased Age Gap: Even if allowed to play up, the age gap becomes more significant in the birth year system. Our December 2011 player, competing with those born in 2010, would be among the youngest and could face a wider range of physical development in opponents.

How This Impacts Decisions:

• Careful Evaluation: Coaches and parents need to carefully assess whether playing up truly benefits the child’s development or if it might create undue pressure and competition.
• Focus on Individual Needs: The decision to play up should be based on the individual player’s maturity level, skill set, and psychological readiness, not just their birthdate.
• Communication is Key: Open communication between coaches, parents, and players is essential to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding the potential benefits and challenges of playing up.

In Conclusion:

While the birth year system can present some hurdles for players looking to play up, it also encourages a more thoughtful and individualized approach to this decision. By prioritizing the player’s long-term development and well-being, we can ensure that playing up remains a positive and enriching experience.

What is Relative Age Effect?

Simply put, RAE is the advantage that players born earlier in a given year have over those born later in the same year. Even within a birth year system, where everyone is grouped by their year of birth, there can still be almost a 12-month age difference between the oldest and youngest players on a team.

Why does it matter?

In youth sports, even a few months can make a big difference in physical development, maturity, and even confidence.

• Physical Differences: A child born in January might be bigger, faster, and stronger than a child born in December of the same year. This can lead to them being more successful on the field, especially in younger age groups.
• Maturity and Confidence: Older players might also have an edge in terms of mental maturity, decision-making, and confidence. This can translate to better performance and more opportunities.

How RAE plays out in soccer:

• Early Success: Players born earlier in the year often have more success early on. They might be selected for more competitive teams, get more playing time, and receive more attention from coaches.
• Late Bloomers: Players born later in the year might be overlooked or discouraged, even if they have great potential. They might need more time to develop physically and catch up to their older peers.

What can be done?

• Awareness: Coaches, parents, and players need to be aware of RAE and its potential impact.
• Focus on Individual Development: Coaches should focus on each player’s individual progress, not just compare them to others on the team.
• Late Specialization: Encourage kids to try different sports and activities, rather than specializing in soccer too early. This allows for more well-rounded development and reduces the pressure to excel at a young age.
• Flexible Grouping: In some cases, allowing for more flexible grouping based on developmental stage, rather than strictly on birth year, can help mitigate the effects of RAE.

Key Takeaway:

RAE is a real phenomenon in youth soccer, and it’s important to understand its implications. By being aware of RAE and taking steps to address it, we can create a more equitable and supportive environment for all players, regardless of when they were born.

What’s the Latest?

US Soccer has been gathering feedback from coaches, players, and parents across the country. They’ve been weighing the pros and cons of each system carefully.

As of November 2024, US Soccer has decided to stick with the birth year system. They believe it offers the best long-term benefits for player development and international competitiveness.

However, they also recognize the concerns about relative age effects (the impact of being younger or older within an age group). To address this, they’re focusing on:

• Increased awareness and education: Helping coaches understand the potential impact of relative age and providing them with strategies to support all players.
• Emphasis on long-term development: Encouraging a focus on individual player growth rather than short-term results.
• Potential adjustments: Exploring ways to refine the system, such as allowing for more flexibility in certain age groups or situations.

The Bottom Line

The school year vs. birth year debate is complex, with passionate arguments on both sides. While US Soccer has decided to stay with the birth year system for now, they’re committed to making it work for everyone.

As parents, coaches, and players, it’s important to stay informed about these discussions and advocate for what we believe is best for the future of soccer in the United States.