SC Soccer Forums SCSoccer.com Forums Club Soccer & ODP U18/19?

So here's a waker-upper...just looked on the SCYSA website tonight and the U18 categories for PMSL, PMSL II and SCSCL have been changed to U18/19...anyone know anything about this? Our director didn't know what to make of it...

I could be wrong, but I heard something about a new rule allowing Seniors who have "aged out" of U18 being allowed to play because they are still in high school...I guess so they don't miss out on the chance to play that one last season.

This is true. It does allow some HS seniors another season of club. I am told the U-19's are not eligible for state cup, which makes no sense to me.

Confirmed in an email reply from SCYSA. I agree in principle--I'm glad to see players who are still in high school but aged out by birthdate able to get some club experience this fall--but I wish this hadn't been a last-second decision that precludes teams who already filled their roster from allowing these players to participate...I had one who is still in high school who was heartbroken not to be able to play this year, only to find out she is eligible long after our rosters reached the limit.

Sounds like you're trying to reward kids who couldn't finish HS on time. Seems unfair to the true U-18's and will just give parents one more reason to hold their kids back.

GSDad,
There are all kinds of reasons, some of them starting long before high school and some of them beyond the player's control, that could cause a student to turn 18 before August of their senior year. The young lady to whom I was referring has stayed on track throughout high school; it's not an issue of "couldn't finish HS on time." High school itself grants only four years of eligibility, beginning when a student first enters 9th grade. If the issue is that they can't finish HS in four years, they have no sports eligibility during the extra years.

Extending the club eligibility to players who still have HS eligibility in the spring but miss the age cutoff for U18 isn't "rewarding" them for not finishing HS on time; it's just ensuring that taking away sports isn't one of the many negative consequences that can follow.

The true U18s will still have an advantage in getting selected for teams, because coaches know that only the true U18s will be able to compete in State Cup. It wouldn't make sense to cut a true U18 in favor of a U19 who would have to be dropped from the roster before the State Cup roster freeze. I see this as an opportunity for teams with unused roster spots to give the U19s at least some soccer experience--albeit a reduced one--and help those with remaining eligibility get ready for their spring HS seasons. Under the current rules, it certainly can't be used to bring in "ringers" to win a state trophy.

And do you really think parents will hold their kids back academically just because they find out they can get an extra season of club ball in?

Seriously?

Or...they could play men's league, not travel, and keep their money. Never underestimate SCYCA's ability to squeeze a dime.

Or... it offers league play opportunity for a group of college freshmen not playing college to put together a team just to stay in the game? maybe go to next year's Southern Regionals as the u-19 representative from SC. Even a mixed team of u-18/u-19 not eligible to compete in u-18 state cup could still go to regionals in SC next summer. I think u-19 representative is determined in the Spring, but I can't find the calendar at the SCYSA site.

I KNOW that parents hold their kids back in EVERY sport so they can be a little older and more physically mature when they graduate HS and go to college. My son played in an AAU basketball league that was U-12 but they gave "grade exceptions" for kids who were older but in the same grade. My 12 yo wound up playing post against a 6'2" 15 yo "man". I think the U18/U19 age group gives an unfair advantage to the older player (and may take a spot from someone else). The 19yo can move on to adult leagues.