Playing Up

I understand that playing up is common in competitive soccer but how much is too much? Is it ok for a coach hard up for players to run '01s and '00s up with '98s? I would think the larger clubs such as Liverpool would frown on this. At what point does it become unsafe?

Wow! 01's/00's with 98's? Let's see 13 & 14 year olds playing with 16&17 years old kids.  Competitive!
It's no way that I would let my 13 year old kid play with 16/17 years old.  Not when they're trying to develop.
I would agree that some kids are able to play up but not many kids can make that jump.  If my 14 year old was able to play with U17's then I would definitely have her playing with her age group in ECNL.    

Here's the problem I'm predicting. You have smaller 01'/00 playing against U17 in league play.  Most teams will look at this as a opportunity to get an easy 3 points and 5 or 6 goals during that game. By the middle of the season you'll have 60 goals again.  Now it's January and you have the second half of the season.   With 120 goals again how do you tell your DD it's ok sweetie.  I've seen this too many times a coach just trying to make a team and a paycheck.

Personally, as a coach if the team doesn't make then it doesn't make.
Oh, I'm not a coach so what do I know!!!!! 

joe soccer wrote:I understand that playing up is common in competitive soccer but how much is too much? Is it ok for a coach hard up for players to run '01s and '00s up with '98s? I would think the larger clubs such as Liverpool would frown on this. At what point does it become unsafe?

No,no,no,no,no, very unsafe!

Doesn't seem like that big of a deal. Probably depends on the individual player. 00s are now freshmen, and there are definitely some that make varsity and become contributors on teams with seniors 3 years older. I believe Plano west won state year before last with significant help from a freshman, and high school is generally far rougher than club.

00's and 01's playing up on a 98 team doesn't sound like a good idea. I agree with the earlier reply.. It's dangerous for the younger players.I would hate to see a player hurt just because a coach wants to have a team. It could also push a player away from the game due to a horrible experience.

It's too easy to generalize. Yeah I'll agree in most cases it's probably not a great idea. But there are 00s and even a few 01s walking around who I'd challenge you to distinguish physically from a 98. Plus the girls game slows down as they get older in all but the top levels, so the speed of the game isn't likely a big issue unless you're talking ECNL or D1.

The social aspect might be a challenge depending on the player's emotional maturity, but if they were able to cope with the aggression of older players, it could work out for the right type of kid. If we were talking about u10s playing up with u13s that's different...that's puberty vs not yet....and I could see a safety argument for all but those with internationally creative birth certificates....not that anyone I know has creative birth certificate...but at regionals last week I sure did see several grown looking dudes with stubble and mustaches playing u13 from georgia...lol..those guys probably could've played with 98s no problem.

4-3-3 wrote:Doesn't seem like that big of a deal. Probably depends on the individual player. 00s are now freshmen, and there are definitely some that make varsity and become contributors on teams with seniors 3 years older. I believe Plano west won state year before last with significant help from a freshman, and high school is generally far rougher than club.

(1)I believe Plano west won state year before last with significant help from a freshman > Can someone tell me how many of the Plano West freshman play ECNL?
(2)high school is generally far rougher than club >  It's only rougher because of the less technical players.

My concern is that in size and maturity most DD's are not ready for that. Sure there are exceptions to every rule. But a new team like this cannot expect to be competitive and to have their confidence destroyed so someone can say they are a coach seems crazy. Not to mention the physical dangers.