From the Director of Coaching regarding age group change for 26-27 season

Following recent meetings with our Travel Committee and coaches, we wanted to share an update regarding our approach to age groups for the upcoming tryout cycle.

For this year, we will be asking families to have players attend tryouts and play in their school grade. While this does not perfectly align with the U.S. Soccer Federation age cutoffs, we believe this approach best supports the overall development of our players.

For families whose children have birthdays in August or September (or **October for players attending school in Green Brook), we are happy to discuss whether it makes more sense for your child to remain with their school grade and “play up,” or to play in their designated USSF age group. All we ask is that families keep an open line of communication with us.

Any families directly affected by this will be contacted individually prior to tryouts. When evaluating what is best for a player’s development, we look beyond technical ability alone. Social and emotional factors play a significant role as well.

Research in youth sports consistently shows that players develop more effectively and are far more likely to stay engaged long-term when they feel comfortable, enjoy the environment, and are playing alongside friends. Creating a positive experience helps players build confidence, learn faster, and ultimately reach their potential.

Email: whsadoc@gmail.com