It takes work in a non-hotbed, smaller city, but you can do single-year teams. You can't have a bunch of competing clubs in the area and you have to be committed to trying to develop B players into A players.
I won't complain about holdbacks, because it's pointless. My 2021 team is all born after 9/1/02 and I don't mind playing the best 2021 teams, but no matter how hard the kids work to improve and catch up to the hotbeds, it's hard make up for the age difference. I know it is only going to get worse. It's not a big deal really, but I wish that in a few years they could be able to play and compete with the best rising 9th graders, without re-classing - which none plan to do. Anyway, definitely a first world problem and 2021's are still at an age where they should just be improving fundamentals and having fun.
