• Beginning with the 2026–27 season, age groups will follow a seasonal cycle that runs from August 1 through July 31.
• At the moment, youth soccer uses a birth-year system (January 1–December 31), which U.S. Soccer adopted in 2017 to match FIFA’s international approach.
• To create consistency across the country and better align players with school-grade peers, the major youth soccer governing bodies—U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO—have agreed to adopt the school-year model.
• Their decision follows months of evaluation, data review, and feedback from coaches, administrators, and youth development experts. The organizations have said the new model is intended to be more inclusive and to encourage broader participation.
• These changes will apply across all leagues and events governed by U.S. Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer.

• All recreation programs will adjust their placement process to match the school year, using both grade level and birthdate to determine where players belong.
• All competitive programs will also see changes to how age groups are organized.
• Because the framework is shifting, some players may find themselves placed in a different age group than they would under the previous system. Our team-building process for the 2026–27 season will reflect these updated guidelines, with player development needs remaining our priority.

Our staff and leadership team are already working to make the transition as smooth as possible:

• Roster evaluation: Reviewing current rosters and birthdate data to understand how teams may be reshaped.
• Tryout planning: Creating updated training and assessment structures based on the school-year format.
• Clear communication: Making sure families receive early, straightforward explanations of timelines and reasons for the change.
• Compliance: Staying in close contact with all governing bodies to ensure we meet every new requirement.

We want every family to feel informed and supported throughout this process.

We recognize that a shift of this size brings questions, and we’re committed to guiding every player and family as details become finalized.

Our club will continue to:

• Reassess rosters as new information comes in.
• Finalize and share the updated tryout and evaluation process for the 2026–27 season.
• Keep families informed with early, consistent communication.
• Monitor guidance from U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and state associations to ensure full compliance and a positive player experience.

Updates, timelines, and next steps will be provided as they become available. Our commitment remains to support each player’s growth and development as we move into this new age-group structure.