Age group formation change: get ready for next season

In 2016, youth soccer in the US transitioned from a school-year/seasonal-year age group registration model to a birth-year age group registration model in order to best align with international standards and talent identification. 

In late 2024, US Soccer, the official governing body of soccer in the United States, announced that, effective from the 2026-27 season, it would allowing each federation member to determine age group registration rules for the leagues and competitions they operate or sanction.

US Soccer is allowing members to choose from three possible roster formation cycles: 

• Birth year: January 1 - December 31
• School/seasonal year 1: August 1 - July 31
• School/seasonal year 2: September 1 - August 31

After significant research and consultation with member leagues and clubs, the three largest youth soccer organisations in the country – US Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer and American Youth Soccer Organisation (AYSO) –have opted to returning to the school-year/seasonal-year model. 

Originally, these organisations announced the change would mean age groups were no longer defined by birth year, but by school/seasonal year 2. This has, however, been revised to school/seasonal year 1, so teams will comprise players born between August 1 – July 31.

The organisations believe this adjustment best reduces misalignment between age and school year, and will lessen the number of ‘force-ups’, a term referring to players in a younger soccer age group but older school year who must play up an age group in order to be with their school-year friends.

What is the change?

Rather than soccer age groups being made up of players being born in the same calendar year – all current U10 players having been born in 2016, for example – they will now comprise players from aligned school years. 

This will mean that squad structures for the 2026-2027 season will be slightly different, with some players moving to the next age group as previously planned, and others remaining in their current age group for another season.

There are no other changes, with formats aligned to specific age groups remaining as they are.

How will different age groups be affected?

The table below depicts what these changes will look like for each age group operating in a US Club Soccer, USYS or AYSO structure between the current season (2025-26) and the following two seasons (2026-27 and 2027-28).

The same principle, moving from birth-year to school year, is being applied across all of the youth age groups.

As an example, while a U14 group this season will have been made up of players born in 2012, a U14 group next season will include players born between August 1 2012 and July 31 2013.

In terms of what this might look like for individual players currently in the U14 age group, for example:

• those born between 1 January 2012 and 31 July 2012 will progress to U15 for the 2026-27 season
• those born between August 1 2012 and December 31 2012 will progress to U15.

Why is the change being made?

There are multiple reasons for US Club Soccer, USYS and AYSO adopting this change. The organisations believe:

• A school year age group formation allows players to participate in soccer programmes with their school friends, keeping them connected to their peer groups and scoail circlesand making the game more enjoyable, which positively correlates with increased numbers of youth players both joining, and staying in, the sport.
• A school year age group formation most effectively reduces the number of ‘trapped’ players in youth soccer and the negative impacts on these players at multiple stages of their career. ‘Trapped’ players are those are in an older soccer age group than their school year due to the birth year format. These players  have significantly reduced competition opportunities and disrupted training experiences. These are particularly prevalent in critical transition points, such as at 8th grade, when teams will have a split of players between junior school and high school.
• A school year age group formation will both improve alignment with schools and, as a result, simplify administration. 

The organisations do, however, recognise that, due to different school year cut-offs across states and counties, there will always be some trapped players or force-ups regardless of age group cut-off date.

Will the change impact relative age effect?

Simply put, no.

Relative age effect (RAE) is a phenomenon where individuals born closest to a cut-off date (for example, the school year or sports season) gain significant advantages in development.

In soccer, that’s to say the older players in the team get an advantage. Whatever way age groups are split, there will always be an age order of players. So the relative age effect phenomenon is always present.

Will the change impact player development?

Again, no.

There is no research to suggest that the way age groups are decided has any kind of correlation with how a player progresses. Numerous soccer age group cut-offs are used across the world in youth soccer. 

How can you prepare?

As we approach the 2026-27 season, and the changes being made, you should:

• Make sure you understand what’s happening. Hopefully this article has given you a good base level of knowledge, but reach out to your relevant organisation – US Club Soccer, USYS and AYSO – and your leagues or competitions for more specific understanding as required.
• Understand how these changes affect your team or club. What impact will this have on the make up of your squad?
• Amend your squads. Work out who will be playing for what age group come the new season.
• Communicate how these changes impact your team or club with players, parents and carers, and staff, detailing what the specifics will look like. Parents in particular may have a lot of questions and concerns about the change, so getting ahead of them is a good idea.
• Then it’s business as usual really! Plan pre-season accordingly, and get on with the new season from there!

Will there be further changes?

Most likely at some point. Federations and organisations are always looking at what they can do to better support player development and pathways, whether that’s considering age group splits or appropriate formats for different ages.

For now, though, this is the only change we need to concentrate on!