US SOCCER

AGE GROUPS 2026/27

2026 | 2027

US Youth Soccer Age Group Change – Starting Fall 2026

Beginning with the Fall 2026 season, US Youth Soccer will transition to a school-year based age group system. This change aligns player age groups more closely with their school grade levels, helping players compete alongside classmates and friends while strengthening the sense of team and community within clubs.

This adjustment is designed to make youth soccer participation more consistent with the school calendar and create a more natural developmental environment for players.

Updated Cutoff Date

Originally, US Soccer proposed September 1 as the cutoff date, since it is the most common school enrollment cutoff used by school districts across the United States.Following feedback from clubs, leagues, and families across the country, the cutoff date was moved earlier to August 1. While this change represents progress toward aligning soccer age groups with school grades, some organizations—including many clubs nationwide—still believe a July 1 cutoff would provide the best alignment. A July cutoff would allow even more players, particularly those with July birthdays who are older within their grade, to remain with their school-year classmates.

When This Change Takes Effect

The shift from the current January 1 birth-year cutoff to the August 1 school-year cutoff will not take effect until tryouts for the Fall 2026 season. Although the change is still ahead, we understand that many parents and players are already thinking about how it may impact team placement. SA City Soccer Club will continue to share updates and guidance as more information becomes available.

Our goal is to ensure families stay informed and that the transition is smooth for all players in our community.