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As long as there have been youth sports, there have been varying opinions on the best age to get players started and at what point in the year – and the best way to pinpoint age groups. (It’s a big question among parents of children going into kindergarten as well.)
Don’t expect the kindergarten debate to be solved any time soon but at least some headway has been made on the issue of youth sports – well, youth soccer, anyway.
A new rule by three major youth soccer organizations has resulted in the adoption of a seasonal year age group formation cycle for its players starting with each’s 2026-27 season.
In a joint statement, US Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer, and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) announced that they have agreed to adopt the seasonal year age group formation cycle for its players starting with each’s 2026-27 season.
USYS Board Chair Tina Rincon, US Club Soccer CEO Mike Cullina, and AYSO National President Doug Ryan made the announcement.
According to the announcement, the cycle, which will run from September 1 to August 31, represents the opportunity for more players in the each’s system to play club-based soccer with their classmates.
Rincon, Cullina, and Ryan offer the following statement:
“The three organizations coming together to put our nation’s youth soccer players first is a positive move. Soccer, regardless of the level of competition, is meant to be fun – and it is more fun when players can play with their friends and classmates. This decision is the right move for the millions playing in each of our respective systems and we are thrilled to establish this standard and find common ground.”
The decision stems from a U.S. Soccer Federation policy put in place late in 2024 empowering member organizations to be the decision-maker on the registration choices for leagues and competitions that they sanction and/or run. The change also was made in effort to align with international soccer standards.
Rincon, who also serves as the U.S. Soccer Youth Council Chair, detailed the following on behalf of the council:
“We are excited that the three largest member organizations have aligned to make a decision that will bring the youth soccer landscape together, rather than further fracturing it. We received input from a variety of sources that helped us reach this decision and meet our goal of increasing participation in our sport. We look forward to continuing to work with other member organizations to make the best choices for youth soccer players and continue collaborating with clubs and leagues to ensure a smooth transition next year.”
The three organizations’ registration parameters will not change for next season (2025-26) and will affect rostering beginning in August 2026.
Aligning with the school-year calendar is a return to a policy that had long been in place prior to a 2016 U.S. Soccer decision to move to birth-year registration (January 1 – December 31).
That 2016 change was not entirely well received, according to Ohio Soccer Moms and Dads, which noted that it “caused disruption, splitting teams and leading to challenges for clubs, coaches, and families.”
The newest rule, the blog ads, will still require a reset in the thought process:
“This change will require clubs to restructure their teams again. Some key considerations include:
- Team Adjustments: Some players will shift age groups, which may require clubs to reorganize teams, particularly at younger ages.
- Tryout Adjustments: Clubs will need to determine how they handle tryouts and roster formation for the 2026 season and potentially the 2025 season in preparation for next year.
- Communication to Parents: Clear messaging will be crucial to help families understand how their child's team placement may change.”
Impact on Tournaments
According to the Ohio blog, event owners “may need to develop new protocols for situations where teams organized under different registration systems compete against each other. In most cases it will provide opportunities for players to be challenged, but the potential for mismatched games is also very real.”
Another concern is a possible hardship for smaller teams, who might lose players and need to scramble to replace them.
The only organizations affected by the change are those under the auspices of USYS, AYSO and US Club Soccer. Other organizations, such as MLS Next, Girls Academy (GA), or Soccer Association for Youth, USA (SAY Soccer), as well as independent or recreational groups, are not required to change; however, they may be studying the new format as well.
“These organizations may choose to continue with birth-year registration, leading to potential differences in age group structures across different leagues,” notes Ohio Soccer Moms and Dads.
SoccerWire notes that USYS, US Club Soccer and AYSO research showed the following:
- More than 60 percent of those surveyed said they have some players adversely impacted by being in different school grades
- 82 percent indicated they were not immediately ready for a change in the upcoming season, with many saying that they would need to work with their registration platform to prepare
What About Playing Up?
Predictably, one of the first questions to be asked was about whether “playing up,” or placing a young athlete in an age group above his or her actual age, would be allowed under the new ruling.
According to the new soccer rules put in place by the three organizations, youth players born before September 1 will have the opportunity to play up with older age groups in accordance with their club’s governance.
A great analysis of the pros and cons of the old system, and this one, can be found here.
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