U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, ECNL, and the Girls Academy collectively announced a major update to age group formation that will take effect beginning with the 2026–27 seasonal year. This change moves away from the current calendar-year (January–December) model and returns to a seasonal-year (August–July) model for age grouping. Please see the full article from US Club Soccer here.
| 2016-2017 Age Groups | Player Birth Date Range |
| U19 | Aug 1, 2007 – Jul 31, 2009 |
| U17 | Aug 1, 2009 – Jul 31, 2010 |
| U16 | Aug 1, 2010 – Jul 31, 2011 |
| U15 | Aug 1, 2011 – Jul 31, 2012 |
| U14 | Aug 1, 2012 – Jul 31, 2013 |
| U13 | Aug 1, 2014 – Jul 31, 2015 |
| U12 | Aug 1, 2015 – Jul 31, 2016 |
| U11 | Aug 1, 2016 – Jul 31, 2017 |
What is Changing & Why?
- As of the 2026–27 season, the new standard will shift to a seasonal model, with age groups defined from August 1 to July 31.
- We currently use the birth-year model (January 1 – December 31) to define age groups, which was mandated by U.S. Soccer in 2017 to align with FIFA international standards.
- To create a unified path forward in player development and age groupings, the largest youth soccer governing bodies (i.e., US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO) agreed to move to the “school year” model.
- In order to be eligible to participate in US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, Girls Academy, and ECNL league play & competitions, Skyline Elite must be compliant with this change.
- This change will be enacted by US Youth Soccer, AYSO, and US Club Soccer following extensive review and discussion and made, “…based on additional critical feedback, data, and expert input to better align players with their school-grade peers. Our associations feel that this age group player formation will be the most inclusive and help increase participation.” (US Youth Soccer)
- The change will apply to all USYS-sanctioned league and cup competitions (National Championships, Presidents Cup, National League, etc.) and US Club-sanctioned league and competitions (ECNL, ECNL-RL, NPL, USYS, etc.).
Who Will be Impacted?
- Some players will experience a shift into a different “age group” than they would under the old model. This new parameter will influence how we form our teams. We are working diligently to ensure a smooth transition for the 2026-27 season and will take all player development needs into consideration.
We understand that transitions like this can bring questions and concerns, and we want to assure you that our staff is already working through the details to develop the best processes to support players and families.
Our club leadership and coaching staff are:
- Reviewing all current rosters and birthdates to project how the shift will affect teams at each level
- Designing a process for new school year group trainings, tryouts & evaluations for the 2026-27 season
- Monitoring updates from US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and state associations to ensure we remain compliant with new rules and provide the best experience
- Hosting a Virtual Town Hall to address the change and answer any questions. The Town Hall date is TBD, but will be announced in the coming weeks.
We will share more information, timelines, and next steps as soon as they are finalized. In the meantime, please know that we are committed to helping every player continue to grow, develop, and thrive within Skyline Elite.
FAQ
What is changing with age groups?
Starting with the 2026-27 season, youth soccer will move from the current calendar-year (January-December) model to a seasonal-year (August-July) model for age grouping.
Current System: Birth year (January 1 – December 31)
New System: Seasonal year (August 1 – July 31)
This aligns age groups with the school year, placing players with their school-grade peers.
Why is the change happening?
U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO agreed to this change based on extensive research and feedback. The key reasons include:
- Better alignment with school-grade peers for social and developmental benefits
- Increased inclusivity and participation opportunities
- Unified approach across major youth soccer organizations
- Expert recommendations supporting the school-year model
When does the change take effect?
The change will take effect for the 2026-27 seasonal year.
This means:
- The 2025-26 season will continue to use the current calendar-year model
- Starting August 2026, all competitive programs will use the new seasonal-year model. We will be working towards this transition throughout the 2025-26 year by reviewing rosters & birthdates, designing processes for school-year group trainings, tryouts, & evaluations, and providing resources for our families.
