AGE GROUP CUTOFF REVISION

FOR 2026-2027 REGISTRATION SEASON

TORRANCE, CA (June 10, 2025) – American Youth Soccer Organization, US Club Soccer, and US Youth Soccer have announced an adjustment to the previously announced age group cut-off decision. While the age group formation is currently based on a Jan. 1-Dec. 31 timeframe (“birth year”), these organizations announced in March an anticipated change to Sept. 1-Aug. 31 to be effective as of the 2026-27 season. Now, after additional information and feedback, we are revising that to an Aug. 1-July 31 (school year) timeframe. The implementation timeframe of each Organization Member’s 2026-27 season/registration year remains the same.

The August 1 age group cut-off best aligns soccer age groups with school year ages, maximizing the number of players who participate in soccer programs with their school-year friends. This alignment should have a positive correlation with increased numbers of youth players entering and staying in the sport.

This decision to move to the Aug. 1 cut-off reverts to the same age group cut-off used prior to 2017, when U.S. Soccer mandated a Jan. 1-Dec. 31 timeframe. U.S. Soccer removed this mandate in late 2024, empowering its Organization Members to make the most appropriate age group formation decision for their members. AYSO, US Club Soccer, and US Youth Soccer – the three largest youth soccer organizations in the country – have worked in collaboration in making these decisions, recognizing the importance of consistency across the youth soccer landscape.

U.S. Soccer and the youth affiliates are creating an online tool to help determine a player’s age group based on their date of birth.

Again, please note that this decision is effective beginning with each Organization Member’s 2026-27 season/registration year