Sporting City Soccer

Starting in the Fall 2026 – Spring 2027 competitive season, youth player age groups will be organized by school-year (Aug 1- July 31) rather than by birth-year (Jan 1-Dec 31). 

The governing bodies of youth soccer in the United States (USYS, US Club, AYSO, US Soccer, MLS NEXT and Girls Academy) made the decision to shift to August 1 – July 31 age group classification.

The change is based on extensive research and feedback conducted by the governing bodies.  The key reasons include: 

• Better alignment with school-grade peers for social and developmental benefits. 
• An increased inclusivity and participation opportunities. 
• A unified approach across major youth soccer organizations. 
• Expert recommendations supporting the school-year model. 

School year alignment helps eliminate two major developmental challenges: 

• The “trap year” is when players lose teammates during the move from middle school to high school 
• The “gap year”, when younger players are left behind after teammates graduate 

By keeping groups together longer, players benefit from improved continuity, chemistry, and clearer pathways through U13–U19 and beyond. 

The transition will take effect beginning in the Fall 2026–Spring 2027 season, in alignment with U.S. Soccer’s national mandate. Sporting City will communicate details and club plans throughout the spring season, leading up to tryouts. 

Yes. All boys and girls competitive programs will transition to school year for the 2026-2027 season due to league and identification structures.  This includes all teams that compete in the MLS NEXT Academy Division, Girls Academy (GA), National Academy League (NAL), and Heartland Soccer League. 

No, teams will remain under the calendar year classification through the end of the Spring 2026 season. 

Not exactly. While age groups will continue to be determined by birth date, the birth date window will shift from January 1 – December 31 to August 1 – July 31. 

Players attending a grade outside of their age cohort will play in the group that corresponds to their date of birth. 

Players with birthdays in August through December are most likely to be affected by the change, as they will probably remain in their current age group for the 2026-2027 season. For example, a player with an October 2015 birth date (current U11) will remain a U11 player for the 2026-2027 season.

Approval for playing up will be a decision made by the program or regional director based on the player’s best development interest.

Grade alone will not guarantee a play up approval.  

High school–aged teams will have the flexibility to form teams with players from multiple grades, as this is currently a common practice at the club. 

You can calculate your player’s age group for the 2026-2027 season by using the Age Group Calculator or the updated age group chart on this page. 

We understand that jersey number conflicts may arise as players transition to new age groups and teams. Our club is currently developing policies to address the situation and minimize the financial impact on families. We will communicate specific guidelines regarding jersey numbers and any necessary replacements as we finalize our transition plan for the 2026-2027 season.  Our goal is to find solutions that are fair and reasonable for all families affected by the change. 

In early Spring, Sporting City Directors will host educational webinars to explain the upcoming age group change. The webinars will be open to anyone in the club interested in understanding the change and its impact. 

Throughout the spring, Sporting City regions and national platforms will host multiple new age group training nights. During these sessions, your child will train with other players in their new age group and competitive level. These sessions will allow the Directors and coaches to gain insight and evaluate players to help inform team formation decisions leading into tryouts. 

We will share more information, timelines, and next steps as soon as they are finalized. We are committed to helping every player continue to grow, develop, and thrive within Sporting City. 

Information on tryouts including dates, locations, and registration will be announced in early Spring 2026. 

• Reach out to your program or regional director with specific questions. 
• Read the full US Youth Soccer official announcement. 
• We will provide more detailed information as we finalize our transition plan.