Addressing Further the Upcoming Age Group Changes in Youth Soccer

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As youth soccer continues to evolve, it’s important for parents, coaches, and clubs to stay informed about upcoming changes. Our friends at Cincy SC recently shared an insightful breakdown of the new age groupings set to take effect Fall of 2026. Instead of recreating their fantastic resource, we’re sharing their original article so you can get the full details directly from the source.

Read our recent article on Relative Age Effect here.

New age groups for Fall 2026 will be based on a Sept 1 cutoff date, better aligning soccer age groups with a player’s grade in school.

This decision marks a reversal of the 2016 policy that changed US Youth Soccer to a Jan 1 cutoff, grouping players by birth year. While the birth year system has offered administrative convenience, leaders have long advocated for a change back to school year to reflect the social fabric of American youth. Children naturally identify with their grade level, and their social circles often revolve around their classmates.

“We understand that changes like this can be confusing and adapting will have some challenges,” says Russell Lewis, Director of Soccer Operations at Cincy SC. “However, we believe this transition will ultimately create a more positive and inclusive environment for players by aligning club with the way kids experience their social lives.”

It’s not just you, wrapping your head around it is hard

The impact of this change varies depending on a player’s birthdate, school district cutoff, and parent decisions on when to start a child in school. While 68% of school districts align with the new Sept 1 soccer cutoff (according to US Soccer), variations exist, adding complexity. While players can “play up” in youth soccer, it’s the opposite for schools where parents may choose to delay a year, but even the most precocious child can’t start early.

General Impact

We can group players into two broad categories: those born on or before the Sept 1 cutoff, and those born after.

How will it impact specific players?

To clarify the impact, let’s examine four hypothetical 3rd-grade students in the 2024-25 school year, born between September 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016:

William – born Nov 29, 2015 (represents players born Sept-Dec)
Aiden – born Feb 17, 2016 (represents players born Jan-May)
Jackson – born Aug 31, 2016 (represents summer birthdays, Sept 1 school district cutoff day)
Ellie – born Sept 30, 2016 (Oct 1 school district cutoff day)

Biggest Impact: William, Nov birthday

William (11/29/15) has always been fairly old for his grade. He turned 9 at the beginning of 3rd grade while most of his classmates are still 8. Conversely, he’s young for the 2015 birth year. Most 2015s turned 9 before him and are in 4th grade already. William, along with other players born between Sept-Dec, has had this experience with youth soccer’s birth year groupings:

At tryouts in May, most of his classmates were trying out with the 2016s while he was grouped with the 2015s who were mostly a grade ahead of him.
If he was able to make a team as one of the youngest players, most of his teammates are likely a grade ahead.
In the fall of his 8th grade year, if club soccer was still grouped by birth year, most of his soccer teammates would have been starting high school, possibly leaving him without a team to play on until spring.

After the change:

He will be grouped with his classmates.
His 8th grade year will be like every other club soccer year: team in the fall and the spring.

Least Impact: Aiden, Feb birthday

Aiden (2/17/16) turned 9 in the middle of his 3rd grade year. He has had this experience with youth soccer’s birth year groupings:

A few of his classmates aren’t able to play with him, like his best buddy William who wasn’t allowed to play with the 2016s.
He’s been one of the older players on his team, and a few of his club teammates are a grade below him in school.

After the change:

He will be grouped with his classmates, including William – yay!
He’ll be “in the middle” age-wise, just like he is in school, so he loses a bit of the age advantage he’s had in soccer.

It’s Complicated: Jackson, Aug birthday, Sept school cutoff

Jackson (8/31/16) was barely eligible for 3rd grade this year. His parents decided to start him in kindergarten when he was still 4 since his birthday was before the Sept 1 school district cutoff. Many parents choose to wait a year to start school in this situation, including kids with summer birthdays. Club soccer does not offer the same “delayed start” option.

After the change:

He’ll be grouped with his classmates.
He’ll be one of the youngest on his club team, just like he is in school.

If his parents had started him “late” according to the school cutoff (he’d be an old 2nd grader)

After the change:

He won’t be grouped with his classmates as he’s too old to play with the 2nd graders born on or after Sept 1. Players are not permitted to “play down” in club soccer so he can’t make the choice to play with his grade.
He’ll be the youngest on his club team and be playing with players a grade above.

It’s Complicated: Ellie, Sept birthday, Oct 1 school cutoff

Ellie (9/30/16) was barely eligible for 3rd grade this year. Her parents decided to start her in kindergarten when she was still 4 since her birthday was before the Oct 1 school district cutoff.

After the change:

She has options. Because she’s younger than the Sept 1 soccer cutoff, she will be grouped with players in the class year below her.
She could play with mostly 2nd graders and be a grade above and one of the oldest on the team.
She could “play up” with her fellow 3rd graders and be one of the youngest.

If her parents had started her “late” according to the school cutoff (she’d be an old 2nd grader)