Major Change in Youth Soccer: USYS, AYSO, and US Club Soccer Move to School-Year Age Groups

Big news from the U.S. Soccer AGM today! It was announced that starting in the 2026 registration period, US Youth Soccer (USYS), AYSO, and US Club Soccer will move to a September 1st age cutoff for registration. This marks a shift to a “school-year” age grouping, aligning player birthdates more closely with the academic calendar rather than the current birth-year registration model.

What This Means for Youth Soccer

For decades, youth soccer in the U.S. used a school-year calendar for age groups, allowing players to be grouped with their classmates. In 2016, U.S. Soccer mandated a move to birth-year registration (January 1 - December 31) to align with international standards. However, this change caused disruption, splitting teams and leading to challenges for clubs, coaches, and families.

Now, with this shift back to a September 1 - August 31 registration model, players will once again be grouped in a way that aligns with their school classmates.

Read our previous post about why the change is a good thing.

Timeline for the Change

• 2025 Registration Period: Birth-year registration will remain in place.

• 2026 Registration Period: The new school-year age groups take effect.

  
  

This means clubs, teams, and leagues have one more year under the current system before making the transition.

How Will Clubs Adapt?

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.

  
  

Who Is (and Isn’t) Affected?

The shift applies to USYS, AYSO, and US Club Soccer. However, it does not include MLS Next, Girls Academy (GA), or SAY Soccer at this time. These organizations may choose to continue with birth-year registration, leading to potential differences in age group structures across different leagues.

What’s Next?

It will be interesting to see how clubs handle this final year of birth-year registration before making the switch. More details on implementation will likely come from USYS, AYSO, and US Club Soccer in the coming months.

For now, clubs, parents, and players should start preparing for the transition and stay informed as more information becomes available.

What are your thoughts on the move back to school-year age groups? Drop a comment and let’s discuss!