What Age Group Is My Child In? (2026-27 Rule Change)
US youth soccer is switching from a January 1 birth-year cutoff to an August 1 school-year cutoff, effective the 2026-27 season. Enter your child's birthday to see their new age group.
Age Group Calculator
What changed and why
US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO jointly moved from a calendar birth-year cutoff (Jan 1 – Dec 31) to a school-year cutoff (Aug 1 – Jul 31) to align youth soccer teams with school grades and reduce so-called "trapped" players — kids born late in the year who ended up a full grade behind their teammates. The change takes effect for the 2026-27 season. The 2025-26 season stays on the old birth-year system.
Who it affects
Players born August through December generally shift down one age-group label and end up on teams with their school-grade peers. Players born January through July keep the same age-group label they would have had under the old rule. Every team now spans two calendar birth years instead of one.
- U18 and U19 are combined as U19 in USYS national competitions.
- The Olympic Development Program (ODP) continues to use calendar-year grouping.
- A handful of leagues and competitions may retain birth-year grouping or use different windows — always confirm with your club and league.
- Teams now span two calendar birth years, so rosters and coaching groups will look different than in prior seasons.
Frequently asked questions
When does the new age-group rule take effect?
The 2026-27 season is the first year on the new August 1 – July 31 school-year cutoff. The 2025-26 season still uses the old January 1 – December 31 birth-year system.
Which players get moved down an age group?
Players born between August and December generally shift one age group younger and join their school-grade peers. A child born in October 2015 who would have been U12 in 2026-27 under the old rule is U11 under the new rule.
Do January through July birthdays stay the same?
Yes. Players born January through July keep the same age-group label they would have had under the old birth-year system. Only their teammates change — a team now spans two calendar birth years.
Does this apply to ODP and every league?
No. The Olympic Development Program (ODP) continues to use calendar-year grouping. A handful of leagues and competitions may retain birth-year grouping or use their own windows. Always confirm with your club and league.
Who made this change?
US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO jointly announced the move to an August 1 – July 31 school-year cutoff to align teams with school grades and reduce so-called 'trapped' players.
Get the full 2026-27 SoCal transition guide
A single email with which clubs are handling the shift best, which age groups are stacked, and what to ask at tryouts.