Age Group changes
U.S. Soccer Age Group Changes
As part of ongoing efforts to align player development pathways nationally, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, US Club Soccer, and NJ Youth Soccer announced age group changes for the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 soccer season. At Millburn Soccer Club, we are committed to ensuring that players and families are well-informed and prepared for this transition.
What's Changing?
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, U.S. Soccer will implement an updated age-group cutoff, moving away from the January 1st–December 31st calendar year model to an August 1st–July 31st grade-based model. Under the new model, a player’s soccer age will be determined by their birthdate between August 1st of one year and July 31st of the next.
The change is mandatory and is designed to:
- Better align with the traditional school year.
- Reduce the “split-year” effect where players born later in the calendar year are often separated from classmates.
- Create more balanced and developmentally appropriate environments across the country.
Age Group Determination For 2026-2027 Season
Below is the updated annual U.S. Soccer birth-year chart showing the new ranges for each “U” age group. Per U.S. Soccer and league rules, a player cannot play on a team for an age group younger than their own official U.S. Soccer age, regardless of their current school grade.
For example, a player with a June 2016 birthdate is mandated to be in the U11 age group even if their current school enrollment places them in a grade that typically aligns with a younger age group (e.g., U10).
For a more detailed, month by month chart please click here.
Transition Considerations for Aug-Dec Birthdays within MSC (Play Up Policy for 2026/27 Onward)
Millburn Soccer Club recognizes that the August-to-July cutoff may impact some players born between August and December who are in the grade ahead of players in their U.S. Soccer age group. To ensure grade alignment, players whose birth dates fall on or after August 1st and are in the grade ahead of their age group may elect to try out and play up with the age group that aligns with their school grade, if that age group is older than their official U.S. Soccer age group.
To help illustrate how this might impact your child for the 2026/27 season if they have an August - December birthday, here are a few fun examples:
- The Grade Aligner: Lionel Score (Aug-Dec 2015 birthday, U11 soccer age, entering 6th grade in Fall 2026) may elect to play up with their classmates in the U12 age group that aligns with 6th grade. Lionel will be 13-17 months younger than the oldest player in the U12 age group.
- The Age Group Enthusiast: Alex Kick (Aug-Dec 2015 birthday, U11 soccer age, entering 6th grade in Fall 2026) may elect to play with their official U.S. Soccer age group at U11. Alex will be one of the oldest players in the U11 group.
- The Aligned Player: Mia Goal (Aug-Dec 2015 birthday, U11 soccer age, entering 5th grade in Fall 2026). Mia must play with their official U.S. Soccer age group at U11, which is the age-appropriate level of their classmates. Mia will be one of the oldest players in the U11 group.
- The U.S. Soccer Mandate: Sam Save (May 2015 birthday, U12 soccer age, entering 5th grade in Fall 2026). Sam must play with their official U.S. Soccer age group at U12 (which aligns with 6th grade).
Tryout Process
Players will be placed primarily according to their official U.S. Soccer age group. However, if a player is eligible and interested in playing up with an older team (as outlined above), they must:
- Declare at registration the age group for which they will try out. Players may only try out for one age group, and this decision is final.
- Try out in the age group they selected.
We encourage all families to carefully consider their child’s technical abilities, physical readiness, emotional maturity, team fit, and other developmental pathway considerations before making any final decisions regarding playing up with an older age group.
Our Commitment at Millburn Soccer Club
At Millburn Soccer Club, our priority is the growth and well-being of every player. We understand these changes may bring questions or uncertainty. We are taking a proactive approach to help our soccer community navigate this shift with confidence and clarity and will provide additional information on team formations and the registration process as we get closer to the 2026 - 2027 tryouts.
MSC will review this mandate annually to ensure continued alignment with U.S. Soccer policies and league registration requirements. Our focus is on the developmental and social needs of our players and families, while maintaining consistent competitive balance with the clubs in our area. Any updates or clarifications will be communicated before each new season.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly at info@millburnsoccer.com.
CONTACT INFO
Millburn Soccer Club
300 Millburn Avenue, P.O. Box 894 Millburn, NJ 07041