Last year, after extensive review, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, and US Club Soccer collectively decided to move to an age group player formation cycle that runs from August 1 to July 31, starting with the 2026-27 season. This is a change from the current calendar year format that runs from January 1 to December 31.
At CCSC, our top priority in navigating this change is our players and their families. We hope to be transparent and thoughtful through this transition with the aim of serving in the best interest of each individual player. While this change will impact our teams and players in varying degrees, it is incredibly important to us that we continue to nurture our players’ love of soccer and continue to provide a club soccer environment that they can thrive in.
Below, we will try to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this change. If you still have questions or would like some additional information or clarity, please reach out to Coach Carlos.
What exactly is changing?
Beginning in the fall of the 2026-27 season, age groups will be determined by a seasonal-year format that stretches from August 1 – July 31. This approach more closely aligns with school-year groups.
– U10 will consist of birth dates from August 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017
– U11 will consist of birth dates from August 1, 2015 through July 31, 2016
– U12 will consist of birth dates from August 1, 2014, through July 31 2015
Teams are assigned to an age group based on the age of the team’s OLDEST player.
Please see the MYSA age division chart at the bottom of this post for a full listing of all divisions and birth dates.
When does this change take effect?
August 1, 2026. After this date, all teams in an age division must comply with the new birth dates.
Why the change?
In short, the change was made to better align players with their classmates and peers which will enhance the youth soccer experience for players and families. You can read a more in depth post from US Club Soccer here.
What’s next?
For the remainder of the 25/26 season, nothing changes. After this season, CCSC will begin restructuring teams to align with the new age guidelines. Our goal is provide an opportunity for players of all ages to continue to play and thrive at our club. We will continue to keep families updated on the upcoming changes as they happen.
