Age Group Changes
for the 2026/27 Season

What is the 2026 Age-Group Change?

Starting with the 2026–27 soccer season, youth soccer in the United States will move from birth-year–based age groups to school-year–based age groups.

Age groups will now be determined by birthdates that fall between August 1 and July 31, rather than the calendar year (January–December).

Current Players
We recognize this is a very personal change for many families. CASC staff is committed to handling this transition thoughtfully and as smoothly as possible, while continuing our standard tryout and evaluation process. Please review the Frequently Asked Questions below for additional detail.

Prospective Players

Register for Tryouts

Why Is This Change Happening?

This is not a CASC-specific decision. It is a national change across youth soccer.  The goal is to:

  • Better align soccer age groups with school grades
  • Keep more players participating with classmates and peers
  • Place players in age groups that are more developmentally appropriate
  • Reduce the number of players who feel “trapped” between age groups

(See FAQ Question #1 below for more detail)

How Do I Know My Child’s Age Group?

General rule for 2026-2027 season
In most cases, your child’s soccer age group will be determined by where their birthday falls between August 1 and July 31. 

While this typically aligns with school grade, there may be limited exceptions based on birthdate timing, school entry decisions, and developmental considerations.

Examples:

  • A player born in September 2014 will play in the Under-12 age group for 2026–27
  • A player born in June 2015 will play in the Under-12 age group for 2026–27
  • A player born in August 2015 will play in the Under-11 age group for 2026–27

Choose your birthdate below to see your age group.

Youth Soccer Age Group Calculator

OR view as a table…

Youth Soccer 2026-age-matrix

What Does This Mean for my Child?

In most cases, this means your child will play in the age group that aligns with their school grade. There may be exceptions based on birthdate timing, school entry decisions, and developmental considerations.

This change is not a reflection of your child’s abilities alone. Coaches carefully evaluate players through the tryout process to determine the placement that best supports each player’s long-term development, taking into account technical ability, game understanding, physical development, and emotional readiness.

(See Benefits and Concerns in FAQ Question #3 below.)

Play-up requests are initiated internally by the coaching staff and reviewed by club directors on a limited, case-by-case basis for advanced players, based on both skill level and maturity. These decisions are not guaranteed and are made with long-term development as the priority rather than short-term performance.

Bottom line: National rule change equals a manageable roster adjustment within our normal tryout and evaluation process.

What Does This Mean for Teams?

As with every season, team formation will occur through the tryout and evaluation process.

  • Teams may be adjusted or re-formed to build competitive teams to match the new age group stucture
  • Some players may have new teammates
  • Some teams may have a different coach

While continuity is valued where possible, CASC’s priority is to ensure teams are developmentally appropriate, competitive, and aligned with the club’s overall philosophy.

Top Questions

For answers, click on the drop-down menu questions (+) below.

This is from the US Club soccer website which is our governing body under US Soccer
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There are multiple reasons for this change.

First, the Aug. 1 age group cut-off most effectively reduces the number of “trapped players” in youth soccer and reduces negative impacts on these players at multiple stages of their career. “Trapped” players are those who, due to soccer age group cut-offs, are in an older soccer age group than their school year. Trapped players have significantly reduced competition opportunities and disrupted training experiences in 8th grade (when most of their team is in high school) and are similarly negatively impacted four years later when players from the older soccer age group, but who are still in high school, are moved down into the same soccer age group.

Second, an Aug. 1 age group cut-off best aligns soccer age groups with school year ages, maximizing the number of players who participate in soccer programs with their school-year friends. This alignment has a positive correlation with increased numbers of youth players entering and staying in the sport.

This decision to move to the Aug. 1 cut-off reverts to the same age group cut-off used prior to 2017, when U.S. Soccer mandated a Jan. 1-Dec. 31 timeframe. U.S. Soccer removed this mandate in late 2024, empowering its Organization Members to make the most appropriate age group formation decision for their members. US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer and AYSO – the three largest youth soccer organizations in the country – have remained in lockstep in making these decisions, recognizing the importance of consistency across the landscape.

Why is Aug. 1 a better age group cut-off than Sept. 1?

Initially, US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer and AYSO had determined to use a Sept. 1 age group cut-off instead of Aug. 1. After receiving significant feedback and identifying missing information in Department of Education school year cut-off lists, it has been determined that the Aug. 1 cut-off best reduces misalignment between age and school year. The Aug. 1 cut-off reduces not only the trapped player effect, but it also reduces the number of “force-ups,” a term referring to players in a younger soccer age group but older school year who must play up an age group in order to be with their school-year friends.

US Club Soccer believes:

  • An Aug. 1 age group cut-off best balances the desire to reduce both the number of “trapped” players and the number of “force-ups” in youth soccer.
  • A Jan. 1 age group cut-off creates the highest number of trapped players and negatively impacted youth players.
  • No age group cut-off will eliminate all trapped players or force-ups. States and counties throughout the country have widely different school year cut-offs, and this variance will always result in some number of trapped players or force-ups regardless of age group cut-off date.here is no soccer developmental benefit to any specific age group cut-off, and no age group cut-off reduces concerns of relative age effect or changes the number of players impacted by relative age effect. Relative age effect is the phenomenon of players born in the first three months after an age group cut-off to be over-represented in identification programs due to early maturation compared to their age-group peers.
  • Age group cut-offs have no correlation or relationship with level of play or level of soccer aspiration. Various soccer age group cut-offs are used across the world in youth soccer, in both amateur and professional programs.
  • See more at: https://usclubsoccer.org/age-group-cut-off-update-for-2026-27-season/

The transition will begin in Spring 2026, with roster decisions made following State Cup and the official tryout period.

For clarity by age group:

  • U7 – U14: Begins Mid-February 2026
  • U15 – U19: Begins Mid-April 2026

This timing aligns with State Cup completion and SoCal Soccer League tryouts to ensure a smooth and consistent transition for all players.

CASC uses age group flexibility as a tool to support individual growth, confidence, and appropriate challenge. Player movement, including opportunities to play up, can be a valuable part of development when done intentionally. 

The examples below outline common benefits and considerations we evaluate when determining the best environment for each player.

1) Younger Players Moving to Play with their Grade Level

Pros:

  • Compete with closer physical and developmental peers
  • Opportunity to take on increased responsibility within the group
  • Leadership growth in age-appropriate environments
  • More frequent and meaningful touches on the ball
  • Confidence built through appropriate competition
  • Technical development without consistent physical mismatch
  • Greater roster continuity during high school seasons

Cons:

  • Adjusting to new teammates and social groups
  • Initial reduction in exposure to faster, older competition

2) Younger Players Playing Up a Grade Level

Pros:

  • Maintain continuity with current teammates
  • Increased challenge against older competition
  • Early exposure to higher game demands

Cons:

  • Competing against players up to 12–17 months older
  • Physical size and speed mismatches
  • Fewer touches and reduced involvement
  • Risk of confidence loss if challenge exceeds readiness
  • Social and maturity differences within the group
  • Potential roster gaps in later high school years

3) Older Players Staying at their Grade Level

Pros:

  • Ability to lead by example within the group
  • Increased confidence in possession and decision-making
  • Clear performance benchmarks within age group

Cons:

  • Reduced challenge for highly advanced players
  • Risk of settling into comfort without added competition
  • Need for intentional coaching to maintain growth

Yes. Roster decisions will be made after State Cup and the official tryout process.

Tryout Process

Tryout sessions will be held by age group

Tryout timing by age group:

  • U7–U14: Begins mid-February 2026
  • U15–U19: Begins mid-April 2026

Evaluations focus on technical ability, teamwork in small-sided games, behavior, and effort

Coaches will have ongoing conversations with current players about placement options

Interested players may attend training sessions prior to tryouts for additional evaluation; however, attendance at official tryouts is required. 

Roster Philosophy

  • No automatic carryovers; all players are evaluated annually
  • Roster decisions prioritize long-term player development within a team environment
  • Play-up considerations are reviewed case by case, based on skill level and maturity

Target Roster Sizes:

  • U9–U10: 12 players
  • U11–U12: 14 players
  • U13+: 18 players

In some cases, players may be evaluated for placement in an older age group, but this is not automatic and is determined on an individual basis. Decisions are based on a combination of technical ability, game understanding, physical readiness, emotional maturity, and long-term development, not short-term results. Our goal is always to place players in the environment that best supports their developmental growth, confidence, and enjoyment of the game, while maintaining balanced teams and appropriate roster sizes.

We also have the ability to utilize the Club Pass rule to provide additional challenges for players who are ready, allowing them to guest play with older teams when appropriate and when schedules permit.

Players cannot play down an age group, consistent with current standards (for example, a 2012 birth year cannot play with a younger 2013 group).

Examples:

  • A July 29, 2012 player will fall into the U15 (9th-grade aligned) age group and cannot play down with U14.
  • An August 2, 2012 player will fall into the U14 (8th-grade aligned) age group and may remain there, with the opportunity to play up to U15 if invited.

Player placement decisions are made by the coaching staff and directors after observing players across training, competition, and the official tryout period. Evaluations consider technical ability, game understanding, physical readiness, emotional maturity, coachability, and long-term development.

Placement decisions are made with the goal of creating environments where players can grow, contribute, and be appropriately challenged, while maintaining balanced rosters and healthy team dynamics. There are no automatic placements, and all decisions are made with the individual player’s development and the overall team structure in mind.

CASC welcomes all players to try out and every year, we attract many players from other clubs. We’re excited to give every player a fair shot during this transition. Here’s our inclusive approach:

Open Tryouts are open to outside players. Same fair standards for CASC kids and newcomers:  skills, effort, and attitude. 

For any new player interested, they can register in the Try-Out form below.   

Team formation will be handled on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the age distribution and competitive level of each team. Some teams may see minimal changes, while others will shift more significantly as players move into new age groups. As a result, many players will train and compete with new teammates.

Final team groupings will be determined through ongoing evaluations and the open tryout process to create balanced, competitive teams that support long-term player development.

Coaches choose or get assigned to one side of the split. Some sharing or reassignments happen to keep competition balanced.

Same for assistant coaches and team managers, who will likely adjust to where their son or daughter plays.

Coaches and directors will assess team performance, competitive balance, and long-term development when determining the appropriate flight level for each team.

Our goal is to place teams in environments that provide the right level of challenge while supporting player growth, and we expect CASC teams to emerge stronger as a result of this age group transition.

Kids are amazing and will make new friends quickly. Soccer bonds form quickly, and all teams will run team icebreakers and social events. 

We expect minimal changes to practice times for most age groups. Any adjustments will be communicated in advance and are typically made only when needed to support field availability and team structure.

We just completed the 2nd year of a 2-year cycle ,with Adidas, so each player will be purchasing new jerseys for the next 2 seasons.

Clubs across the country are approaching this transition in different ways, but CASC is moving forward with a clear, development-focused plan. Our priority is to place players in environments where they can grow, be appropriately challenged, and contribute to competitive teams across all age groups.

Being around since 2001, our club has a lot of experience ensuring that players are always our #1 priority.