The short version: from the 2026–27 season, every youth soccer age group runs August 1 to July 31, not January 1 to December 31. It's a nationwide change from US Soccer, and it does not create grade-level teams: your player's age group comes from their birth date, not their school grade.
Put in a birth date and the age group shows here.
Every age group in 2026–27
| Age group | Program | Born between | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| U19 | Platform | Aug 1, 2007 – Jul 31, 2008 | 07/08 |
| U18 | Platform | Aug 1, 2008 – Jul 31, 2009 | 08/09 |
| U17 | Platform | Aug 1, 2009 – Jul 31, 2010 | 09/10 |
| U16 | Platform | Aug 1, 2010 – Jul 31, 2011 | 10/11 |
| U15 | Platform | Aug 1, 2011 – Jul 31, 2012 | 11/12 |
| U14 | Platform | Aug 1, 2012 – Jul 31, 2013 | 12/13 |
| U13 | Platform | Aug 1, 2013 – Jul 31, 2014 | 13/14 |
| U12 | Academy | Aug 1, 2014 – Jul 31, 2015 | 14/15 |
| U11 | Academy | Aug 1, 2015 – Jul 31, 2016 | 15/16 |
| U10 | Academy | Aug 1, 2016 – Jul 31, 2017 | 16/17 |
| U9 | Academy | Aug 1, 2017 – Jul 31, 2018 | 17/18 |
| U8 | Recreational | Aug 1, 2018 – Jul 31, 2019 | 18/19 |
| U7 | Recreational | Aug 1, 2019 – Jul 31, 2020 | 19/20 |
| U6 | Recreational | Aug 1, 2020 – Jul 31, 2021 | 20/21 |
| U5 | Recreational | Aug 1, 2021 – Jul 31, 2022 | 21/22 |
| U4 | Recreational | Aug 1, 2022 – Jul 31, 2023 | 22/23 |
What changed
- Starting Fall 2026, the national youth soccer age groups start August 1 instead of January 1.
- The registration year is August 1 through July 31.
- It's designed to line age groups up better with the school year, but it does NOT create grade-level teams.
- US Soccer made the decision; US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer and AYSO announced it in June 2025.
- The 2025–26 season finished the old birth-year way; every competitive program moved over from August 2026.
Why it matters
- The “trap year” (8th to 9th grade): under birth years, some 8th graders lost half their team to high school soccer while they stayed in middle school.
- The “gap year” (seniors): older teammates graduated before younger birth-year players, which split U19 seasons.
- Keeping groups together longer means more continuity, stronger teams and clearer pathways from U13 through U19 and beyond.
| Child | Birthday | Grade | 2026–27 age group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma | July 15, 2018 | 3rd grade | U9 (born before August 1, 2018) |
| Noah | August 10, 2018 | 3rd grade | U8 (after the August 1 cutoff) |
| Ava | September 20, 2018 | 4th grade | U8 (after the August 1 cutoff) |
In Kansas, Emma and Noah are both 3rd graders but play in different soccer age groups.
- Player focus, not team. We do what's best for the player first and worry about the team once everything has shaken out. Long-term, it's what is best for our families.
- The whole Premier Program uses the new age groups, boys and girls, Premier and Independent Premier, from Fall 2026.
- Evaluation is always ongoing. Your child's coaching staff assesses their technical and tactical level in training and games to inform future placement, the same as we have always done it at SBV.
- Premier teams start at U8. For 2026–27, that's players born August 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019.
- Soccer age, not grade. We refer to players and teams by their true age group (U10, U11), never by grade level, so families in unique school situations aren't confused.
Is there a grace period for summer birthdays, or players held back in school?
No. The August 1st cutoff is rigid and mandated by US Soccer: there are no exceptions or grace periods for players born near it. School grade doesn't matter; go by the age group chart above.
Can a player play up, or down?
Players may always play up to an older age group, but never down. SBV's policy hasn't changed: a player plays up only if they make the top team in that older age group. Exceptions are rare: certain goalkeeper situations, or combining two small player pools to form a team.
My child is older than their classmates. Will they play with their grade?
Follow “soccer age”, not grade level. The new cutoff lines most players up with their grade, but there are always exceptions, like students who started school later. Their age group comes from their birth date.
What about an 8th grader whose soccer age group moves on to high school?
They join a U14/U15 team for that season (Fall for boys, Spring for girls), the way our U15s already mix 8th graders and high school players. The Heartland Premier League makes U14/U15 combined divisions in those seasons so these players have a place to play.
Another club says it isn't changing. Can a club opt out?
No. It's a nationwide mandate from the governing bodies (US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, AYSO, SAY and more), not a club-by-club choice. A club that didn't change would be ineligible for league play, tournaments and State Cups. Fall 2026 was the deadline for every sanctioned club.
Is Heartland switching too?
Yes. Heartland is sanctioned by KSYSA (the Kansas State Youth Soccer Association), which follows US Youth Soccer, so Heartland aligns with the new age groups. When US Soccer says “league”, it means the governing bodies, not local leagues.
Will families hear about their player's placement?
Yes. Sporting Blue Valley directors and coaches talk directly with every family about their player's placement, team and next steps. Our priority is placing every player where they'll develop best.
Who do I ask?
A current Sporting Blue Valley player: your coach or your Age Group Director. Not with SBV yet: email joew@sportingbv.org or text SBV Support at (816) 769-7183.
- Download the keynote (PDF)Every slide from Sporting Blue Valley's presentation.
- US Youth Soccer's announcementThe decision on age group formation, June 2025.
- US Soccer age group calculatorUSSF changed this to 27-28. We don't know why, just make sure to note the year if you decide to use it.
- More info: JoinSporting.com