Why is this change happening?

US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, American Youth Soccer Association, and Girls Academy have decided to move to an age group formation that changes from January 1-December 31 birth year player placement, to the school age group calendar of August 1-July 31 placement to better align players with their school grade peers.

When does this change take effect?

The change will go into effect for the 2026-2027 season. There is no change during the current 2025-2026 season.

How do I know my player’s age group for 2026-2027?

See the age group table below.

U4	Players born 8/1/22 – 7/31/2023	U12	Players born 8/1/14 to 7/31/15
U5	Players born 8/1/21 – 7/31/2022	U13	Players born 8/1/13 to 7/31/14
U6	Players born 8/1/20 – 7/31/2021	U14	Players born 8/1/12 to 7/31/13
U7	Players born 8/1/19 – 7/31/2020	U15	Players born 8/1/11 to 7/31/12
U8	Players born 8/1/18 – 7/31/2019	U16	Players born 8/1/10 to 7/31/11
U9	Players born 8/1/17 – 7/31/2018	U17	Players born 8/1/09 to 7/31/10
U10	Players born 8/1/16 – 7/31/2017	U18	Players born 8/1/08 to 7/31/09
U11	Players born 8/1/15 – 7/31/2016	U19	Players born 8/1/07 to 7/31/08

Why was August 1-July 31 chosen as the school calendar year birth date range?

U.S. Soccer has established the August 1-July 31 birth-year period as the most widely adopted and consistent model across the country. As a member club, we follow this national standard to ensure that our players are aligned with age groups used in leagues, tournaments, development pathways, and college recruiting across the U.S. We recognize that there is no single, universal birth-date protocol used nationwide. Different organizations and school systems follow different calendars, which can understandably create confusion, especially here in Fairfax County where the school cutoff dates do not align with the youth soccer birth-year calendar. We do understand that this may place some players - particularly those born in August and September - on teams with peers who may not match their school-grade peers. While this may feel unfamiliar at first, please know that this is a nationwide system and not a club-specific decision. All clubs in our leagues follow the same structure, so competitive balance remains consistent. Our focus is on player development, and we will work to ensure every child is placed in an environment that fits their developmental needs and long-term growth. Socially, many players adjust quickly as they meet teammates across school boundaries, which is common throughout youth sports at this level. If you have concerns about your child’s placement or need help understanding how the birth-year system applies to your player, we’re here to help.

Can a player play up an age group?

Yes, a player may be chosen to play up. The decision on player placement is made by coaching staff and technical leadership with several factors in mind - player skill level, soccer maturity, current development level, predicted future development level, and player commitment. A player who is selected to play up for one season may continue to play up during additional seasons or be placed back with their appropriate peer group at some point.

Can my child play in a younger age group?

No, players are not allowed to play down an age group. Players who were held back a grade in school will play with their appropriate age group based on their birth date.

Will my player or team be affected?

Players born in August through December may be more likely to shift age groups. Some team rosters will change with players staying at the appropriate level with their school aged peers or playing up. Players who stay at the appropriate age group per their birthdate have the benefit of gaining more confidence and leadership skills.

Will tryout registration be based on a player’s school year or DOB?

Tryout registration will be based on a player’s date of birth and not their grade level in school. Players who have been held back a year in school will not be affected.

Will tryouts for next season change?

Tryouts will be primarily for BRYC recreation players or players from outside the club and will be based on the August 1-July 31 age group formation and not by birth year. Many current BRYC Academy travel players will receive rolling offers prior to tryouts and will be placed on rosters based on their performance and developmental progress throughout the 2025-2026 season. Current BRYC Academy Travel players who do not receive an offer prior to tryouts should attend the scheduled tryouts for further evaluation. More details about the tryout process will be communicated once they are finalized.

When will the 2026-2027 coaching slate be announced?

The goal is to announce the slate prior to official ID Sessions in the winter and before the start of the travel team tryouts in the spring. Typically, coaching assignments for most competitive teams are announced first - ahead of their respective ID Sessions - while assignments for the remaining travel teams are announced prior to spring tryouts.