AGE GROUP CHANGES FOR 2026-2027

 

Starting when teams form in Spring of 2026, U.S. Soccer will require youth soccer leagues, clubs and teams to shift away from the current calendar-year system (where most players are grouped by birth year) and return to a school-year format.

Under this approach, age groups will follow the August–July cutoff, similar to how teams were structured in the United States almost a decade ago. This update is intended to better align players with their academic peers and create a more developmentally consistent experience across youth soccer.

This page explains the new age group definitions and date ranges, describes how this may affect team placement and tryouts, and emphasizes that the club will support families through the transition.

LHSC Birth Year and Season Matrix 2026-2027

OVERALL THOUGHTS

 

We’re Here to Support Your Family

As youth soccer shifts back to school-age groupings, we want families to know that LHSC will guide your family through the transition as best we can

General Guidance on Age Groups

Our position is that players should be placed with their appropriate school-age peer group, as this typically provides the greatest developmental and social benefits. That said, some players may continue with an older group to maintain team continuity from last year.

Select Team Placement Remains Merit-Based

Tryouts are an important part of select team selection, but they are not the only factor. For players already in the club, coaches consider the full year of performance, effort, and development leading into tryouts. For new players, tryouts are key, as they provide our staff the opportunity to evaluate players they have not previously coached. If a player chooses, based on consultation with coach and club, to pursue the older age group, they will need to earn their spot based on merit—just as they would in any other year.

Focused on the Right Fit

Above all, our goal is to help every player land in an environment where they can grow, thrive, and feel confident. We’ll provide clarity, options, and steady support to make this transition as smooth and positive as possible.

 

More Information From Washington Youth Soccer

https://washingtonyouthsoccer.org/resources/age-group-formation/

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Are there any exceptions to the new age-group structure?

Yes. While LHSC will implement the new school-year age groups across the club, there are limited situations where a player may be placed in an older age group and allowed to play with an older grade.  LHSC will prioritize teams staying together, as we always have.  That may necessitate some players on the team “playing up”.  However, we expect that most clubs in the area will do the same thing, so teams will continue to face similar aged teams.

Players already playing with their school classmates

In some cases, the new guidelines would place a player into a younger age group even though they are already in an older school grade and have been training and competing with that peer group. For these players, remaining with their classmates can support confidence, social comfort, and consistency in their development environment. This exception helps avoid unnecessary disruption for players who are already well-established within an older cohort.