Beginning with the 2026-2027 seasonal year, US Youth Soccer will be moving to a school year calendar age grouping method. Age groups will change from the current January 1-December 31 birth year to an August 1-July 31 age grouping based on school grade. 

Click on the link below to learn more about the switch to School Year Calendar Age Group Formation in 2026-2027.

• US Soccer Decision on Age Group Formation

The School Year Calendar advantage

The school year model better aligns with academic calendars, supports social development among peers, and improves player retention by allowing teammates to progress together through both school and soccer.

How the School Year Calculation Works

To calculate your player's soccer age, determine if they fall within the birthdate ranges listed as reflected below or 

• click here to use the U.S. Soccer age group formation tool
  

For Example: In the 2026-2027 seasonal year, if your child is born in October 2016, they fall within the school year range of August 1, 2016 - July 31, 2017. That would place them in the U10 age group for the 2026-2027 season.

What is changing related to age groups within the US Youth Soccer system?

Beginning with the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 season, US Youth Soccer will transition to an August 1-July 31 age group system. This means your child's age group will be determined by how old they are on August 1st of each season, rather than the current January 1st cutoff. This change tends to better align soccer with the school year calendar and youth soccer programs across the country.

Why is this change happening?

This change is being implemented across US Youth Soccer and other national organizations to better align soccer with the school year. It allows more players to participate with their classmates and school friends, which research shows improves social development and player retention. This actually returns us to the system used before 2017 that many of us preferred.

When will this change take effect?

The new age group system will begin with the 2026-2027 season. Your child will continue in their current age group through the end of the 2025-2026 season.

Impact on Your Child

Will my child be affected by this change?

Most players will continue playing with their existing peer groups. The primary impact will be on players born between August 1 and December 31, who may shift to align with their school grade-level classmates.

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

See the age group calculator available through US Soccer at  U.S. Soccer Age Group Formation Tool.

• Players born between January 1-July 31 will continue playing with the same peer group based on their birth date.
• Players born between August 1-December 31 will move to the age group aligned with their school grade year and birth date.
• U9-U19 Recreational or Satellite Program players born August 1-December 31 may be presented with the option to continue playing with their current peer group OR move to the younger peer group. The reality is that the vast majority of our satellite or recreational teams are often comprised of multiple grades or birth years. (ie U13/14 or 7/8th Grade)

My child was born in August-December. What does this mean for them?

Children born in these months may be moved to a new age group to play with their school grade peers. For example, a child born in October 2017 who is currently playing with 2017 birth year players may shift to play with players born August 1, 2017-July 31, 2018, aligning them with their anticipated school grade in Fall 2026.

What if my child is currently playing with older players due to skill level?

We will work with families individually to ensure appropriate placement based on development and social needs.

Our recreation program focuses on age-appropriate play while keeping the experience fun and positive for all players. In the recreation program, players are not placed in older age groups solely based on skill.

My child was held back or accelerated a grade in school. Will they play with their birth year or their school grade classmates?

We understand that some children are placed in grades that don't align with their birth date due to academic readiness, developmental considerations, or family decisions. In our recreation program, we prioritize the social and developmental experience. If your child’s school grade placement differs from their birth date age group, we will work individually to determine the best placement that considers several factors. These factors include your child’s physical and social development, team safety, and the family’s preference.

Benefits of the Change

What are the benefits of this change for my child?

The main benefits include:

• Playing with school friends: Your child can play soccer with the same kids they see in the classroom.
• Better social connections: Help cultivate stronger friendships both on and off the field.
• Age-appropriate development: Players compete with peers at similar developmental stages based on school grade.
• Increased enjoyment: Playing with classmates helps keep kids engaged in the sport longer.

Will this affect my child's development or playing time?

The recreation program emphasizes equal playing time and development for all players regardless of age grouping. This change is designed to enhance the social experience while maintaining our commitment to player development and fun.

Recreation Program Specifics

How does this affect recreation program registration?

Registration for the 2026-2027 season will be based on the new age group system. We will provide clear guidance and registration support to ensure families select the correct age group for their child.

Will practice schedules or locations change?

Practice schedules and field assignments will continue to be based on field availability and team needs. The age group change itself will  not affect practice logistics.

What about family requests to play with friends or siblings?

Our recreation program will continue to try and honor reasonable requests to keep friends together. While requests are not guaranteed, we encourage families to submit teammate requests during registration.

Will team sizes change?

Team sizes will remain consistent with our current recreation program standards appropriate for each age group.

Timeline and Communication

When will we know our child's specific team placement?

Team assignments for the 2026-2027 season will be communicated by late summer 2026, following our typical Fall season timeline. We will provide updates throughout spring and summer 2026 as we finalize rosters.

How will McLean Youth Soccer keep us informed?

We will communicate through:

• Regular email updates
• A dedicated information page on our website and FAQs
• Town hall meetings 
• Direct communication from your child's current coach
• Social media updates

Who can I contact if I have specific questions about my child?

You can contact the Recreation Director Trevor Lamb [[email protected]] or the Recreation and Programs Administrator Lynne Shank ([email protected]].

What Parents Should Do

What do I need to do to prepare?

Here are the steps we recommend:

1. Stay informed: Read our communications and check the dedicated webpage. 
2. Attend a town hall: Join us for a parent information session in spring 2026.
3. Talk positively with your child: Frame the change as a greater opportunity to play with school classmates.
4. Register on time: Follow registration instructions for the 2026-2027 season.

Should I talk to my child about this change?

Yes, but keep it simple and positive. Focus on the fun of playing soccer with their age appropriate peers  and emphasize that they'll continue learning, having fun, and playing the game they love. For most kids in recreation, the change will be seamless.

What if my child is anxious about potentially changing teams?

It's natural for kids to feel uncertain about change. Reassure them that:

• They'll still be playing with friends from the same school grade
• Coaches are focused on making everyone feel welcome.
• Making new friends is part of the fun of team sports.
• The McLean Youth Soccer community is supportive and inclusive.

If you have concerns, please reach out to us directly so we can provide individual support.

Additional Questions

Does this affect our registration fees?

No, this age group change does not affect registration fees for the recreation program.

What about tournaments or out-of-club play?

The recreation program focuses primarily on local league play. Any tournaments or special events will follow the new age group guidelines once the change takes effect.

Will coaches be informed on this transition?

Yes, all McLean Youth Soccer coaches will receive information about the age group change to ensure they can support players and answer parent questions effectively.

**Updated 11/14/25**

Benefits

·       Club Development Alignment - At FC United, we view this change as an opportunity to strengthen our player pathways. Aligning by school year supports our holistic development approach - connecting social, academic, and athletic environments so that players can grow together on and off the field.

·       Social/Team Connection - With teams/players having more social alignment with school age/year, the ability for better social connection within teams will be improved, and minimizes situations of teams having unique/differing dynamics due to team make-up previously between two different years in school age to now be more aligned to one.

·       “Late Bloomer” Effect – The re-alignment will help reduce the dynamic of having players who are in growth stages that are more like others in their grade, rather than a other athletes who are a grade older.



·       Minimize the “trapped player” effect - This change will reduce the number of players who are “trapped”, meaning that a disproportionate number of players are essentially left behind as some enter 9th grade. This will help both the experience level for previously impacted players, as well as the logistics for the club in creating/managing these teams.

·       Recruitment Opportunities – This will allow players pursuing collegiate opportunities to showcase themselves against fellow graduates and allow us to align our College Advisory Program by providing recruitment guidance/support collectively to all team members, with more common graduation year, rather than to teams comprised of players split between 11^th grade and 12^th grade.

Drawbacks

·       Re-alignment of Rosters – This change will likely cause some expected roster shifts

·       Re-alignment of Team Management – This change will likely cause some expected organizational changes to team management and platfors such as TeamSnap.

·       Uniform Numbers – While we may have a few incidental overlaps that will need to be resolved, our teams are generally prepared for this shift. Currently all of our players born on even years (ie 2012, 2014, 2016, etc) have even numbers. Our players born in odd year, conversely have odd numbers. This shift will not materially impact entire teams, but may impact some players who could be playing up (or down) with other rosters.

·       Uniform Numbers Resolution – As a general rule, should there be a uniform number conflict, the uniform number priority will be issued to the most tenured player.

While we understand that the transition will bring some additional adjustments, we are confident that we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that our families, players and coaches are informed and well-prepared for the changes ahead.

Why is this change happening?

US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, American Youth Soccer Association, Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), Girls Academy, and MLS Next Academy Division 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 remainder of the current 2025-2026 season. 

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

 U.S. Soccer Age Group Formation Tool.

Why was August 1-July 31 chosen as the 'optimal' school calendar year birthdate 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, including here in Iowa, 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 preferred leagues follow the same structure, so the competitive balance should remains consistent.

Regardless of the competitive balance, 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, to the best of or ability. Socially, many players adjust quickly as they meet teammates across school boundaries, which is common throughout youth sports at this level. This is particularly accurate at a club like FC United, where playing, and training, across age groups up or down a year, has not been a rarity. 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 discretionarily be placed in an alternate age group. This move is often temporary, based on the relative growth and experience of that player. The decision on player placement is made by the coaching staff and technical leadership with several factors in mind - player skill level, soccer maturity, current development level, anticipated future development level, player commitment, and our past experience with many other players who were in similar situations. 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 at the discretion of the club and based on the needs of the player at that particular time.

Can my child play in a younger age group?

From a compliance standpoint, players who were held back a grade in school are tied toe their projected age group based on their birth date.

However, although a player may not 'formally' compete in a younger age group within certain league(s) there are times where playing down will benefit some players in the short term. These decisions are managed on a case by case basis and these could include training with another age group and ultimately competing with another age group, with the consent of the league, event, and the careful consideration of the factors driving that decision.

Athletic development, as well as child development, can be very independent. Developing as a soccer player is not solely determined by relative age, it's determined a multitude of experiences and more highly impacted by the training environment, the curriculum necessary as a foundational building block for playing the sport, and a number of other factors including family support and encouragement.

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 see some change with players staying at the stated level with their school aged peers or playing up. Players who stay at the stated age group per their birthdate have the benefit of gaining more confidence, leadership skills, and find themselves progressing on the same timeline as their school/grade peers.

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. Use the updated birth band to determine their projected tryout and player registration.

Any and all exceptions must be approved at the discretion of the club's technical development leadership.

Will tryouts for next season change?

Tryouts will be based on the August 1-July 31 age group formation and not by birth year.

Some current travel players will receive rolling offers and may be placed on rosters based on their performance and current as well as optimal developmental progress.

All players should attend their 'stated' and projected age group tryout. The club's technical leadership will make a determination on player placement following evaluations. More details about the tryout process will be communicated once they are finalized.

Can a player play up an age group?

As in previous years, a player who wants to attend tryouts for an older age group must get approval from FC United's technical leadership to do so. They should talk to their current coach or reach out to the appropriate Age Group Manager (AGM) with their request. Approval requests will be determined solely by the Technical Director, along with coaching staff input. Current travel players will typically only play up if they are competitive and match the skill level to be placed on the top team up in any given age group or gender. Player development is unique to each player and decisions about playing up will be made by technical staff with discussions with the parent and player. 

When will the projected 2026-2027 coaching slate be announced?

The goal is to announce the slate prior to official ID Sessions and before the start of the projected team formations in the spring. Typically, coaching assignments for oldest teams are announced first. 

Age Group Change Presentation

**Updated 12/27/25**