Anonymous wrote:More clubs are starting to get it

https://www.elmbrookunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FAQ-Document.pdf

My player has an August birthday, and the age matrix has them playing with the grade below
them. Will they be able to play with their grade level?
o Players with August birthdays will have the choice to play with their school year or stay
with their age group. You will make this choice when registering for the fall season (Rec
and Academy) or tryouts (Select).
o Whatever choice the player makes is for the entire year as rosters will be set after
registration (Rec and Academy) or tryouts (Select).
o If a player is unhappy with their choice, they may change it for the 2027-2028 season.
o EBU highly recommends having a discussion with your current coach prior to making
this decision.
o For incoming Freshmen only – if your August birthday allows you the choice to play on
the 8th grade team (U14), and you choose that option, you will need to commit to a full
year with your EBU team and forgo your Freshman year of high school soccer.

Nice attempt at spin. Instead, this is yet another case-by-case situation. It makes sense to empower affected families. It's a roll of the dice, tho, either way. You still have to make the top team, which is why they advise talking with coaches and give advice on what to do if you're not happy with the outcome.

This club is now Girls Academy, BTW, for their top girls and MLSN Academy for top boys.

PPA not recognizing grades, playing up case by case

https://www.ppateam.com/premsoccer-age-group-changes

QUESTIONS
Under the new age group structure, my player is not moving up. Does that mean they are repeating an age group?

Not necessarily. The revised age group framework is intended to better match soccer age groups with the school-year calendar, placing players alongside classmates and peers. While it may look like some players are staying in the same age group longer, this shift simply reflects a calendar realignment. For many players, the extra time can be a positive — offering more opportunity to build confidence, sharpen skills, and grow into leadership roles before advancing.

Can my player “play up” with friends or teammates if they fall into a younger age group?

In most cases, we encourage players to remain within their assigned age group to support appropriate development, competitive balance, and consistency with the new cutoff dates. That said, we recognize that every player’s situation is unique. Requests to play up will be reviewed individually and discussed with coaches and club leadership before a decision is made.


I believe my player should be considered to play up even though the new dates place them in the same age group. Is that possible?

Yes, but these decisions will be made on an individual basis. All players should plan to attend initial tryouts with their assigned age group based on the new calendar. Coaches and club leadership will evaluate each situation and communicate directly with families if a player is recommended to be assessed with an older age group.

Anonymous wrote:Not sure of the exact score.

But something like no club in DC and Baltimore area forcing anyone to play up based on their grade.

And out of the well over a thousand teams in the nation, less than a handful were found to try to be pushing kids to play on grade.

Time to call club soccer forcing grade year, Mythbusted.

Just looked it up, over 10,000 clubs in U.S. youth soccer.

Not sure of the exact score.

But something like no club in DC and Baltimore area forcing anyone to play up based on their grade.

And out of the well over a thousand teams in the nation, less than a handful were found to try to be pushing kids to play on grade.

Time to call club soccer forcing grade year, Mythbusted.

Bethesda not recognizing grades, discouraging playing up but willing to consider case by case.

https://www.bethesdasoccer.org/age-group-change/


Will my player be allowed to ``move up`` with their friends/teammates if they fall into the lower age group?

We generally encourage players to participate within their designated age group to ensure appropriate development, balance in competition, and alignment with the new age group cutoff dates. However, we understand every circumstance is different. Requests for players to “play up” with an older age group will be reviewed on an individual basis and considered in collaboration with coaches and club leadership.


I believe my player should be evaluated to ``play-up`` even though the new age group dates have them repeating an age group. Will this be allowed?

Requests for players to “play up” will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In general, all players should attend the first tryout with their designated age group based on the new calendar. Coaches and club leadership will review individual circumstances and communicate directly with players and families if a player is recommended to try out with an older age group.

DCSC staying with playing on age, not recognizing grades as relevant. Playing up is only a club decision.

https://www.dcsoccerclub.org/age-group-change#AgeGroupChangeFAQs

Players will register for tryouts and be placed on teams in their correct age group . Players will not "play up" to remain with their current teams. In very limited cases, the technical staff may determine a player to "play up" because it's in the player's best interest developmentally.

Can players be placed outside their age group in order to stay with their current team?

Players will register for tryouts and will be placed in their designated age group.


Players will not “play up” in an effort to remain with their current team. Players will play on-age in accordance with the updated school-year age cut-off.


Technical staff only can recommend a player play with an older age group if it is clearly in the player’s best developmental interest. This is not the parents or player’s decision.

Will travel registration be based on grades?

Registration is based on date of birth, not grade level. Players’ eligibility for grades in school vary depending on the state and school system. After research and discussion, US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and AYSO jointly announced a move to the school-year cut off of August 1 - July 31 to best reduce the misalignment between age and school year.

BA/SAC don't recognize grade but will allow anybody the chance to play up. So case by case again.

https://www.sackick.com/age-group-change

Playing In An Older Age Group:

SAC players will continue to have the option to register/tryout for programs one age group older.

Interesting that the relative age effect was found for the Olympics

https://thesportjournal.org/article/relative-age-effect-among-olympic-medalists-evidence-from-ten-summer-and-winter-olympic-games-held-between-2000-and-2018/

These results confirm the presence of RAE at the highest level of sport and suggest that early developmental advantages persist among Olympic medalists. The findings have implications for athlete development systems and elite sport selection criteria.

United FA, matching other clubs, case by case to play up

https://www.unitedfa.org/competitive-new-age-group

Can players Play Up?

Playing up is determined by UFA's technical staff based on:


Skill


Maturity


Developmental needs


A player who is selected to play up for one season may continue to play up during additional seasons, or be placed back with his/her appropriate peer group at some point.


As in previous years, any player who wants to attend tryouts for an older age group must obtain advance approval from GFR technical leadership to do so. He/She should talk to his/her current coach about, or reach out to the appropriate Age Group Director with, his/her request. Approval of such requests will be determined by technical leadership, with coaching staff input. Current GFR travel players will typically only play up if they are competitive and match the skill level to be placed on the top team in the age group they are seeking to play up in. Player development is unique to each player, and determinations about playing up will be made by technical staff through discussions with the parent(s) and player.


Are exceptions permitted?

Yes, but only under specific developmental circumstances.


All exceptions must be:

• Recommended by the Coach and AGL

• Reviewed and finalized by the Coach, AGL and Program Director


If my child is in a higher grade but born in Aug–Sept, can they play up?

When a player’s birth date places them in a younger age group than their current school grade, the club will review the situation on a case-by-case basis to determine whether keeping the player with their grade-level peers is appropriate.


Can my player play down an age group?

No, per US Club and US Youth Soccer Rules and Regulations, no players are allowed to play down an age group, regardless of size, skill or handicaps. Even if a doctor’s excuse is received requesting that the player play down an age group, we still would not be able to grant that request.

The bulk of the clubs are allowing playing up based on case by case based on skill, like league guidance from ECNL.

It's been stuck to league.rules, case by case to play up.



Sporting Blue Valley in Kansas -- an ECNL club ...

"School Grade is Irrelevant: It is much easier to consider the new age-group
placement as relative to the August 1st cutoff and is not tied to their school grade
level (whether they have been held back or are ahead)."

Page 19

"Can players play up a grade level?
SURVEY - Playing Up
SBV will retain the same policy we’ve always had: A player may play up an age
group only if they make the top team in that older division.
❖ Exceptions: Exceptions are rare and reserved for specific Goalkeeper situations
or to combine two small player pools to form a viable team.
Why we aren't delaying the changes:
❖ We have chosen to "rip the Band-Aid off" rather than kick the can down the road.
❖ While we could artificially keep current teams together by moving everyone to
an older age group, we would eventually be forced to fix it.
❖ We believe it is better to realign correctly now. This avoids years of confusion
and temporary fixes, ensuring every player is on the correct long-term
development path immediately"

https://storage.googleapi...b3b9c2.pdf


Match Fit

PLAYING UP
Screenshot 2026-01-24 at 4.03.19 PM.png
Play-up opportunities on our national level teams will be minimized to safeguard long term player development, competitive integrity, and roster balance. State teams will have greater flexibility.

​

Any consideration for team placement because of age/grade anomalies will be made collaboratively by the Directors and Coaching Staff. When considering a player to play up, the following criteria will guide the decision – Impact on player development, competition level and recruitment opportunities as well as team needs and roster balance. Guiding Principle – All decisions will prioritize what is best for the player and the overall team environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heres an ECNL club since you're too good for USYS

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

Aswe move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.

You understand that if your dc decides to play up, they could find themselves on a lower level team?

Likely to be on a lower team, get less playing time and have a less premium position. Unless playing up was earned by performance and unrelated to grade.

This is exactly why leagues dont want players playing down. Parents look for environments where their kid can be 1-2 years older then hunt for plastic trophies.

Not an issue for ECNL. Only MLSN1 allows playing down. ECNL explicitly stated playing down not allowed, 8/1 to 7/31 cutoff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heres an ECNL club since you're too good for USYS

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

Aswe move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.

You understand that if your dc decides to play up, they could find themselves on a lower level team?

Likely to be on a lower team, get less playing time and have a less premium position. Unless playing up was earned by performance and unrelated to grade.

This is exactly why leagues dont want players playing down. Parents look for environments where their kid can be 1-2 years older then hunt for plastic trophies.

Cheaters love to cheat unfortunately

Parrot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
PLAYING UP

Play-up opportunities on our national level teams will be minimized to safeguard long term player development, competitive integrity, and roster balance. State teams will have greater flexibility.

Any consideration for team placement because of age/grade anomalies will be made collaboratively by the Directors and Coaching Staff. When considering a player to play up, the following criteria will guide the decision – Impact on player development, competition level and recruitment opportunities as well as team needs and roster balance. Guiding Principle – All decisions will prioritize what is best for the player and the overall team environment.

Keep telling yourself that.

WTH? It's from the doc you posted.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heres an ECNL club since you're too good for USYS

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

Aswe move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.

You understand that if your dc decides to play up, they could find themselves on a lower level team?

Likely to be on a lower team, get less playing time and have a less premium position. Unless playing up was earned by performance and unrelated to grade.

This is exactly why leagues dont want players playing down. Parents look for environments where their kid can be 1-2 years older then hunt for plastic trophies.

Cheaters love to cheat unfortunately

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Heres an ECNL club since you're too good for USYS

https://www.matchfitsurf.com/age-change-faqs

Aswe move toward the 2026–2027 season and beyond, our goal is for teams to be fully aligned with a player’s school grade whenever possible. This provides greater social continuity, roster stability, and a clearer long-term development pathway.

You understand that if your dc decides to play up, they could find themselves on a lower level team?

Likely to be on a lower team, get less playing time and have a less premium position. Unless playing up was earned by performance and unrelated to grade.

This is exactly why leagues dont want players playing down. Parents look for environments where their kid can be 1-2 years older then hunt for plastic trophies.