Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the actual age group calculator without presenter spin.

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator

Wait, the official governing body of US Youth Soccer doesn't have School Grade on their official calculator?

Then why is this thread 400 pages long arguing with School Grade guy?

https://usclubsoccer.org/age-group-cut-off-update-for-2026-27-season/

Why is the age group cut-off changing from January 1 (birth year ages)?

There are multiple reasons for this change.

First, the Aug. 1 age group cut-off most effectively reduces the number of “trapped players” in youth soccer and reduces negative impacts on these players at multiple stages of their career. “Trapped” players are those who, due to soccer age group cut-offs, are in an older soccer age group than their school year. Trapped players have significantly reduced competition opportunities and disrupted training experiences in 8th grade (when most of their team is in high school) and are similarly negatively impacted four years later when players from the older soccer age group, but who are still in high school, are moved down into the same soccer age group.

August 1 to July 31 basically eliminated trapped players. Done deal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

It doesn't of course, since the beginning of time, lage clubs limit playing up in soccer, in other sports and kids rarely enter school a year early also. It's a silly argument that because you can you should or that it would be allowed at most clubs for your kid. It isn't 9 times out of 10.

Why would a club "limit playing up in soccer"? The things you write make no sense.

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger

Is exactly how groupings function in SY because players can play up.

First you say all clubs rosters will have the same graduation year and now you say playing up will be running rampant contrary to what has ever happened in youth soccer? Your inconsistent positions undermine your creditiblilty.

Theres no inconsistency.

2011 as an example in SY this fall will be all Sophmores and 2012 will be all Freshman.

Heres what it will look like this fall when SY kicks in. I'd include 2010 and above but this is the u18/u19 (Junior/Senior) combined group which would just confuse people.

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
etc

I extended it out for you. Yes this makes much more sense.

8/1/2009 and younger = Senior
8/1/2009 and younger = Junior

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
8/1/2014 and younger = 7th
8/1/2015 and younger = 6th
8/1/2016 and younger = 5th
8/1/2017 and younger = 4th
8/1/2018 and younger = 3rd
8/1/2019 and younger = 2nd
8/1/2020 and younger = 1st
8/1/2021 and younger = kindergarten

I like this 👌 Way easier to figure out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the actual age group calculator without presenter spin.

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator

Wait, the official governing body of US Youth Soccer doesn't have School Grade on their official calculator?

Then why is this thread 400 pages long arguing with School Grade guy?

https://usclubsoccer.org/age-group-cut-off-update-for-2026-27-season/

Why is the age group cut-off changing from January 1 (birth year ages)?

There are multiple reasons for this change.

First, the Aug. 1 age group cut-off most effectively reduces the number of “trapped players” in youth soccer and reduces negative impacts on these players at multiple stages of their career. “Trapped” players are those who, due to soccer age group cut-offs, are in an older soccer age group than their school year. Trapped players have significantly reduced competition opportunities and disrupted training experiences in 8th grade (when most of their team is in high school) and are similarly negatively impacted four years later when players from the older soccer age group, but who are still in high school, are moved down into the same soccer age group.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is the actual age group calculator without presenter spin.

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator

Wait, the official governing body of US Youth Soccer doesn't have School Grade on their official calculator?

Then why is this thread 400 pages long arguing with School Grade guy?

What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach.

Anonymous wrote:Here is the actual age group calculator without presenter spin.

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator

Wait, the official governing body of US Youth Soccer doesn't have School Grade on their official calculator?

Then why is this thread 400 pages long arguing with School Grade guy?

Anonymous wrote:Here is the actual age group calculator without presenter spin.

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator

Where's the spin?

In BY having a lower bound for the eligibility grouping made sense because players cant play down.

In SY having a lower bound for the eligibility grouping doesnt make sense because players can play up.

Here is the actual age group calculator without presenter spin.

https://www.ussoccer.com/ecosystem-review/player-registration/age-group-calculator

[mastodon]8

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

It doesn't of course, since the beginning of time, lage clubs limit playing up in soccer, in other sports and kids rarely enter school a year early also. It's a silly argument that because you can you should or that it would be allowed at most clubs for your kid. It isn't 9 times out of 10.

Why would a club "limit playing up in soccer"? The things you write make no sense.

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger

Is exactly how groupings function in SY because players can play up.

First you say all clubs rosters will have the same graduation year and now you say playing up will be running rampant contrary to what has ever happened in youth soccer? Your inconsistent positions undermine your creditiblilty.

Theres no inconsistency.

2011 as an example in SY this fall will be all Sophmores and 2012 will be all Freshman.

Heres what it will look like this fall when SY kicks in. I'd include 2010 and above but this is the u18/u19 (Junior/Senior) combined group which would just confuse people.

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
etc

I extended it out for you. Yes this makes much more sense.

8/1/2009 and younger = Senior
8/1/2009 and younger = Junior

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
8/1/2014 and younger = 7th
8/1/2015 and younger = 6th
8/1/2016 and younger = 5th
8/1/2017 and younger = 4th
8/1/2018 and younger = 3rd
8/1/2019 and younger = 2nd
8/1/2020 and younger = 1st
8/1/2021 and younger = kindergarten

Whats being presented is how the rules will function in SY this fall. Nothing is being added or modified. Its unfortunate that US Soccer included the 7/31 lower bound for each age group because it just confuses people.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

It doesn't of course, since the beginning of time, lage clubs limit playing up in soccer, in other sports and kids rarely enter school a year early also. It's a silly argument that because you can you should or that it would be allowed at most clubs for your kid. It isn't 9 times out of 10.

Why would a club "limit playing up in soccer"? The things you write make no sense.

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger

Is exactly how groupings function in SY because players can play up.

First you say all clubs rosters will have the same graduation year and now you say playing up will be running rampant contrary to what has ever happened in youth soccer? Your inconsistent positions undermine your creditiblilty.

Theres no inconsistency.

2011 as an example in SY this fall will be all Sophmores and 2012 will be all Freshman.

Heres what it will look like this fall when SY kicks in. I'd include 2010 and above but this is the u18/u19 (Junior/Senior) combined group which would just confuse people.

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
etc

I extended it out for you. Yes this makes much more sense.

8/1/2009 and younger = Senior
8/1/2009 and younger = Junior

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
8/1/2014 and younger = 7th
8/1/2015 and younger = 6th
8/1/2016 and younger = 5th
8/1/2017 and younger = 4th
8/1/2018 and younger = 3rd
8/1/2019 and younger = 2nd
8/1/2020 and younger = 1st
8/1/2021 and younger = kindergarten

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

It doesn't of course, since the beginning of time, lage clubs limit playing up in soccer, in other sports and kids rarely enter school a year early also. It's a silly argument that because you can you should or that it would be allowed at most clubs for your kid. It isn't 9 times out of 10.

Why would a club "limit playing up in soccer"? The things you write make no sense.

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger

Is exactly how groupings function in SY because players can play up.

First you say all clubs rosters will have the same graduation year and now you say playing up will be running rampant contrary to what has ever happened in youth soccer? Your inconsistent positions undermine your creditiblilty.

Theres no inconsistency.

2011 as an example in SY this fall will be all Sophmores and 2012 will be all Freshman.

Heres what it will look like this fall when SY kicks in. I'd include 2010 and above but this is the u18/u19 (Junior/Senior) combined group which would just confuse people.

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
etc

You've already confused yourself btw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

Why have more under 8/1/2008 and younger?

Because these are the different levels defined in SY. Which roughly aligns to grade in school. You pick the level that is your kids grade in school.

Bad advice that local clubs aren't buying. They assign your age group based on DOB. Play on age here, best play up which is limited. For rec or lower level teams, playing up considered more likely.

Colorado Rapids sums things up.

Will players be organized strictly by their school grade? No. Players will be organized by "School-Year Age Groups" (August 1-July 31), not by their specific academic grade.

Here is the difference: While the new system will naturally align most players with their classmates, "Grade Level" is an academic designation that varies from family to family (due to children starting school early or late, repeating a year, or varying state enrollment dates).

"School-Year Age Groups" use a strict national birthdate range (August 1 to July 31). This ensures a nationwide consistent, fair, and objective standard for safety and competition, regardless of a player’s individual academic path.


Why are teams organized by the August 1–July 31 date range rather than strictly by "Grade Level"? While the new age group system is often referred to as "School Year" because it aligns better with school grades than the calendar year, we will use the nationwide age groupings of August 1st to July 31st date range for safety and fairness.

We cannot organize strictly by "Grade" because grade levels are variable, whereas birth dates are factual. Organizing strictly by grade can create significant risks:

The Age Gap Risk: Because kids start school at different ages, are held back, or skip grades, a single grade level can include children whose ages span 2+ years.

Physical Safety: We already see significant physical differences within a standard 12-month age gap. If we were to widen that window to 24+ months (as seen in strict grade-based grouping), the physical disparity becomes dangerous. A "held-back" 13-year-old competing against a young 11-year-old in the same grade poses a real safety concern.

Developmental Fairness: When age gaps widen beyond 12 months, the disparity in talent and physical maturity widens considerably. Keeping the grouping within the August 1–July 31 window ensures players compete with and against peers of similar physiological, emotional, and social maturity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

It doesn't of course, since the beginning of time, lage clubs limit playing up in soccer, in other sports and kids rarely enter school a year early also. It's a silly argument that because you can you should or that it would be allowed at most clubs for your kid. It isn't 9 times out of 10.

Why would a club "limit playing up in soccer"? The things you write make no sense.

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger

Is exactly how groupings function in SY because players can play up.

First you say all clubs rosters will have the same graduation year and now you say playing up will be running rampant contrary to what has ever happened in youth soccer? Your inconsistent positions undermine your creditiblilty.

Theres no inconsistency.

2011 as an example in SY this fall will be all Sophmores and 2012 will be all Freshman.

Heres what it will look like this fall when SY kicks in. I'd include 2010 and above but this is the u18/u19 (Junior/Senior) combined group which would just confuse people.

8/1/2011 and younger = Sophmore
8/1/2012 and younger = Freshman
8/1/2013 and younger = 8th
etc

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

It doesn't of course, since the beginning of time, lage clubs limit playing up in soccer, in other sports and kids rarely enter school a year early also. It's a silly argument that because you can you should or that it would be allowed at most clubs for your kid. It isn't 9 times out of 10.

Why would a club "limit playing up in soccer"? The things you write make no sense.

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger

Is exactly how groupings function in SY because players can play up.

First you say all clubs rosters will have the same graduation year and now you say playing up will be running rampant contrary to what has ever happened in youth soccer? Your inconsistent positions undermine your creditiblilty.

Theres no inconsistency.

2011 as an example in SY this fall will be all Sophmores and 2012 will be all Freshman.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

Why have more under 8/1/2008 and younger?

Because these are the different levels defined in SY. Which roughly aligns to grade in school. You pick the level that is your kids grade in school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SY 8/1-7/31 is a dumb way to describe grouping eligibility when players are allowed to play up. This is because the 7/31 date is meaningless again if players are allowed to play up.

They should have labeled the grouping 8/1 and younger. Because this is what it actually is.

People are getting humg up on 7/31 when its meaningless.

You forget its actually 8/1/XXXX to 7/1/XXXX

How does that make a difference?

Levels...
8/1/2008 and younger
8/1/2009 and younger
8/1/2010 and younger
8/1/2011 and younger
8/1/2012 and younger
8/1/2013 and younger
etc

Why have more under 8/1/2008 and younger?