Age Group Adjustment
Ready for the future of Us soccer
2026/27 US Soccer age group adjustments
An important update is coming to youth soccer: a nationwide adjustment to age group classifications that will take effect for the 2026-27 season and beyond.
What's Changing & Why?
Youth soccer’s governing bodies are implementing updates to how age groups are defined and aligned. These changes will adjust which birth years fall into certain teams and age brackets across all clubs in the country. This is not a Patriot FC decision, but one driven by US Youth Soccer and will affect nearly every club in the country.
The new age groups will be from August 1st - July 31st of each year. This will align closely with the school grades in our area.
The goal is to:
- Improve national alignment across leagues
- Increase consistency in player development pathways
- Ensure long-term integration with regional and national competition standards
- Provide a more unified system across the US Soccer landscape
Our Approach Moving Forward
These adjustments affect players across all clubs, and our goal is to guide you through the process with confidence, transparency, and a player-first mindset.
We fully support the new age group alignment. Playing alongside school peers offers meaningful social and developmental benefits - it allows teams to grow together over time, supports age-appropriate competition, and creates a smoother transition into high school programs and the older competitive age groups.
Below is an overview of how Patriot FC will structure teams for the 2026–2027 season:
Players U14 and Below
- Players will be placed on teams within their new age group designations.
- When appropriate, playing-up opportunities will be evaluated by the coaching staff. Players born after 7/31 but who attend school with a grade above will be permitted to be evaluated for the above age group too.
- In the short term, most playing up opportunities will occur through secondary carding or guest-playing to support individual development.
Players U15-U19 (High School Aged)
At these ages, traditional age-group boundaries are less relevant due to the structure of school teams and the competitive landscape of older youth soccer. Teams will be formed using an approach that considers:
- Age and physical development
- Technical and tactical ability
- Commitment and training habits
- Alignment with long-term club and player development goals
When it benefits player development or roster balance, teams may combine age groups. This can differ by gender depending on the player pool, competitive level, and developmental needs.
Our Commitment Throughout This Transition
As we realign current players and welcome new athletes through our upcoming ID Clinics and tryouts, our focus remains the same: creating developmentally appropriate teams that support every player’s long-term growth.