Age Group Matrix

USYS competition age groups will be structured based on the dates August 1 – July 31.
Beginning on August 1, 2026, all USYS competitions will use the August 1 – July 31 age grouping standard.

All teams formed for the 2026/2027 seasonal year must be grouped based on these dates. When determining the age group for a season, the year in which the season ends should be used to determine the birth year.

Please note that the format “U” followed by an age means that age and younger.

What Has Changed?

Beginning Fall 2026, most youth teams will transition from the current calendar-year(January 1-December 31) model to a seasonal-year (August 1-July 31) model, grouping players by birthday accordingly.

Why Are These Changes Being Made?

After extensive review and collaboration, the governing bodies under USYS have determined that this seasonal-year classification will be more inclusive and better support player participation and development.

Age Group 2025–26 Season
Born Between 		2026–27 Season
Born Between 		2027–28 Season
Born Between 		2028–29 Season
Born Between
U-7 Jan 1, 2019
–
Dec 31, 2019		 Aug 1, 2019
–
July 31, 2020		 Aug 1, 2020
–
July 31, 2021		 Aug 1, 2021
–
July 31, 2022
U-8 Jan 1, 2018
–
Dec 31, 2018		 Aug 1, 2018
–
July 31, 2019		 Aug 1, 2019
–
July 31, 2020		 Aug 1, 2020
–
July 31, 2021
U-9 Jan 1, 2017
–
Dec 31, 2017		 Aug 1, 2017
–
July 31, 2018		 Aug 1, 2018
–
July 31, 2019		 Aug 1, 2019
–
July 31, 2020
U-10 Jan 1, 2016
–
Dec 31, 2016		 Aug 1, 2016
–
July 31, 2017		 Aug 1, 2017
–
July 31, 2018		 Aug 1, 2018
–
July 31, 2019
U-11 Jan 1, 2015
–
Dec 31, 2015		 Aug 1, 2015
–
July 31, 2016		 Aug 1, 2016
–
July 31, 2017		 Aug 1, 2017
–
July 31, 2018
U-12 Jan 1, 2014
–
Dec 31, 2014		 Aug 1, 2014
–
July 31, 2015		 Aug 1, 2015
–
July 31, 2016		 Aug 1, 2016
–
July 31, 2017
U-13 Jan 1, 2013
–
Dec 31, 2013		 Aug 1, 2013
–
July 31, 2014		 Aug 1, 2014
–
July 31, 2015		 Aug 1, 2015
–
July 31, 2016
U-14 Jan 1, 2012
–
Dec 31, 2012		 Aug 1, 2012
–
July 31, 2013		 Aug 1, 2013
–
July 31, 2014		 Aug 1, 2014
–
July 31, 2015
U-15 Jan 1, 2011
–
Dec 31, 2011		 Aug 1, 2011
–
July 31, 2012		 Aug 1, 2012
–
July 31, 2013		 Aug 1, 2013
–
July 31, 2014
U-16 Jan 1, 2010
–
Dec 31, 2010		 Aug 1, 2010
–
July 31, 2011		 Aug 1, 2011
–
July 31, 2012		 Aug 1, 2012
–
July 31, 2013
U-17 Jan 1, 2009
–
Dec 31, 2009		 Aug 1, 2009
–
July 31, 2010		 Aug 1, 2010
–
July 31, 2011		 Aug 1, 2011
–
July 31, 2012
U-18 Jan 1, 2008
–
Dec 31, 2008		 Aug 1, 2008
–
July 31, 2009		 Aug 1, 2009
–
July 31, 2010		 Aug 1, 2010
–
July 31, 2011
U-19 Jan 1, 2007
–
Dec 31, 2007		 Aug 1, 2007
–
July 31, 2008		 Aug 1, 2008
–
July 31, 2009		 Aug 1, 2009
–
July 31, 2010