Beginning with the 2026-2027 seasonal year, Springs Soccer Club will be moving to a school year calendar age grouping method for all programs including Travel and Recreation.

Age groups will change from being formed by January 1-December 31 birth year to an August 1-July 31 age grouping based on school grade.

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.

To calculate your player's soccer age, determine if they fall within the birthdate ranges listed below or use the U.S. Soccer age group formation tool.

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 places them in the U10 age group for the 2026-2027 season.

A: US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, American Youth Soccer Association, 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.

A: The change will go into effect for the 2026-2027 season. There is no change during the

current 2025-2026 season.

A: See the age group calculator table above or utilize the U.S. Soccer Age Group Formation Tool.

A: 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. We 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 leagues follow the same structure, so competitive balance remains consistent. 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

A: Yes, a player may be chosen to play up. The decision on player placement is made by coaching staff and technical leadership with several factors in mind - player skill level, soccer maturity, current development level, predicted future development level, and player commitment.

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.

A: No, players are not allowed to play down an age group. Players who were held back a grade in school will play with their appropriate age group based on their birth date.

A: Players born in August through December may be more likely to shift age groups. Some team rosters will change with players staying at the appropriate level with their school aged peers or playing up. Players who stay at the appropriate age group per their birthdate have the benefit of gaining more confidence and leadership skills.

A: 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.

A: Tryouts will be primarily for Springs Soccer Club recreation players or players from outside the club and will be based on the August 1-July 31 age group formation and not by birth year. Many current Springs Soccer Club travel players will receive rolling offers prior to tryouts and

will be placed on rosters based on their performance and developmental progress throughout the 2025-2026 season. Current Springs Soccer Club Travel players who do not receive an offer prior to tryouts should attend the scheduled tryouts for further evaluation. More details about the tryout process will be communicated once they are finalized.

A: The goal is to announce the slate prior to official ID Sessions in the winter and before the start of the travel team tryouts in the spring. Typically, coaching assignments for most competitive teams are announced first - ahead of their respective ID Sessions - while assignments for the remaining travel teams are announced prior to spring tryouts.

A: 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.

A:  Beginning with the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 season, Springs Soccer Club 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 aligns soccer with the school year calendar and youth soccer programs across the country.

A:  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 families preferred.

A: 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

A:  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.

A:  See the age group calculator table above or utilize the 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.

- U11-U19 Rec players born August 1-December 31 will have the option to continue playing

with their current peer group OR move to the younger peer group.

A: Children born in these months may move 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 school grade in Fall 2026.

A:  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.

A:  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.

A: Tryouts will be primarily for Springs Soccer Club recreation players or players from outside the club and will be based on the August 1-July 31 age group formation and not by birth year. Many current Springs Soccer Club travel players will receive rolling offers prior to tryouts and

will be placed on rosters based on their performance and developmental progress throughout the 2025-2026 season. Current Springs Soccer Club Travel players who do not receive an offer prior to tryouts should attend the scheduled tryouts for further evaluation. More details about the tryout process will be communicated once they are finalized.

A:  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.

A:  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.

A:  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.

A:  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.

A: 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.

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

A:  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.

A:  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

A:  You can contact the Recreation Director or the Programs Administrator at [EMAIL]