Dear FC Charles Families,

In June 2025, United States Youth Soccer (USYS), along with US Club Soccer and US Soccer, announced a significant change to how youth player age groups are organized. Starting with the 2026/2027 season, age groups will be classified by school year (August 1 – July 31) instead of the current birth/calendar year system (January 1 – December 31).

These changes apply to all competitive (Travel and Rec Plus) players and will be implemented for the 2026/2027 season. We recognize that this shift will impact many of our current players and will require the restructuring of most teams within the club.

Purpose of the Change

The primary goal of this shift is to align soccer teams with the academic school year. This helps reduce the "trapped player" phenomenon, where players born in the last quarter of the year remain in high school while the rest of their grade-level cohort has moved on to college. By shifting the birth-date window, we ensure that teammates stay together through their high school graduation.

Players Most Impacted

Players with birthdays in August through December are most likely to be affected, as they will typically remain in their current age group for the 2026/2027 season.

• Example: A player with an October 2016 birth date (current U10) will remain a U10 for the 2026/2027 season.

New Tryout Policy: "Trying Out Up"

FC Charles has revised the "playing up" policy specifically to address this transition. Players attending a grade outside of their age cohort (i.e., a player with an August birth date who is in the same grade as players in the next age group up) will have the option to try out for their designated age group or the next older age group.

• Example: A player born on August 18, 2012, is assigned to the U14 age group per the 2026/2027 USYS age groups. However, if this player attends 9th grade, they have the option to try out for the U15 or the U14 age group.

• Safety Net: If a player opts to try out for the older age group and is not selected, they maintain the full opportunity to be evaluated for their designated (younger) age group.

• Evaluation Criteria: Approval for playing up is dependent on evaluations by the coaching and club staff. Decisions are based on what is best for the individual player’s development, including skill level, maturity, and overall needs. Grade status alone does not guarantee a play-up approval.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who made this decision? Earlier this year, the governing bodies of soccer in the US—USYS, US Club, and US Soccer—made the decision to shift to the Aug 1–July 31 age group classification.

Will registration now be based on the player’s grade in school? No. While age groups will continue to be determined by birth date, the window will shift. During registration, we will ask for the player's current grade and their team from the previous season to help manage these transitions correctly.

When will 2026/2027 player evaluations take place? Information on registration and evaluations will be published in early 2026. FC Charles will continue to provide guidance and updates ahead of tryouts to ensure clarity for all families.

Resources & Further Information

For full details, including a comprehensive transition roadmap, please visit our dedicated landing page:

Age Group Transition Landing Page

Should you have additional questions regarding age groups, please contact us at info@fc1658.org.

Sincerely,

FC Charles 1658