Age Group Formation Change - Get Ready for next Season
Tom Tianich • June 28, 2026
US Youth Soccer officially shifted from calendar-year groupings (Jan 1–Dec 31) to a school-year format (Aug 1–July 31). The claim is that this seasonal model aligns players closer to their academic classmates.
Why the shift?
- Social Cohesion: Players are grouped with school peers, which supposedly boosts team chemistry and social development.
- Retention: Lessens the "trapped player" dilemma, especially during middle school and high school, allegedly reducing player dropout rates.
- Age Brackets: Teams will now span two birth years (e.g., U12 includes kids born between Aug 1, 2014, and July 31, 2015).
If you want to know exactly how your child fits into the new setup, see the charts below or try the "calculator".
- "Competitive" Chart
- Recreational "GHSL" Chart
- Hollywood FC Chart (includes PK Soccer)
- FYSA-provided chart, for those that prefer it
LINK HERE
Age Calculator Coming Soon!
FREE GIRLS SOCCER SOCIAL - BRING A FRIEND - REGISTER HERE FOR FREE
Each year in May, we have tryout season. The angst within the Youth Soccer Community is easy to feel. We hope that the infographic and the blog post can help some players and families during this process. It's not easy to navigate. WHAT COACHES ARE LOOKING FOR ☺ PLAYER NO'S ☺ SOME INSIDER TIPS
USL Academy League welcomes Hollywood FC as the 6th South Florida Club
Why "Price for Life" Loyalty Programs Matter in Youth Soccer
Hollywood FC - "Price For Life" Program Introduced
Hollywood FC x AS Dan Chilom Partnership
What to Do When You Can't Afford Your Kid's Sport?
Pay to Play Model and Parent Sportsmanship Expectations
Coaching Education - Parent Education
Setting the Stage for Success: A Note on Division Placement