Age Group Formations Change August 2026
Beginning with the 2026–27 season, CVSC will be updating our age groups to align with the current standards used by our governing leagues: Cal North, NorCal Premier, US Youth Soccer (USYS), and US Soccer.
This change applies to all CVSC programs, including Recreational (Bumblebees, Grasshoppers, Academy, and all U9–U19 divisions) and Competitive.
What is changing?
Currently, most youth soccer programs in the United States, including USYS, US Club Soccer, and AYSO, use a calendar-year “birth-year” model (January 1 through December 31) to determine age groups.
Starting with the 2026–27 season, these organizations will move to a school-year model based on an August 1 through July 31 cutoff.
In summary: This change aligns age groups more closely with school grades, helping kids play alongside their classmates and friends.
Why the change?
The calendar-year system can sometimes create a mismatch between players, placing them on teams where most teammates are in different grades. This can make social and developmental alignment more difficult, especially as players get older.
The new school-year cutoff will help reduce these mismatches and support better social and developmental balance within teams.
You can read more about the reasons behind this change from US Soccer HERE.
What this means for our club and your player
For the 2026–27 season, teams will transition to the new August 1 through July 31 groupings.
This means:
Your child’s age group will now be based on their birthday relative to August 1, not January 1.
Some players may move into a different age group than they have been playing with.
We have included an Age Group Matrix so you can easily identify your player’s new age group.
Both Recreational and Competitive programs will use the same structure, making it easier to understand the player pathway from Bumblebees through U19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will my child have to “move up” or “play down”?
All team formation for the upcoming season will use the new age groupings. This applies to both new and returning players. Players impacted by this change will shift to their new age group.
Q: Does this affect competitive and recreational teams differently?
The change applies to all programs equally, though team policies differ:
Recreational: The current play-up policy will remain in place. To play in an older age group, a player’s parent must head coach the team. No “playing down” will be allowed.
Competitive: Play-up requests will continue to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Director of Coaching (DOC). As a general policy, CVSC will continue to operate an age-pure program and minimize players playing outside their official age group. In order to play-up a player will need to be a top 3 player in the age group they are playing into - as determined by the club DOC, Competitive Director, and CVSC coaching staff.
Q: Will this change affect the current season?
No. The 2025–26 spring season will remain under the current birth-year model. The new model begins with 2026–27 registration.
Q: How will this benefit my child?
Most players will now be grouped with school classmates and friends, which supports stronger team chemistry, social comfort, and long-term player development, especially through the middle and high school years.
Q: What should parents do now?
No action is needed yet. Continue participating in the current season and watch for future updates from the club. Review your child’s birthdate in relation to August 1 and reach out with any questions. We are here to help.
Key Timeline
Now through April 2026: Continue under the current birth-year model.
Early 2026: CVSC will release more detailed information about updated age groups, registration and tryouts for the 2026/27 season.
May 2026 (Tryouts/Registration): Transition to the new August 1 through July 31 model.
Fall 2026: First season under the new alignment.
Our Commitment
We understand that change can bring questions, and we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. Our priority remains the same: providing every player with a fun, safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate soccer experience.
Over the coming months, we will share more updates, host optional info sessions, and remain available to answer questions.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We look forward to many great seasons ahead.
If you have questions or believe your player has a unique circumstance that needs review, please contact us at askCVSC@castrovalleysoccer.com so we can respond consistently and accurately.