Starting with the 2026–2027 season, US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO will transition back to school-year-based age groupings (August 1–July 31), moving away from the current calendar-year system. This change aims to align team formations more closely with players' academic grades, enhancing social cohesion and simplifying team management. 

Key Points:

 Effective Date: The new age groupings will take effect for the  Fall 2026– Spring 2027 season.

 Rationale: Aligning age groups with the school year is expected to improve team dynamics by grouping players with their grade-level peers.

 Transition Period: The 2025–2026 season (Fall-Spring) will continue with the current calendar-year system, providing clubs and families ample time to prepare for the upcoming changes.