Earlier this year, the national governing bodies of youth soccer in the United States - including U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and U.S. Soccer - announced a transition to an August 1 – July 31 age group classification model.
Beginning with the 2026–2027 seasonal year, youth soccer organizations across the country will determine age group eligibility using this August 1 – July 31 birthdate window. The intent is to create greater alignment and consistency across competitions nationwide.
As the state member association, the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA) will implement this transition across Maryland. As an MSYSA-affiliated club, Juventus Academy DC Metro must follow this updated structure.
This transition is intended to support players in meaningful and practical ways, both on and off the field.
Shifting to an August 1 – July 31 birthdate window helps minimize situations where players are separated from classmates due to a calendar-year cutoff. Under the new structure, more players will train and compete alongside peers they see in the classroom each day.
Playing with school-year peers can help cultivate stronger friendships both on and off the field. When players share both classroom and team environments, it often supports confidence, communication, and a greater sense of belonging.
Organizing teams around the academic calendar creates greater social and developmental continuity for families. Players are more likely to compete with peers at similar stages of physical, emotional, and cognitive development - helping promote balanced team formation and healthy competition.
When players train and compete with classmates and familiar peers, the experience can feel more connected and enjoyable. A strong social environment, paired with age-appropriate competition, supports confidence and long-term player development.
Many leading youth soccer organizations have adopted this updated age group framework, creating stronger alignment across leagues and competitions nationwide. This consistency helps streamline development pathways and reduce confusion as players move between programs.
For the 2026–2027 seasonal year, players will be grouped based on the new August 1 – July 31 cutoff window. As a result, some players may move into a different age group compared to prior seasons.
The new age group structure begins with registration and team formation for the 2026–2027 season, beginning with Fall 2026 Tryouts. The current 2025–2026 season remains under the current age group structure for the Spring 2026 season.
Tryouts for the 2026/2027 Season will begin in April 2026; information on player placement will be published within 2 weeks of final tryouts.
2026/2027 tryout dates will be posted by the beginning of April.
Players born between August and December are most likely to experience the most noticeable shift under the new structure. In many cases, these players will remain in their current age group for the 2026–2027 season rather than moving up as they would have under the previous model.
For example, a player born in October 2016 (currently U10) would remain in the U10 age group for 2026–2027 under the updated guidelines.
As a result, some team rosters may adjust, with players grouped more consistently alongside their school-year peers. Remaining within their designated age group can provide valuable opportunities for continued growth, confidence-building, and leadership development in an age-appropriate environment.
Please refer to the age group chart below for the full 2026–2027 breakdown. More Info on the age windows & an age group calculator can be found at: https://www.msysa.org/registration-window-changes-for-2026-2027/
Some age groups may see adjustments under the new structure. In many cases, players will continue with classmates and familiar peers. Initial tryout assignments will be driven by the new age group guidelines.
All tryouts will be on-age, meaning all players will attend tryouts and compete for positions on teams according to the new age group guidelines.
Yes - in certain cases, players may be considered for placement outside their designated age group if it aligns with our existing player development philosophy.
These decisions are made thoughtfully by our coaching staff in collaboration with club leadership, with the player’s long-term growth and best interest as the primary focus.
A player rostering up (in age) would demonstrate exceptional advancement in all performance domains: physical, technical, tactical, mental, and social. If such a player exists, we would identify them in the tryout process and consider rostering up only after approval of Club Directors.
If you have general questions about this transition then you may email us at: info@juventusdcmetro.com
