2026-27 SEASON

AGE GROUP CHANGE

2026-27 Age Group Formation Information

Updated – December 10, 2025

Following extensive review and discussion, US Youth Soccer, AYSO, and US Club Soccer have collectively decided to move to an age group player formation cycle that runs from August 1 to July 31, starting with the 2026-27 season/registration year. This change was made based on additional critical feedback, data, and expert input to better align players with their school-grade peers. The associations feel that this age group player formation will be the most inclusive and help increase participation.

The August 1 to July 31 age group player formation cycle will be used for all USYS league and Cup competitions for the 2026-27 season/registration year including: National Championships, Presidents Cup, and National League.

WHY THE CHANGE?

In order to be eligible to participate in US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, NPL, and ECNL league play & competitions, Tennessee Soccer Club as well as all other clubs nationwide must be compliant with this change.

  • For the 2026–27 season, the standard will shift to a seasonal model, with age groups defined from August 1 to July 31.
  • The current birth-year model (January 1 – December 31) to define age groups, which was mandated by U.S. Soccer in 2017 to align with FIFA international standards will be discontinued.
  • In collaboration to create a unified path forward in player development and age groupings, the largest youth soccer governing bodies (i.e., US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO) have collectively agreed to move to an age group formation cycle.
  • The change will apply to all USYS-sanctioned league and cup competitions (National Championships, Presidents Cup, National League, etc.) and US Club-sanctioned league and competitions (ECNL, ECNL-RL, NPL, USYS, etc.).

WHAT AGE GROUP WILL MY CHILD PLAY IN?

You can use the Age Group Look-up Tool or chart below to find out what birth date corresponds to the proper age group for the 2026-27 season.

The simplest way to summarize the upcoming change is that on August 1st, 2026:

  • Players born January 1st through July 31st will progress to the higher age group for the 26/27 season.
    Ex. Player born in June 2017;
    25/26 Season: U9
    26/27 Season: U10
  • Players born August 1st through December 31st will remain in the same age group for the 26/27 season.
    Ex. Player born in September 2017;
    25/26 Season: U9
    26/27 Season: U9

WILL MY CHILD BE AFFECTED?

  • The TSC Nashville Recreation program will remain unchanged from its current age
  • TSC Upper Cumberland Recreational program will change to the new age group model
  • All of our current Academy and Competitive programs will change to the new age group model
  • Because of the mandated change nationwide, some players will experience a shift into a different “age group” than they would in the 2025-26 birth year model. This new mandate will determine how we form our teams. We are currently working diligently to ensure a smooth transition for the 2026-27 season.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

We understand that transitions like this can bring questions.  Our staff has been forward thinking and working through the best processes to support players and families.

Throughout this year, our club leadership, Directors of Coaching, Location Directors, and coaching staff are:

  • Reviewing all current rosters and birth dates to project how the shift will affect teams at each level in preparation for tryout season
  • Planning and preparing age group training opportunities, tryouts & evaluations for the 2026-27 season
  • Communicating with clarity so our families stay informed with important updates
  • Providing support tools and resources, including the Age Group Change Tool and Q & A (please see below)
  • Monitoring updates from US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and state associations to ensure TSC remains prepared to provide the best experience for our membership

TSC will continue to share information, important dates, and the next steps as the year progresses. We remain committed to providing the best possible experience of every player throughout the TSC Player Developmental Pathway.

If you have any current questions, please contact your Director of Coaching or Location Director.

Thank you for your continued support and trust in us as we Commit to the Process.

AGE GROUP CHANGE INFORMATION

AGE GROUP

2025-26 AGE GROUP

2026-27 AGE GROUP

U-7
Born between Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019
Born between Aug 1, 2019 – July 31, 2020
U-8
Born between Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018
Born between Aug 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019
U-9
Born between Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017
Born between Aug 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018
U-10
Born between Jan 1, 2016 – Dec 31, 2016
Born between Aug 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017
U-11
Born between Jan 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015
Born between Aug 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016
U-12
Born between Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2014
Born between Aug 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015
U-13
Born between Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013
Born between Aug 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014
U-14
Born between Jan 1, 2012 – Dec 31, 2012
Born between Aug 1, 2012 – July 31, 2013
U-15
Born between Jan 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011
Born between Aug 1, 2011 – July 31, 2012
U-16
Born between Jan 1, 2010 – Dec 31, 2010
Born between Aug 1, 2010 – July 31, 2011
U-17
Born between Jan 1, 2009 – Dec 31, 2009
Born between Aug 1, 2009 – July 31, 2010
U-18
Born between Jan 1, 2008 – Dec 31, 2008
Born between Aug 1, 2008 – July 31, 2009
U-19
Born between Jan 1, 2007 – Dec 31, 2007
Born between Aug 1, 2007 – July 31, 2008

AGE GROUP

U-7
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2019
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2019 – July 31, 2020
U-8
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2018
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019
U-9
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2017 – Dec 31, 2017
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018
U-10
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2016 – Dec 31, 2016
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017
U-11
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2015 – Dec 31, 2015
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016
U-12
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2014 – Dec 31, 2014
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015
U-13
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014
U-14
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2012 – Dec 31, 2012
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2012 – July 31, 2013
U-15
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2011 – Dec 31, 2011
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2011 – July 31, 2012
U-16
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2010 – Dec 31, 2010
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2010 – July 31, 2011
U-17
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2009 – Dec 31, 2009
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2009 – July 31, 2010
U-18
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2008 – Dec 31, 2008
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2008 – July 31, 2009
U-19
2025-26 AGE GROUP
Born between Jan 1, 2007 – Dec 31, 2007
2026-27 AGE GROUP
Born between Aug 1, 2007 – July 31, 2008

TSC is committed to working through this age group change with our players and families. Our directors have been preparing and meeting regularly to make this transition as smooth at possible for each and every player."

Stuart BrownExecutive Director

Q & A

Q. What is changing in 2026-27?

A.  Starting with the 2026-27 season, youth soccer nationwide will move from the current birth year (January-December) model to a seasonal-year (August-July) model for age group formulation.

Current System: Birth year (January 1 – December 31)
New System: Seasonal year (August 1 – July 31)

 

This aligns age groups closer to the school year, lessening the frequency of “trapped” players.

Q. Why is this change happening?

A. U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO agreed to this change based on extensive research and feedback. The key reasons include:

  • Inclusive with increased participation opportunities
  • Unified alignment across major youth soccer organizations
  • Expert recommendations supporting the seasonal year model
  • Most effectively reduces the number of “trapped” players and reduces negative impacts on these players at multiple stages of their career. “Trapped” players are those who, due to soccer age group cut-offs, are in an older soccer age group than their school year. Trapped players have significantly reduced competition opportunities and disrupted training experiences in 8th grade (when most of their team is in high school) and are similarly negatively impacted four years later when players from the older soccer age group, but who are still in high school, are moved down into the same soccer age group. (US Club Soccer)

Q. Which TSC programs will be affected?

A.  All programs will be affected:

  • Recreation
  • All Academy & Competitive Teams

Our Recreation program in TSC Nashville will not change in structure and will remain based on grade year.

Q. What happens to the "Trapped Group" (U15)?

A.  The shift to seasonal year from birth year grouping reduces the number of “trapped” players.

What are “Trapped” players?  These are players who are in the U15 age group, but due to birth year cut-offs, are in 8th grade whereas the rest of their teammates were in high school.  Any trapped players will have training opportunities.

Q. How will uniform numbers be assigned?

A.  In 2026-27 TSC enters a new two-year uniform cycle and every player will be purchasing a new uniform kit.  All players will be assigned uniform numbers by the Director of Coaching or Location Director upon registration.

Recreational players will be given uniforms from their coach at the start of the recreational season.

Q. When does this change take effect?

A.  The change will take effect for the 2026-27 seasonal year.

  • The 2025-26 season will continue to use the current birth year model
  • Starting August 2026, all competitive programs will use the new seasonal year model.
  • Preparation has been ongoing since the start of the season by club leadership, Directors of Coaching, Location Directors, and coaches to ensure a smooth transition.

Q. What is TSC doing to prepare for the age group change?

A.  Our club leadership, Directors of Coaching, Location Directors, and coaching staff are actively preparing for the transition:

  • Evaluating Players and Rosters: Analyzing all current rosters and birth dates to project team impacts
  • Planning age group training sessions, guest training/playing opportunities, tryouts: DOCs and Location Directors are planning and implementing age group training sessions, play dates, evaluations, and tryout dates
  • Communication: Providing clear and transparent updates as we continue throughout the process
  • Supporting resources: Creation of Age Group Lookup Tool and information on this Age Group Change webpage
  • Staying informed: Continuing to monitor for updates from governing bodies to ensure all new information is accounted for and communicated

We are committed to providing the best possible experience for our players and families throughout this process.

Q. Does this change align with school grade?

A.  No.  School grade in Tennessee is determined by age on August 15th. For children who are ‘up’ or ‘down’ a school year at school, their soccer age group is determined by date of birth.

Q. Can my child "play up" an age group?

A.  TSC will be committed to transitioning all players to their proper age group based on the August 1 – July 31 model.  All players must register and tryout in their age group.  Generally playing up will only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

Q. Can teams stay together?

A.  No, all teams will be formed based on the new seasonal year model.

Q. Where can I find more information regarding the age group change?

A.  We will continue to share updates, timelines, and detailed information as it becomes available.

In the meantime:

  • Contact your director: Reach out to your Director of Coaching / Location Director with specific questions
  • Check official announcements: Read the full USYS and US Club Soccer articles for comprehensive details
  • Watch for updates: We will continue to provide more information as we move through the process in each program

If you have questions, please e-mail [email protected].

If you have questions, please e-mail [email protected].

Translate »