U.S. Soccer is changing how soccer age groups are organized. Instead of using birth year only, the new age matrix is designed to better align players with their school grade.

We know this change can be confusing. The information below is meant to help families understand whether this impacts their child and what to do next.

Choose Your Program

My child plays recreation soccer
​My child plays travel soccer

Recreation Families
For recreation players, the goal is to make sure your child’s soccer division lines up with the grade they are entering in school. The new age matrix uses an August 1 to July 31 soccer year. This is meant to help players stay closer to their school-grade group.

Most players will line up correctly on the chart. But some players, especially children born near the school cutoff, may not line up perfectly.

If your child was born between August 1 and December 31, there is a chance the new age matrix may place them in a younger soccer group than their actual school grade.

Please use the steps below to check.

Step 1: Check the Age Matrix Chart
Open the Age Matrix Chart and find your child’s birthday.

Step 2: Look at the grade shown on the chart
The chart will show the grade that usually goes with your child’s birthday and soccer age group.

Step 3: Compare the chart to your child’s actual grade
Ask yourself: Does the grade on the chart match the grade my child is entering?

What to do next
If the grade on the chart matches the grade your child is entering, you do not need to do anything.

If the grade on the chart does not match the grade your child is entering, please complete the Age/Grade Exception Request form. The form lets SWSC review whether your child should be placed with their grade/classmates. This does not mean your child is behind, too young, or too old. It simply means your child’s birthday and school grade do not line up perfectly on the chart.

Example
If the chart places your child in U12 / 6th grade, but your child is entering 7th grade, please complete the Age/Grade Exception Request form.
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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Rec Program Director.

Travel Families
The stated intent of this new age matrix is to keep players with their classmates and peers. With that, SWSC would like to instate the following protocol when initially determining teams with the new age matrix.
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FOR CURRENT PLAYERS IN TRAVEL:
  • Players will be split by birthdate first, grade/enrollment in school second.
  • Players cannot play down or to a younger age range (US Soccer rule)
  • Players can be “grandfathered” onto an older division (their original team) only if they are in the appropriate grade level for that division, and there is still room on the roster. The parent must submit this form to move to grade level team. AGE/GRADE EXCEPTION FORM
  • Players requesting this exception may be asked to provide proof of enrollment, such as a current report card. (Only necessary to show name, school and grade they’re enrolled in. Does not need to show grades or markings for classes or GPA)
  • The rising U13 and U14 teams will remain intact. The younger players may be asked to play with an appropriate grade. If they choose to remain with their current team, they may not be eligible to play in 8th grade if they are a younger grade.
  • ​Any player wishing to play for an older team/division, whether grade-appropriate or through the playing-up policy, will be subject to evaluation by the travel director and performance development directors.

FOR NEW TRAVEL PLAYERS / TEAMS:
  • All players born between 8/1 – 7/31 will make up the new travel teams beginning Fall 2026 (at June 2026 tryouts).
  • If a player has a birthday between 8/1-12/31 and is in the older grade level, they will be  allowed to request to play with their appropriate grade.
  • Players requesting this exception may be asked to provide proof of enrollment, such as a report card (see above).
  • The SWSC playing up policy will stand for any other player, not of the appropriate grade level.
  • Any player wishing to play on an older team/division, whether grade appropriate or through the playing up policy, will be subject to evaluation by the travel director and their aged performance development directors.

​For any player who has been approved and selected to “play up” by the travel program and has hence accepted their position on that team, whether based on grade or merit, it is understood that this player is to stay with that age band throughout their duration with the club.  Players will not be permitted to alternate between age bands on a yearly basis.