Age Change Information
COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY
Northern Utah United is an advocate and facilitator for youth development through soccer, allowing each member to have a place to play, train, and compete at the level they desire. Our goal is to facilitate a soccer experience, through programming and culture, that assures each player the opportunities to be as ambitious as they desire. Learn more about our mission, vision, objectives, culture, and core values on our ABOUT page đź”— .
WHY THE CHANGE?
- Helps reduce the number of “trapped players” (those separated from classmates due to the calendar-year cutoff).
- Better aligns youth soccer teams with the school-year cycle.
- Belief that reverting to the pre-2017, August 1–July 31 age group format will best support player development and improve overall balance and participation across youth soccer.
- Three of the major soccer governing bodies, including US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), are all following the adjusted age group cutoff dates.
RESOURCES
NUU SOCCER
US SOCCER
US CLUB (ECNL-REGIONAL LEAGUE)
UYSA (State)
âš˝
AGE GROUP QUICK-REFERENCES
AGE GROUP CALCULATOR
2026–2027 Age Group Calculator
For birthdates between Aug 1, 2007 and Jul 31, 2023.
This calculator is intended for informational purposes only. Final placement may vary.
Please confirm your player’s official age group with your coach or our Director of Coaching, Jeff Ginn
coachginn@nuusoccer.com.
NUU Strategic Plan
Soccer Community,
Early in 2025, the governing bodies of U.S. Soccer announced changes to the national age-group dates. We understand that this will create changes for teams nationwide, and we acknowledge that clubs—including NUU—will need to adapt thoughtfully to the many scenarios that arise from this decision.
As we move into a tryout season that will bring changes to our current teams and player pool, we want to reassure you that we remain fully committed to communicating player placement predictions and coaching assignments well before tryouts begin. To avoid rushed decisions, we have already started meeting with coaches to ensure our evaluations align with our principles of individual vertical integration and long-term player development đź”—.Â
We appreciate your patience as club leaders and coaches work through the many moving pieces involved in this transition. One of the greatest strengths of belonging to a unified club is our ability to place each player in the environment that best supports their development—while also creating competitive settings that match their level, goals, and ambition.
With ECNL-RL đź”— serving as the highest level of play in our community, we are committed to expanding and enhancing the resources that elevate the top-level experience. At the same time, we will continue providing a fun, challenging, and supportive pathway for all players to learn, grow, and compete at the levels that best suit them.
Please take some time to review timeline below to help your family stay informed and prepared for upcoming announcements and decisions.
Timeline
March 5th, 2025 – US Youth Soccer & US Club Soccer announce change effective August 1st 2026.
August 1st 2025 – Age group formation at tournaments & events will remain by birth year for the 2025/26 season.
October – NUU Leadership reviewed data of all of our club players & teams in the 2025-26 season.
November – NUU Leadership and boys’ team coaches will compare date of birth in the ‘old’ versus ‘new’ structure age group by age group and begin the process of placing players based on their abilities and needs as players.
December – NUU Leadership and girls’ team coaches will compare date of birth in the ‘old’ versus ‘new’ structure age group by age group and begin the process of placing players based on their abilities and needs as players.
January 2026 – NUU Leadership will review data of all of our players & teams in the 2025-26 season. We will compare date of birth in the ‘old’ versus ‘new’ structure age group by age group.
- It is possible—and even likely—that some players will be invited to additional training sessions so they can be observed alongside their clubmates. This helps us make thoughtful, well-supported placement decisions that reflect each player’s needs, development, and potential.
- The UYSA Alignment Committee will finalize the updated guidelines for Fall 2026 and share them with all UYSA member clubs and families.
February 2026 – NUU Leadership will review projected teams and start the process of selecting and assigning coaches for teams.
March 2026 – NUU Leadership will finalize and publish
- Projected 2026-2027 player placement
- 2026-2027 coaching assignments
- Tryout details will be posted by March 31st
Spring 2026 – Coaches assigned to the 2026–2027 teams will be responsible for attending games, leading training sessions, and running mini-camps that include current NUU players, as well as inviting select non-NUU players to participate.
- UYSA Open Training & Contact rules will be followed by all teams, including ECNL-RL teams that register with US Club soccer.
- UYSA Article of Incorporation & Bylaws
- Section 6.5 Recruiting
- Section 6.6 Penalties
- UYSA will be providing additional guidance regarding updated recruiting rules, and all NUU coaches will be fully briefed on these regulations. We expect our coaches to follow these rules carefully to ensure a fair and compliant process for all players.
May 2026 – NUU coaches will begin the process of creating 2026-2027 teams.
- NUU coaches will start inviting current NUU players to accept 2026-2027 roster spots two weeks prior to schedule tryout dates.
- Monday, May 18 – U8-U11 Tryouts
- Tuesday, May 26 & Wednesday, May 27 – U12-U19 Tryouts
- UYSA Policy 6316 Tryouts
- 1. Rationale
- 2. Timing
- 3. Advertisement
- 4. Process
June 2026 – Invited players complete registration and coaches begin training and preparing for upcoming competition.
F.A.Q.
“We are creating a culture that values developing players with a desire to earn the captains armband through their character, passion, work rate and reliability more than we value the MVP.”
What birth years will be affected?
All players in the club will be affected. The exact placement depends on the new cut-off dates established by the governing body.
How will this impact my child’s team?
Teams may look different next season.
With the updated birth-year groupings, some players will naturally move up or down an age bracket. As always, teams will be formed thoughtfully and intentionally based on the following factors:
-
Player ability: ensuring each athlete trains and competes at an appropriate level.
-
Developmental fit: placing players in environments that support their long-term growth.
-
Positional needs: creating balanced teams with the right mix of roles and strengths.
-
Club-wide Individual Vertical Integration principles: IVI is a commitment the club has made to each individual player. The focus on the individual is our top priority. As we accept that development is non-linear, understand bio-banding, long-term development and genuinely invest in prioritizing each child’s needs implementing IVI is a must 🔗.
Our goal is to build teams that set every player up for success—both now and in the future.
Will my child stay with their current coach?
Not always. Coach assignments are adjusted to keep teams balanced and developmentally appropriate. NUU will announce coaching assignments by the end of March 2026.
Will ECNL-RL teams be affected differently?
Elite pathway teams may need:
-
Revised roster compositions
-
Additional evaluation sessions
-
Age-specific league realignments
Learn more about the highest level of competiiotn in our community đź”— .
Under the new age group structure, my player does not move up. Does this mean they have to repeat an age group?
Not necessarily. The updated age group structure is designed to better align soccer age groups with school-year cutoff dates, ensuring players are grouped more closely with their classmates and peers. While it may appear that some players are “repeating” an age group, this realignment simply adjusts the calendar to match the school year. In fact, the additional time in an age group can be highly beneficial — it allows players to further develop their skills, confidence, and leadership before moving to the next level.
Will my player be allowed to "move up" with their friends/teammates if they fall into the lower age group?
We generally encourage players to participate within their selected age group to ensure appropriate development, competition balance and alignment with the new age group cutoff dates. However, we understand every circumstance is different. Requests for players to “play up” with an older age group will be reviewed on an individual basis and considered in collaboration with coaches and club leadership.
My 8th grader falls into the older age group due to an earlier summer birthday, will there be a place for them to play in the spring?
Yes. We understand that some 8th graders with early summer birthdays may be placed into the older age group under the new structure. There will be opportunities for these players to continue training within the club, including sessions with other teams and, in some cases, opportunities to compete with teams that are not participating in high school soccer.
We are currently awaiting additional details and guidance from the leagues we participate in regarding what will be permitted for spring play. As soon as we receive that information, we will share updates with our families right away.
I have a high school senior that falls into the U19 age group, can they play under the new age group calendar?
Yes. High school seniors who fall into the U19 age group will be eligible to play under the new age group calendar. We will provide additional information from the leagues we participate in as it becomes available, including any guidance or restrictions regarding U18 versus U19 participation.
I believe my player should be evaluated to "play-up" even though the new age group dates have them repeating an age group. Will this be allowed?
Requests for players to “play up” will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In general, all players should attend the first tryout with their designated age group based on the new calendar unless a coach has invited you to tryout for the “play up” team. Coaches and club leadership will review individual circumstances and communicate directly with players and families if a player is recommended to try out with an older age group.