Question 1

What is changing?

Accepted Answer

Beginning with the Fall 2026 season, youth soccer age groups will move from a calendar-year system to a seasonal-year system.

Previously, age groups were based on birthdates from January 1 through December 31.
Under the new system, age groups are based on birthdates from August 1 through July 31.

Question 2

Why is this change being made?

Accepted Answer

The new system - which is required by US Youth Soccer and PA West - better aligns soccer age groups with the school year.

That does not mean grade determines a player’s age group. It simply means the birthdate ranges will now more closely match the way many children are grouped in school.

Question 3

Does my child’s school grade determine their soccer age group?

Accepted Answer

No.

A player’s soccer age group is still determined only by date of birth.

Grade, school placement, whether a player started school early or late, or whether a player was held back does not determine soccer age group eligibility.

Question 4

What are the new age group birthdate ranges?

Accepted Answer

Under the new system, each age group runs from August 1 through July 31.

For example, for Fall 2026:
U5 = players born August 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022
U6 = players born August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021
U7 = players born August 1, 2019 through July 31, 2020

The same pattern continues for older age groups.

Question 5

Will this make my child move to a different age group?

Accepted Answer

Possibly, depending on your child’s birthdate.

Players born between January 1 and July 31 will generally fall into the age group most families would expect.

Players born between August 1 and December 31 are the players most affected by the change, because they may now be eligible for a younger age group than they would have been under the old calendar-year system.

Question 6

Which players are most affected?

Accepted Answer

Players born between August 1 and December 31 are most affected.

Because of the new cutoff date, those players will generally be among the older players in their new age group, rather than among the younger players in the next age group.

Question 7

Can my child still play with classmates or former teammates?

Accepted Answer

Possibly.

If your child’s birthdate places them in a younger age group under the new system, they may request to play up into the next age group to stay with classmates, friends, or former teammates, assuming roster space allows.

However, specific team placement is never guaranteed from season to season.

Question 8

What does “play up” mean?

Accepted Answer

“Playing up” means a player plays in an older age group than the youngest age group they are eligible for.

For example, if your player is eligible for U10 under the new age group rules, but you would like them considered for U11, that would be a request to play up.

Question 9

Can my child play down?

Accepted Answer

No.

A player may not play in an age group younger than the youngest age group allowed by their birthdate.

What may feel like “playing down” for some August–December birthdays is really just the new age group system placing them correctly based on the new August 1–July 31 cutoff.

Question 10

Is playing up always the right choice?

Accepted Answer

No.

For some players, playing up will make sense socially, developmentally, or competitively. For others, staying in the youngest eligible age group may be the better fit.

Families should consider the player’s confidence, maturity, experience, friendships, physical development, and overall enjoyment of the game.

Question 11

Will my child automatically stay with the same team?

Accepted Answer

No.

The new age group system may make it easier for some players to remain with former teammates, but rosters are still rebuilt from season to season based on registration numbers, coaching availability, roster sizes, friend requests, competitive balance, and other placement factors.

The change does not guarantee any specific team placement.

Question 12

What if my child is in the same grade as players in an older age group?

Accepted Answer

Grade does not control age group eligibility.

If your child’s birthdate places them in a younger age group, they are eligible for that younger age group regardless of grade. They may be able to request to play up, but they are not required to play in the older age group simply because of their grade.

Question 13

What if my child is in a lower grade than other players with the same birth year?

Accepted Answer

Again, grade does not control age group eligibility.

A player’s age group is based only on birthdate. A player who started school late, started school early, or is in a different grade than most players with the same birth year will still be placed according to their date of birth.

Question 14

How does this affect game formats like 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11?

Accepted Answer

Game format is tied to age group.

So, if the new age group rules place a player in a different age group than expected, that may also affect the game format they play. For example, a player eligible for U10 may be in a different format than a player playing U11 or U12.

Question 15

What should parents do during registration?

Accepted Answer

Parents should register their player for their desired league - Travel, In-House, or Mini-Martians - based on the player’s date of birth.

If the player is eligible for a younger age group under the new rules but the family wants the player considered for an older age group, they should indicate this during registration by selecting the appropriate request to play up.

Question 16

What is the simplest way to understand the change?

Accepted Answer

The cutoff date is moving.

Instead of age groups being based on January 1–December 31, they will now be based on August 1–July 31.

That means players with August–December birthdays are the ones most likely to notice a difference.

Question 17

Who should I contact with questions?

Accepted Answer

Contact the Club if you are unsure which age group applies to your player or whether requesting to play up makes sense.

The Club can help confirm your player’s correct age group based on birthdate and explain any available options.

MARS AREA SOCCER CLUB

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NEW AGE GROUPS

Find Your Fall 2026 Team Fit

Parent-Friendly Calculator

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FAQs

What is changing?

Why is this change being made?

Does my child’s school grade determine their soccer age group?

What are the new age group birthdate ranges?

Will this make my child move to a different age group?

Which players are most affected?

Can my child still play with classmates or former teammates?

What does “play up” mean?

Can my child play down?

Is playing up always the right choice?

Will my child automatically stay with the same team?

What if my child is in the same grade as players in an older age group?

What if my child is in a lower grade than other players with the same birth year?

How does this affect game formats like 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11?

What should parents do during registration?

What is the simplest way to understand the change?

Who should I contact with questions?

MARS AREA SOCCER CLUB

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NEW AGE GROUPS

Find Your Fall 2026 Team Fit

Parent-Friendly Calculator

AGE GROUP:

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FAQs

What is changing?

Why is this change being made?

Does my child’s school grade determine their soccer age group?

What are the new age group birthdate ranges?

Will this make my child move to a different age group?

Which players are most affected?

Can my child still play with classmates or former teammates?

What does “play up” mean?

Can my child play down?

Is playing up always the right choice?

Will my child automatically stay with the same team?

What if my child is in the same grade as players in an older age group?

What if my child is in a lower grade than other players with the same birth year?

How does this affect game formats like 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11?

What should parents do during registration?

What is the simplest way to understand the change?

Who should I contact with questions?