Age Eligibility Changes + FAQs

US Soccer will be changing the eligibility for Travel/Premier age groups beginning with the Fall 2026 season. CJSA and EDP New England have aligned with US Soccer on these changes and will take effect across CT Travel and Premier programs in August 2026.

Age Eligibility Chart

Age Eligibility FAQs

1. Why is US Soccer making this change?
US Soccer is aligning age groups nationwide to create more consistency in player development across all states and leagues. This shift also groups players more closely with their school-year peers, which helps simplify long-term planning for clubs.

In addition, experience from the previous birth-year model showed that separating players from their classmates could impact participation in some areas. Aligning more closely with school-year groupings is intended to support a stronger, more connected player experience.

2. How will this change affect my child’s team next year?
It depends on your child’s birthdate and current team. Some teams may see small roster adjustments, while others will remain largely the same. Our priority is to keep as many teams together as possible and ensure a smooth transition.

In general, more established teams are likely to stay intact, while younger or newer teams may experience more variation. Players will have the opportunity to be evaluated with an older age group if appropriate, but final placement decisions will be based on evaluations, roster needs, and overall team structure.

3. Will my child automatically move to a new team because of the new age chart?
Not necessarily. Players may try out for their “true” age group or one age group up, similar to the current play-up process. Final placements will reflect tryout evaluations, player development needs, and team continuity.

4. Can my child “play up” under the new system?
Yes. Families may choose whether their player tries out for their age-appropriate team or the group one year older based on their previous eligibility. All play-up placements will continue to follow SCOR’s evaluation and approval process.

5. What happens if my child tries out for the older age group but doesn’t make that roster?
Your child will automatically be considered for a team within their correct age group. No player will lose a place in the program by attempting to play up.

6. Will there still be the same number of teams in each age group?
We can’t guarantee identical team counts in every group, but our aim is to preserve as many existing teams as possible. Actual team formation will depend on registration numbers and evaluation outcomes.

7. How will SCOR decide the best structure for each age group?
TES coaching staff and SCOR leadership will review registration numbers, tryout evaluations, roster needs, and long-term development considerations before making decisions.

8. When will families know their child’s placement for Fall 2026?
Placement timelines will follow our standard tryout schedule. Tryouts for Fall ‘26 are currently scheduled for Tuesday, May 19th (boys) and Tuesday, May 26th (girls), and we will share placement decisions as promptly as possible following the tryout process.

9. Will this impact playing time, game formats, or field sizes?
No. The age-group shift does not affect US Soccer’s game format standards (7v7, 9v9, 11v11) or field sizes. Only the birth-year eligibility windows are changing.

10. How long will these new age guidelines remain in place?
These adjustments are part of a national rollout and will apply across all programs beginning Fall 2026. We expect this structure to remain stable for the foreseeable future.

11. Who can I contact if I want to talk through how this might affect my child?
Please reach out anytime. Families are encouraged to connect with Matt or Hannah directly at [email protected] — we’re here to walk you through anything specific to your player.