Many of you have heard on our sidelines or through social media channels that the age group structure is changing in youth soccer. This is true. The change will begin in May during our tryout process as we form teams for the 2026-27 season, and them formally launch in the fall season of 2026. This is the first communication regarding this topic, it will not be the last. We will continue to communicate throughout the spring so that everyone is aware and understands the change and how it will affect our club, our teams, and your player. Below are explanations and answers to frequently asked questions as well as an opinion letter from Executive Director, Carson Porter.
Big Picture Notes and Changes:
This change is a directive and requirement that comes from the governing bodies of Youth Soccer: U.S. Youth Soccer (USYSA) and US Club Soccer. These organizations oversee the 3 leagues that Hammerheads Soccer players and teams participate in:
o U.S. Youth Soccer (USYSA) oversees North Carolina Youth Soccer (NCYSA) and South Carolina Youth Soccer (SCYSA) and our Youth Academies
o US Club Soccer oversees ECNL National and Regional programs
The change moves away from the current “birth year” age group model (January – December) and returns to a “Grade/Seasonal” age group model (August – July).
Hammerheads Soccer Club and its affiliates must adhere to this change to continue to compete in U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and ECNL leagues.
The Specifics:
Starting in the 2026-27 season, age groups will be built with August 1st as the earliest date of the new 12 month calendar, and July 31st of the following year being the last date.
Transition from Birth-Year to School year: The existing birth-year model (January-December), implemented in 2017, will revert to the school-year model (August - July) for better consistency in player development, and an overall healthier long-term experience. Supportive points of this are:
o Having teammates in the same grade fosters friendships.
o Being more connected to grade years helps when players transition to high school soccer (8th grade / 9th grade)
o College soccer recruiting is more consistent when the majority of players are in the same graduating class.
Impact on Players: We will primarily follow the school/grade year structure. We do anticipate that approximately 15% of our club members will fall within the August birth year window, making them eligible for both the current and new systems. Special exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on talent and pool considerations.
Application Across All Competitions: This change will affect all Hammerheads Soccer Club teams and participants.
o The system-wide shift will bring change. A Players’ age will be categorized into the new 12-month window, and this will affect team formation.
o We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for the 2026-27 season while prioritizing the growth and development of every player.
Next Steps:
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please don't hesitate to reach out to your respective director. See below for additional commentary from Executive Director, Carson Porter.
AGE GROUP CHANGE: 2026/27
This spring will mark the second mandated birth-year change during my time at Hammerheads Soccer. As with many things in our world today, this change will bring opinions, speculation, concern and worry. Knowing that, we will implement this change with discussion, thought, care, and concern — and in 12 - months’ time, it will feel like a distant memory.
For those who want a full picture of this change, below is a personal perspective on the topic, based on my experiences and conversations over the years.
In 2017, U.S. Soccer (USSF) mandated that all youth soccer clubs transition from the traditional July–August age group model to a birth-year age group model. A lot of the reasoning for the change was centered around how “the rest of the world does it”, and a desire from U.S. Soccer’s leadership at that time to take steps to be more competitive at the international level. In Europe and South America in particular, teams are organized by birth year, and this format is also used at the youth national team level and in global competitions such as the U-17 and U-20 World Cups. The thinking was that by transitioning to a birth year model, it would be easier to scout and identify future national team players and U.S. players would now be playing ‘in the same age group’ as their counter parts around the world.
While that reasoning made some sense for a small number of youth players at the national and international levels, the decision ultimately impacted the other 99% that included millions of players in clubs like ours. A policy designed for less than one percent of youth players—those in the national team system—disrupted the experience for nearly everyone else.
Very quickly, the challenges of the birth-year had cracks. When the change took effect, friends and classmates who had always played together were suddenly placed on different teams. Youth soccer thrives on connection and camaraderie, and separating players by birth year rather than by school year broke up friendships, reduced enjoyment, and even caused participation to decline.
The shift also created complications during the transition from middle school to high school. The ‘birth-year club soccer teams’ that included both eighth and ninth graders were disjointed because the 9th graders had an opportunity to play high school soccer, while their younger teammates—still in eighth grade—were left with an ‘empty season’ because high school soccer is prioritized. An example of this is that every year since 2017, we’ve had 30–40 North Carolina-based eighth grade boys who miss out on playing a consistent fall season simply because their club team is considered “high school-aged,” but they are in 8th grade, leaving them without a high school opportunity or a Hammerheads opportunity.
Another area affected was college recruiting. College coaches recruit by graduation year, not by birth year. They want to evaluate players who will graduate in the same class, making it easier to compare skill levels and potential fits for their programs. The birth-year structure made that process unnecessarily confusing for everyone involved.
The school-year-based model that existed before 2017 wasn’t broken, and reverting back to this model is the right thing to do. We are not changing but fixing how youth soccer age groups are built. A decision focused on a small group of elite players disrupted a system that worked well for the vast majority. Fortunately, youth soccer leadership has now decided to return to a school-based calendar—a change that, while disruptive in the short term, is ultimately the right decision for the long-term health of our youth soccer players.
This transition will not be without its challenges, there will be unique circumstances, short-term issues, and even frustration as these adjustments are made. But in time, this move will benefit players, families, and clubs across the country. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we work through this process together.
-Carson Porter
Executive Director, Hammerheads Soccer Club