Upcoming Change to Youth Soccer Age Group Formation

The DAA Soccer Program would like to provide an important update regarding an upcoming change in the youth soccer landscape that may already be of interest to many families.

U.S. Soccer has announced a shift in how competition age groups will be formed.

• Teams will no longer be grouped strictly by birth year (January–December).
• Age groups will align with the grade year, running from August 1 through July 31.
•  This change will affect youth soccer clubs across the country, including the DAA Program.

What This Means for Players and Families

We want to acknowledge that while this change brings exciting opportunities, it may also create questions or uncertainty for families. Structural changes in youth sports can feel significant, especially when they impact team formation and player pathways.

The goal behind this adjustment is to:

•  better support long-term player development.
• align youth soccer more closely with the school-year experience that players share with their classmates.

Why DAA Is Well Prepared

The good news is:

• DAA and DFC have already been operating in a way that prepares players well for this transition.
• Through DFC’s academy-style training model, players of similar ages and developmental stages have already been training together across teams during regular team sessions and through weekly Academy Nights.
• Many of our current players are experiencing an environment that closely mirrors the philosophy behind grade-year alignment.

How Tryouts and Evaluations May Be Affected

This change may:

•  allow some players who are older within their grade year to now try out within that grade’s pool of players.
• increase the overall player pool at try-outs.

Player evaluation and placement will continue to be based on individual development and ability, with the goal of placing each player in the environment that best fosters their growth, confidence, and love for the game.

Our Commitment to Communication

DAA is committed to:

• open and proactive communication throughout this transition.
•  discussing changes with families both individually and at the team level to ensure that everyone feels informed and supported.
• answering questions about what this change means for your child.

We look forward to continuing to work together with our families to ensure the best possible developmental pathway for every player.

Thank you for your continued trust in the DAA Soccer Program and for being part of a community that prioritizes development, communication, and the long-term success of our players. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at soccer@daagators.org with any questions about the upcoming changes to youth soccer age group formations.

Joshua May
Director of Soccer Programs