Birth Year to Grade Transition – Information Update

As many of you know, U.S. Soccer has announced a transition from placement date based on birth year to a date that more aligns with the traditional school year and grade beginning in Fall 2026. We recognize that this change has generated questions and, in some cases, some understandable anxiety. We want to reassure our families that Real Colorado will have a thoughtful, organized plan in place to support every player through this transition.

What You Can Expect from Real Colorado

• A clear process announced well in advance - We will communicate our detailed plan for this transition before the start of the Spring 2026 season so families know what to expect long before Fall 2026 tryouts.

• No surprises - There will be clear timelines, communication, and evaluation procedures. We will make sure families understand how the transition will be handled and how players will be evaluated.

• Player first decisions - As always, team formation will be based on player development, performance, and team needs. We build teams by first evaluating our current Real Colorado players, and only supplementing with outside players when ability and need align.

While this change is on the horizon, it’s important to remember that it is still 6-7 months away. The most important thing any player can do right now is focus on their development and daily growth. The months ahead matter. Every session, every game, and every individual decision to improve contributes to future team placement.

• You never know who is watching or evaluating.

• Development doesn’t wait for a calendar change and neither should you.

We ask our players to stay committed to your current team; finish strong, train hard, compete with purpose, and embrace every opportunity to improve. When the time comes, our staff will be well-prepared, informed, and ready to evaluate every player fairly and thoroughly.

More information will be shared as soon as national governing bodies finalize the remaining details of the transition. You can expect the next communication to come after the first of the year, even if timelines are still being finalized.

Update by US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO regarding player registration changes being considered.

Starting with the Fall 2026 season, youth soccer across the country will return to a seasonal-year registration system, aligning more closely with the school-year calendar (September 1 - August 31).

This decision marks a shift from the current birth-year registration model (January 1 - December 31), which was adopted in 2016. The change aims to allow more players to compete alongside their classmates, fostering stronger team continuity and participation across all levels of play.

Elite programs such as the ECNL and the MLS Next have not announced their direction moving forward, but we will factor their decisions into our direction.

What This Means for You:

• No Changes for the 2025-2026 Season – Teams will continue under the current birth-year system for one more year.

• Transition to School-Year Registration Begins Fall 2026 – More details on team formation and age group adjustments will be provided well in advance.

• A Smooth Transition Plan – Over the next 12 months, Real Colorado will work closely with our leagues, governing bodies, and membership to ensure any transition is implemented in a way that best serves our players and families.

Back in 2017, we successfully navigated a major registration change, and we are committed to doing the same now—ensuring clarity, consistency, and the best possible experience for our athletes.

For more details, we encourage you to review the official announcement and joint letter. Stay tuned for updates, and as always, thank you for being part of Real Colorado!

As shared in U.S. Soccer’s recent announcement, their Board of Directors met on November 22nd to review the results of a comprehensive assessment involving over 15,000 responses from leagues, clubs, coaches, and families.

Key Insights from the Assessment

• 47% of respondents prefer school-year registration, while 41% prefer birth-year registration.

• Over 60% noted challenges when players are in different school grades.

• There is broad agreement that any change should be gradual, with adequate time to prepare.

U.S. Soccer’s Path Forward

1. No Change for 2025-2026: This season will serve as a preparation period for any transitions.

2. Flexibility for 2026-2027 Season: Organizations will be able to choose their registration calendar, whether school year or birth year, with guidance to address potential conflicts.

At Real Colorado, we are well-positioned to contribute to these conversations, adapt our programming to continue delivering an exceptional experience, and keep you informed every step of the way. This process will involve our national governing bodies, including US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, MLS Next, and USL, as they determine the best approach to align with U.S. Soccer’s framework.

It’s important to note that the earliest any changes would take effect is Fall 2026, giving all stakeholders ample time to evaluate and prepare. We remain committed to keeping you updated as we learn more and understand how these potential changes may impact our programming.

Read the full release here.

In our promise to keep you informed about recent developments regarding the potential age group change under consideration by U.S. Soccer, please see the following update.

Our CEO recently attended a Colorado Soccer Association (CSA) executive committee meeting to gain insights into the process that U.S. Soccer plans to follow.

At this meeting, CSA’s CEO and President shared information from recent discussions held in Chicago, where they had the opportunity to ask questions and receive updates. They learned that U.S. Soccer has now tasked its Technical Development Committee with investigating this matter. The committee will report their findings to the U.S. Soccer Board on November 22.

We anticipate that, as part of this review process, a survey will be issued early next week by US Soccer for associations and possibly clubs to complete. If the survey is sent directly to clubs, we will certainly participate.

U.S. Soccer has emphasized that this is a complex topic requiring a formal and thorough review process. We expect the next significant update to be available following the November 22nd board meeting.

In 2017, US Soccer, the national governing body for soccer in the United States, changed age group classifications ( U5, U6, .... through U19) from a school-year basis (August 1 to July 31) to a birth-year basis (January 1 to December 31). This shift caused an immediate decline in recreational registrations as it separated teams and friend groups. Over time, the birth-year model has become the standard, with teams now including players across multiple school grades.

Recently, however, several associated governing bodies have approached US Soccer in hopes to revisit this decision, evaluating whether the current system best serves players or if a return to the pre-2017 model—or a new approach—would be more beneficial.

Contrary to some circulating rumors, no decision has been made. This week, key leaders from these associated governing bodies, including US Youth Soccer (under which Colorado Soccer Association operates), US Club Soccer (which includes ECNL), AYSO, and others, will meet to discuss and share insights on potential directions with US Soccer. We are closely connected to the leadership in these discussions and expect to be kept informed about potential changes, timelines, and any implementation plans if a change is decided upon.

At this point, no changes are certain, and the earliest any adjustment could take effect would be Fall 2025 with an announcement coming months earlier to allow for planning. Until more information is available, discussing transition details or planning for adjustments would be premature. As before, our decisions will prioritize the best interests of our players, teams, club, and the sport.

The entire staff at Real Colorado is committed to providing the best possible experience for our players. Whatever the outcome of this age-group discussion, we will work diligently to ensure a smooth transition and maintain our high standards of player development and enjoyment.

Joint statement from US Club, US Youth and AYSO