Harrison Soccer Club 2026–27 Age Group Transition: Important Information for Families
Beginning with the Fall 2026–Spring 2027 season, U.S. Soccer and its affiliated organizations, U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer, AYSO, and NJ Youth Soccer (NJYS), will implement a nationwide transition from the birth-year age-group model to the school-year age-group model. This change was made at the national and state levels and is not a policy change initiated by Harrison Soccer Club. As a member club, we are required to comply.
What Is Changing?
● Current model: January 1 – December 31 (birth-year model)
● New model: August 1 – July 31 (school-year model)
This school-year model was previously used prior to 2017 and will now be reinstated nationwide.
Harrison SC’s Approach
We recognize that this transition may affect some players and families. To help minimize disruption, particularly given New Jersey’s October 1 school cutoff—Harrison SC has made adjustments where permitted by league rules. Our goals remain to:
● Keep players with their classmates whenever possible
● Maintain competitive balance across teams
● Retain teams through the high school years
● Prioritize long-term player development
Recreational Soccer (U4–U8)
Harrison SC anticipated this change and, for the 2025–26 season, adjusted age groups to a September 1–August 31 range to help ease the transition for our recreational programs. However, after fall recreational registration opened, U.S. Soccer further modified the age group criteria. As a result, additional changes will take effect beginning Fall 2026.
● Players born January 1 – July 31 will remain in their current age group
● Players born August 1 – September 30 may either:
– Play up with their school-year classmates, or
– Play in their new soccer age group
● Players born October 1 – December 31 will be placed in their school-year age group
● Players may not play down an age group
Micro Programs (U7/U8) & Transition to Travel
● U7 players may try out in April for U8 travel teams
● After tryouts, players may either:
– Transition to U8 travel, or
– Remain in the micro program for one additional year
● Recreational programs are not offered at U9 and above due to participation numbers
Travel Soccer (U8–U14)
● Players born January 1 – July 31 remain in their current age group
● Players born August 1 – September 30:
– May remain with their school-year age group regardless of team level (A–D)
– May try out for both their current and new age groups. However, a player will only be rostered to one team. If a player tries out in both age groups, the player will be placed on the highest level team. Ex. The player is U9, evaluated at U10 and U9, rates on the U10 “B” and U9”B” will be placed on U10 “B”. See full age change documents for further examples.
●Players born October 1 – December 31:
– May remain in their current age group only if they earn a spot on the top team
– Must try out for both eligible age groups
Placement Rule: Players will be placed on the highest-level team earned through tryout evaluations. Example:
● If a player earns an A team spot at U9 and a B team spot at U10, the player will be placed on the U9 A team.
The Executive Board reserves the right to make exceptions when necessary to ensure players are placed in the most appropriate developmental environment.
Travel Tryouts
● Travel tryouts will be held in April (exact dates to be announced)
Coaching Notes
● Player placement is never based on parental coaching roles
● All head and assistant coaches must complete an application and be approved
● If multiple candidates apply for a head coach role, the Executive Board will make the final selection based on experience, licensure, and team fit
Important Reminder About Soccer Age
Soccer age is determined strictly by birthdate, not school grade. Players cannot be registered or placed in a younger age group, even if they are in the same school grade as younger classmates.
Final Note
The Harrison SC Executive Board reserves the right to modify these guidelines prior to the Fall 2026 season if required by league regulations.
For additional information or questions, please contact info@harrisonsoccerclub.org.
Additional details are available here, and there is a one-page FAQ available here.