Age Group Change for the 2026-27 Season
All youth soccer Clubs, including MTA will be transitioning from calendar-year (birth year) age grouping to grade-level age grouping, starting in the 26-27 season. This means players will now be primarily placed on teams based on their grade level in school.
This change is coming in alignment with evolving guidance from US Soccer and to better reflect player development in a grade-based context,
Teams have been based on birthyear since 2017, so this is a big change for most of our players. The main reason US Club Soccer (and other major youth soccer organizations) is changing back to a grade-level (seasonal year) age grouping is to better synchronize youth soccer with the school calendar and address the social and logistical issues created by the previous birthyear system.
Key Reasons for the Change Back
- Social Cohesion and Player Retention: By aligning the soccer year with the school year, teams become more socially cohesive, which is strongly linked to increased participation and lower player attrition (quitting the sport).
- Reducing the “Trapped Player” Problem: These were players who, because of their birth date, ended up in a soccer age group that was older than their school grade.
- Simplifying College Recruiting: Grouping players by grade level makes it easier for college recruiters to evaluate talent.
You can read more on TCSL’s website. Why the age group change
Grade Alignment
We believe aligning players with their correct grade is an important factor to consider at tryouts. At MTA, we are taking the extra step of providing the opportunity to submit a Grade Alignment Application to Aug/Sept born players with grade alignment issues. This will allow them to play and tryout with their correct grade.
Please review your player’s alignment carefully on the new age group grids below. If your child is already in the “correct” grade for their age group, no action is needed. If your player is a ‘trapped player’ (typically July birthdays), unfortunately this is out of our control as players cannot legally “play down”.
However, if your player is now on a team of the grade below them (typically August birthdays), please read the information below carefully.
Consider filling out this optional application if ALL of these apply:
- Your player has a August or September birthdate
- Your player’s grade does not align with their birthyear group (e.g. early school start)
- Your player has the desire to play with their grade level for the 26-27 season
If your application is accepted, you will be evaluated only in that age group and will not be placed or considered for a team at the lower age group.
Note that this Grade Alignment Application is not a “play up” request based on skill, but a formal request to place a player on a team that matches academic grade level.
Any questions can be directed to admin@mnthunderacademy.org
