Age Groups & Grade Alignment
Play with your grade.
Youth soccer now forms teams by school year. Find your player’s age group, see how MTA handles the change, and apply to play with your grade if your player has an August or September birthday.
- School-Year Age Groups
- Aug 1 – Jul 31
Find your player’s age group.
Age groups now follow the school year: August 1 – July 31 birthdates. Most players play with their grade.
| Age Group | 2026–27 Birthdates | Typical Grade | 2027–28 Birthdates |
|---|---|---|---|
| U8 | Aug 2018 – Jul 2019 | 2nd | Aug 2019 – Jul 2020 |
| U9 | Aug 2017 – Jul 2018 | 3rd | Aug 2018 – Jul 2019 |
| U10 | Aug 2016 – Jul 2017 | 4th | Aug 2017 – Jul 2018 |
| U11 | Aug 2015 – Jul 2016 | 5th | Aug 2016 – Jul 2017 |
| U12 | Aug 2014 – Jul 2015 | 6th | Aug 2015 – Jul 2016 |
| U13 | Aug 2013 – Jul 2014 | 7th | Aug 2014 – Jul 2015 |
| U14 | Aug 2012 – Jul 2013 | 8th | Aug 2013 – Jul 2014 |
| U15 | Aug 2011 – Jul 2012 | 9th | Aug 2012 – Jul 2013 |
| U16 | Aug 2010 – Jul 2011 | 10th | Aug 2011 – Jul 2012 |
| U17 | Aug 2009 – Jul 2010 | 11th | Aug 2010 – Jul 2011 |
| U18/19 | Aug 2008 – Jul 2009 | 12th | Aug 2009 – Jul 2010 |
Younger players: ThunderBolts is U5–U7 and Thunder Sparks is ages 2–4. Use the grade lookup on the Tryouts page for 2027–28 tryouts.
Teams play at their age group and game model.
Right-Size Games
U9–U10 play 7v7 and U11–U12 play 9v9. Small-sided games mean more touches and quicker decisions.
No Playing Down
U9 won’t play U10, U11 won’t play U12, and U12 won’t play U13. Players can’t legally play in a younger age group.
Play With Your Grade
The one exception: a player can move up an age group to join their grade, through the Grade Alignment Application.
Rare Exceptions
A few cases, like a team needing a goalkeeper or no N1 team at an age, are decided by the directors.
August or September birthday? Play with your grade.
If your player has an August or September birthday and their grade doesn’t match their age group (for example, an early school start), you can apply to try out and play with their grade.
Our recommendation: make the move at tryouts this year while every team is changing. Waiting means skipping an age group later, joining a team that has played together for years, reaching high school before teammates, and being past peak recruiting age as a senior.
July birthdays playing with a younger grade can’t legally play down. Questions? Email admin@mnthunderacademy.org.
Why youth soccer changed age groups.
The short version
From 2016 to 2026, U.S. youth soccer grouped players by birth year (January–December) to match international standards. It helped national team scouting, which affects less than 1% of players, but split friends across school grades and left some players “trapped” without a team.
Starting in 2026–27, U.S. Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and other national organizations returned to school-year age groups (August 1 – July 31), putting the player experience first.
Five benefits we expect
1. Social alignment. Players are on teams with classmates, which builds belonging and keeps kids in the game.
2. Better development for younger players. Players spend a little longer in small-sided formats with more touches.
3. A later entry into advanced pathways. Slightly younger teams delay travel and bigger commitments.
4. No more trapped U15 players. 8th graders play with 8th graders and 9th graders with 9th graders, so teams stay together through the high school transition.
5. A complete U19 season. Seniors finish their last club season together, often a key recruiting year.
Our transition timeline
Monthly club emails and newsletters · Coach education in February · Parent webinar in March/April · Town halls in April/May · Age group training in June/July · Tryouts and team formation in July · Follow-up through October.
We’re here to help families through the change.
Email admin@mnthunderacademy.org or see how tryouts work for 2027–28.