AGE GROUP INFORMATION
GRADE BASED AGE GROUPS
Currently, teams are organized based on birth year, meaning players are grouped by the year they were born. Beginning next season, US Youth Soccer has initiated a nationwide change that will transition teams to a grade year system. Under this model, players will be grouped based on the school grade they are entering in the fall. This change is being implemented statewide and nationally and will affect how age groups are formed moving forward.
Toca Fusion is actively working on a thoughtful plan to implement this change in a way that best supports our players, families, and coaches. As part of this process, we are currently evaluating all of our teams with consideration for both current rosters. and anticipated grade changes for next year. This evaluation requires careful thought, multiple scenarios, and collaboration across our staff to ensure accuracy and fairness. Because of this, the process does take time and deliberate planning to execute properly.
We anticipate providing more specific information on the process and our implementation plan by the end of March. Once the evaluation process is complete, we will communicate clearly with all families and coaches regarding next steps. In the meantime, families may use the following calculator or link to determine which grade based age group their player will be in for the upcoming year:
Age Group Calculator
Enter player birth date to find their group for the upcoming season.
Reference: Age Groups & Birth Dates
| Group | Program | Birth Date Range |
|---|
- Youth soccer is moving from birth-year to grade-based age groups
- The change starts in the 2026–2027 season or officially takes effect August 1, 2026
- Teams will be based on the grade your player is entering in the fall
- Toca Fusion is carefully reviewing rosters and planning next steps
- More information will be share later this spring.
Right now, teams are grouped by birth year. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, US Youth Soccer is switching to a grade-based system, meaning players will be grouped based on the school grade they are entering in the fall.
This is a nationwide change from US Youth Soccer, being rolled out at both the state and national levels. The goal is to better align soccer age groups with school grade levels.
The new grade-based age group system will begin on August 1, 2026 for the next season (2026–2027).
You can use Grade-Based Age Group Calculator above to check on your player's potential assignment.
Your player’s team placement will be based on the grade they’re entering in the fall, not their birth year. Because of this, some players may find themselves grouped differently than in past seasons.
We are taking a thoughtful and careful approach to this transition. Our staff is currently:
- Reviewing current team rosters
- Considering expected grade changes
- Exploring multiple team and roster scenarios
We’re working together to make sure decisions are made with fairness, accuracy, and the best interests of our players, families, and coaches in mind.
This change impacts every team, so it’s important we take the time to evaluate all options carefully. While it does take a bit longer, this deliberate planning helps ensure the transition is done the right way.
We expect to share more specific information about our process and implementation plan around the end of March to account for ID sessions and tryouts. Once evaluations are complete, we’ll clearly communicate next steps with all families and coaches.