http://nyswysa.org/registration/age-matrix

**PLEASE NOTE--The NCSA does NOT currently offer all of these age groups for their travel or recreational programs.  Please contact ncsa.concord@gmail.com for more specific age group questions!**

In 2017, US Soccer adopted a new standard in which the way in which youth players in the United States register for youth soccer teams will be based on their year of birth. This new standard will help create clarity, improve understanding about developmental progress and enhance playing environments as a part of the U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives (PDI’s).

Here are five things you should know about the new registration rules to age groups.

What is birth year registration?

Currently, youth players in the United States sign up for same-age group clubs and teams based on the traditional calendar of a school year, from August to July. Under this system of registration, a player born before August 1, 2007 would have played in a U-11 age group (players age 11 and under) for the upcoming 2017-2018 season, while a player born after August 1, 2007 would have played in a U-10 age group.

Why did the youth soccer registration standards changing?

The change in age group registration aims to support player development, and goes hand-in-hand with the new standards for small-sided games. Using birth year registration ensures that players are training and playing in the proper age group, each with their own developmental needs.

The new standard also strives to lessen relative age effect (RAE). RAE is a selection bias towards players born earlier in the calendar year. Players born in early months are naturally older and more mature, but not necessarily better players. While the change to birth year registration won’t completely solve the problem, it will make it easier to identify and understand.

• Learn more about PDIs: PDI Presentation | Five Things About PDIs | Small-Sided Games
• U.S. Soccer Member Organizations Adopt PDIs to Support Youth Soccer Development
• U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives Officially Implemented

How to determine your age group

Birth year registration is determined by the year a soccer season ends. For seasons that span from fall to spring or summer overlapping across two calendar years, players will register based on their age during the second year of the season. To simplify, an age group can be determined by subtracting the birth year from the year the season ends.

Year Season Ends – Birth Year = Age Group

2017 to 2018 – 2003 = U-15