#US Soccer Federation

Age group changes

In 2017, US Soccer changed the youth soccer age groups from a School Year (Aug-Jul) to the Calendar Year (Jan-Dec). This measure was meant to bring US Soccer in line with FIFA and most every other federation in the world. On November 22, 2024, US Soccer voted to change youth soccer age groups back to the School Year.  US Soccer left implementation of the plan to US Youth Soccer ("USYS"), American Youth Soccer Organization (" AYSO"), and US Club Soccer ("USCS"), representing the bulk of the governing bodies in the US. In early March 2025, these 3 bodies decided to change the age groups from a calendar year to the most common School Year in the country (over 60%), September 1st through August 31st.

This universal change will commence in the Fall of 2026. It will apply to all youth soccer state associations, organizations, leagues and clubs including South Carolina Youth Soccer and all of its affiliated clubs and leagues.

We wanted to let our membership know that Lowcountry Rush SC has been discussing and anticipating this change and has analyzed how it may affect our team formation and coaching assignments beginning in the Fall of 2026. Although there will be change, the over-riding player development philosophy and practices of Bluffton Rush SC will remain intact. Our primary consideration in player placement and team formation is simple. What Is in the Best Interest of each Individual Player.  With that in mind, players and teams will not be overhauled just for the sake of satisfying the new age group parameters. We are, as always, free to place players on teams as we see fit so long as those players fall within the new age ranges.  Therefore, our approach will not be to blindly place players according to the new age ranges. Rather, Lowcountry Rush SC will continue to place players where we feel they will learn, grow, and develop as an individual, as an athlete and as a teammate.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Executive Director, Tucker Reynolds, at TReynolds@BlufftonRush.com.