The Basics

What is changing? Starting with the 2026–2027 season, age groups will no longer be based on the calendar year (Jan 1–Dec 31). Instead, age groups will follow a school-year cycle: August 1 through July 31. A player's age group will be based on how old they turn on or before July 31 of the registration year.

 

When does this take effect? This change begins with the 2026–2027 season. There is no change for the 2025–2026 season, and players will remain in their current age groups through the end of this season.

 

Who is making this change? US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO have adopted this change together, effective for 2026–2027. Snohomish United will follow this structure across all programs, including Recreation.

 

Has this system been used before? Yes. U.S. youth soccer used an Aug–July system prior to 2017. US Soccer later required a Jan–Dec format, but that mandate was removed in late 2024, allowing organizations to choose the format that best serves their members.

 

Why the Change? Why move away from birth-year groups? The goal is to align soccer age groups more closely with school grade levels. When players can play with their school-year peers, it often improves the overall experience and supports long-term participation in the sport.

 

Why August 1? After review and feedback, August 1 was selected because it best aligns with school-year grades nationwide and closely matches Washington state school enrollment cutoffs.

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Impact on Players

Will my child's age group change? It depends on your child's birthday:

• Players born Aug 1–Dec 31 are most likely to shift to align with school-grade peers

• Players born Jan 1–July 31 will generally remain in the same relative age group

 

What if my child currently plays up? Players approved to play up will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis as we approach the transition.

 

Registration for Fall 2026 Rec

How do I register? Registration opens April 2, 2026 on the Snohomish United website. Please note: the Affinity system is being phased out as we transition to GotSport as our registration platform.

 

Will registration use the new age groups? Yes. Fall 2026 Rec registration will be organized using the new Aug 1–July 31 age groups.

 

Finding Your Child's Age Group

🧭 Is there a tool to look up my child's age group? Yes! Use the button below view the age group matrix for the 2026–2027 season.