SPORTING JAX SOCCER ACADEMY

Since 2016, age groups have been determined by the calendar year (January 1 to December 31). Starting in the Fall of 2026, the cutoff will revert to a seasonal-year model (August 1 to July 31).

This shift is designed to align youth soccer more closely with the traditional school year, allowing players to compete alongside their classmates and reducing the social and logistical challenges for "trapped players" (those separated from their grade-level peers).

• Effective Date: This change begins in the Fall 2026 season. There are no changes for the current 2025-2026 seasonal year.
• The New Window: A player's "soccer age" will now be determined by their birthdate falling between August 1 of one year and July 31 of the next.
• The Impact: * Players born between August 1 and December 31 will generally "move down" an age group compared to the old system. Players born between January 1 and July 31 will generally "move up" an age group compared to the old system.

We understand that any change to team formations can cause uncertainty. Sporting Jax is committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. Our technical staff is already evaluating how this will impact team rosters, and we will prioritize:

• Developmental Continuity: Ensuring every player is placed in an environment where they can thrive technically and socially.
• Transparent Communication: We will host informational town halls as we approach the 2026 tryout season.
• Flexibility: While we will follow the new national mandate, we will continue to utilize "play-up" opportunities where developmentally appropriate for the individual player.

The shift back to the "School Year" model (Aug 1 – July 31) is a national mandate intended to align the soccer calendar with the academic calendar. This ensures most players are playing with their school peers and simplifies the transition for players entering high school or college soccer.

Because the cutoff date is moving, some players on a current team will fall into different age brackets for the 2026-2027 season. While this may change the roster makeup, Sporting Jax will use our "Developmental Continuity" approach to ensure players remain in competitive, socially appropriate environments.

Under the current calendar-year system, some players are in 8th grade while their teammates have already started 9th grade. This often leaves the 8th grader without a team to play on during the high school season. Reverting to the August 1 cutoff ensures that almost everyone on a team is in the same grade level.

Yes. Sporting Jax remains committed to individual development. If a player is physically and technically ready to compete at a higher age group, our technical staff will evaluate and facilitate "play-up" opportunities, just as we do now.

No. Everything remains exactly as it is for the current year. This change does not take effect until tryouts in May 2026 for the Fall 2026 season.

You do not need to take any action at this time. Take a moment to look at the updated Age Group Chart and FAQ section on our website to help you determine your player’s placement for the 2026-2027 tryouts.

Use the table below  for a quick reference based on the new mandate: