2026–27 AGE GROUP CHANGES
Beginning with the 2026-27 season, US Soccer has announced that US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and AYSO will return to an August 1-July 31 age group cutoff. This will replace the January 1-December 31 birth year system that has been in place since 2017.
This change was made following a comprehensive review by US Soccer and was adopted collectively by the three major youth soccer organizations to better align soccer participation with school grade levels, social development, and long-term player retention.
Why this matters to your family
This shift helps keep players competing with classmates and peers they see every day at school, which supports confidence, social connection, and overall enjoyment of the game. This also helps prevent players being ‘trapped’ without a team during the 8th grade to high school transition and high school soccer starting.
Mt. Diablo Mustang competes in NorCal Premier, a US Club Soccer sanctioned league, and will implement these changes beginning next season. Our upcoming tryouts and team formation will follow the new age group structure outlined below, with a few exceptions.
2026-27 Age Group Matrix
| Age Group | Born After | Born Before | Grade Level | Exceptions | |
| Born After | Born Before | ||||
| U8 | 08/01/2018 | 07/31/2020 | 1st & 2nd | No Exceptions | |
| U9 | 08/01/2017 | 07/31/2018 | 3rd | 08/01/18 | 08/30/18 |
| U10 | 08/01/2016 | 07/31/2017 | 4th | 08/01/17 | 08/30/17 |
| U11 | 08/01/2015 | 07/31/2016 | 5th | 08/01/16 | 08/30/16 |
| U12 | 08/01/2014 | 07/31/2015 | 6th | 08/01/15 | 08/30/15 |
| U13 | 08/01/2013 | 07/31/2014 | 7th | 08/01/14 | 08/30/14 |
| U14 | 08/01/2012 | 07/31/2013 | 8th | 08/01/13 | 08/30/13 |
| U15 | 08/01/2011 | 07/31/2012 | 9th | 08/01/12 | 12/31/12 |
| U16 | 08/01/2010 | 07/31/2011 | 10th | 08/01/11 | 12/31/11 |
| U17 | 08/01/2009 | 07/31/2010 | 11th | 08/01/10 | 12/31/10 |
| U19 | 08/01/2007 | 07/31/2009 | 12th | 08/01/09 | 12/31/09 |
August Born & High School Age Player Support
We will continue to support players born in August within the U9-U14 age groups who wish to try out for the older age group, provided they are also in that older school grade.
For players in the U15-U19 age groups, players will have the option to choose which age group they would like to try out for Mt Diablo Mustang. This flexibility allows families and players to select the environment that best supports their growth during the high school years.
Why this matters to your family:
Providing choice and flexibility during these transition years helps ensure players are placed in an environment that supports confidence, competitiveness, and enjoyment of the game while also aligning with school, peer groups, and individual development needs.
