2026–2027 Season: Age Grouping Update
Making Soccer Better for Our Community
What is changing for the upcoming season?
Starting with the 2026–2027 registration year, NCSA is returning to a "School Year" age grouping. This means players will be grouped based on a cycle that runs from August 1 to July 31, rather than the previous calendar-year (January–December) mandate.
Why is NCSA making this change?
For years, we’ve heard from our Dunkirk-Fredonia families that kids want to play with their classmates. By moving the cutoff to August 1, we align our teams with the school calendar. This promotes better team chemistry, keeps friend groups together, and ensures players are competing alongside their developmental peers.
Who decided on this new format?
While U.S. Soccer has removed the previous "birth year" mandate, this specific shift to an August 1 cycle was a collaborative decision by US Youth Soccer (USYS), US Club Soccer, and AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization). NCSA and our state association, NY West (NYSWYSA), are adopting this standard to ensure our local players are prepared for both recreational play and higher-level travel competitions.
Who decided on this new format?
All USYS-sanctioned competitions—our spring and fall travel teams—will strictly follow the August 1–July 31 formation. By aligning NCSA with these dates, we ensure our Concord FC travel teams remain eligible for regional and state-level play without roster complications.
Can my child "play down" to stay with their old team?
No. While USYS and NY West allow some local flexibility, "playing down" to a younger age group is generally not permitted in sanctioned league play. However, players are always permitted to "play up" if it is in their best interest for development and fits NCSA's division structure.
When does this officially start?
This change is effective for all registrations for the 2026–2027 seasonal year. All NCSA programs—from Little Kickers to our competitive travel divisions—will transition to this format starting August 1, 2026.
