Arkansas Rising Age Matrix

New Season. Same Mission. Clearer Path.

(Effective Fall 2026)

US Youth Soccer Announces a National Age-Group Change

U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS) recently announced a shift to an August 1–July 31 age-group cutoff beginning with the 2026/2027 season.
This means that all clubs, including Arkansas Rising, will follow the new national format starting next year.

What This Means for Arkansas Rising Families

Arkansas Rising is not creating this change—it’s a national update directed by USYS to align age groups more closely with the school calendar.
Our role is to help make this transition as smooth and simple as possible for your player.

This change is designed to:

• Keep classmates and teammates in the same age group
• Reduce confusion between school and club soccer ages
• Make development pathways more consistent nationwide

How Players Are Affected

Most players will remain with their same group of teammates.
However, a few players may shift slightly based on their birth month and how it fits with the new August 1 cutoff.
Our staff will review every roster and work with families to make sure each child is placed where they can grow, play, and enjoy the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Arkansas Rising choosing to make this change?
  No. This is a national update from U.S. Youth Soccer that all member clubs will follow beginning with the 2026/2027 season.
• Why did USYS make this change?
  To align soccer age groups with the school year (August–July) instead of the calendar year (January–December). This helps keep friends and classmates together and simplifies team organization.
• Will my child change teams?
  Possibly, depending on their birth date. Our staff will review placements individually and communicate with families well before registration.
• When will we know exact ages?
  Once the Arkansas State Association releases its version of the updated chart, we’ll publish it here.