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TRAVEL AGE GROUP CHANGES

TRAVEL AGE GROUP CHANGES

Resources and more information:

 

After extensive review, US Youth Soccer, American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), US Club Soccer, and Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) have adopted a new age group cycle that runs August 1 - July 31, replacing the current January 1–December 31 birth-year model (implemented in 2017). This change is designed to better align players with their school-grade peers and to support social development, participation, and long-term player growth.

The August 1–July 31 cycle will apply to all CJSA League and Cup competitions, including National Championships, ECNL, DPL, National League, and EDP League play.

What This Means for Hartwell Travel Players

No changes will occur for current travel teams or age groups during the Spring 2026 season. 

The following age group adjustments will take effect beginning the 2026–27 seasonal year (August 2026–June 2027):

 

New Hartwell Travel Players
Must register and try out in the applicable age group under the new August 1–July 31 structure.
 
Returning Hartwell Travel Players born January 1–July 31
Will remain in their current age group under the new structure and move up as usual.
 

Returning Hartwell Travel Players born August 1–December 31 
May choose to either:

  • Remain with their current age group and move up as usual,

 or

  • Shift to the new age-defined group (typically aligning with school grade), which would result in repeating an age group year.

Process for Returning Hartwell Travel Players born August 1–December 31

YTL through U13: During registration for tryouts, current travel families with players born between August 1 and December 31 must indicate whether they wish to remain with their current age group or shift to the new age-defined group.

This selection determines your child’s age group for late May tryouts and is final, with no changes permitted once tryouts begin or in subsequent years. 

U14-U15: This group of players has no choice to make, because the players are either headed into high school and ineligible to play youth soccer or will be in 8th grade and only eligible to play in the U15 age group. 

Zoom Info Session

We understand that changes like this may raise questions. Please know our priority is to provide the best developmental environment for each player’s growth, confidence, and enjoyment of the game.

Please review the FAQ section below for additional factors to consider when making this decision. Additionally, Hartwell will host a Q&A Zoom session on Tuesday, February 24 at 7:30 PM to review the changes and answer questions.

For additional questions, please contact:

Thank you for your continued support of Glastonbury Hartwell Soccer Club.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

1. What are the new age group ranges for the 2026-2027 season?
NEW AGE GROUP CONFIGURATIONS - EFFECTIVE FALL 2026

  • August 1, 2018 - July 31, 2019 = YTL (U08)
  • August 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018 = U09
  • August 1, 2016 - July 31, 2017 = U10
  • August 1, 2015 - July 31, 2016 = U11
  • August 1, 2014 - July 31, 2015 = U12
  • August 1, 2013 - July 31, 2014 = U13
  • August 1, 2011 - July 31, 2013 = U14/15*

* U15 players must be in 7th or 8th grade. High school students within the U14/U15 birth range are not eligible for U14 or U15 league play.

2. Will this impact school eligibility or recruiting?
No. This change affects youth soccer age grouping only and does not impact school grade placement, high school eligibility, or recruiting timelines.

3. Why is this change happening?
National youth soccer organizations have adopted an August 1–July 31 age cycle to better align players with their school-grade peers. Research and feedback indicate this alignment supports social development, participation, and overall player experience.

4. When does this take effect?
There are no changes for Spring 2026.
The new age group structure begins with the Fall 2026 (2026–27) season.

5. Does my child have to change age groups or teams immediately?
No. Current teams and age groups remain intact through the Spring 2026 season.

6. What happens if my child was born between August 1 and December 31?

New Hartwell Travel Players in the August 1-December 31 birth range must play in the applicable age group, as defined by the new structure.

Returning Hartwell Travel Players in the August 1-December 31 birth range may choose to:

  • Remain with their current age group and move up as usual, or
  • Shift to the new age-defined group (typically aligning with school grade), which would mean repeating an age group year.

7. When is the decision deadline?
All returning Hartwell travel players born between August 1 and December 31 must submit their decision during tryout registration. Registrations for the 2026-2027 season will open in March. 

This decision will determine the age group your child participates in during late May tryouts/evaluations. This selection determines your child’s age group for late May tryouts and is final, with no changes permitted once tryouts begin or in subsequent years.

8. What does “repeating an age group year” mean?
It means the player would compete in the 2026-2027 seasonal year as the same age group that he/she played in 2025-2026.

In many cases, this allows players to compete alongside classmates and peers.

9. What does Hartwell recommend for the players born in the August 1 – December 31 birth range?

YTL – U10: Hartwell strongly encourages returning travel players in YTL–U10 to shift to the new age-defined group, and play with teammates primarily in the same grade. At these younger ages, aligning with school-grade peers supports long-term developmental progression and age group continuity.

U11 – U15: Hartwell encourages returning travel players in U11–U15 to shift to the new age-defined group if they are in a lower school grade than most of their current teammates. Aligning with grade-level peers may provide social, academic, and physical consistency.

The overall goal of this transition is improved school-grade alignment and long-term developmental stability. Families are encouraged to consider their child’s individual maturity, confidence, and readiness when making this decision.

10. What are other towns/programs doing?
Implementation varies. Some clubs are strictly realigning by age. Others are using enrollment metrics or offering limited choice. All clubs are adapting in ways that fit their structure and size.

11. How did Hartwell decide to approach this age group transition?
Hartwell will align its age groups with the new August 1–July 31 age group structure beginning Fall 2026.

To minimize disruption to age group dynamics and long-standing player relationships, we are allowing returning Hartwell travel players born between August 1 and December 31 the option to remain with their current age group or shift to the new age-defined group.

Our goal is to balance:

  • Alignment with national standards
  • Stability within teams
  • Individual player development

12. What else should players consider about shifting age groups?

While every situation is unique, players born in the later months of the year (October–December) may wish to strongly consider shifting to the new age-defined group for two primary reasons:

Social alignment: Greater likelihood of playing alongside school-grade peers.

Physical parity: Competing within a tighter 12-month age window rather than potentially against players born up to 16 months earlier.

That said, there is no universal answer. Families are encouraged to discuss their child’s individual development and readiness with club leadership before making a final decision.

13. Will teams be reorganized?
The primary purpose of this transition is to realign age groups—not to predetermine team assignments.
As with any seasonal year, roster composition may evolve based on registration numbers, player movement between age groups, and overall enrollment within each cohort.
As any new soccer year, team structures may adjust, both as part of the shift to the new August 1–July 31 age group cycle, but also due to changes in player ability and development.

14. Does my child’s age-group decision affect my child’s team placement (i.e., Blue team, White Team, Red Team, etc.)?

A decision to remain in a current age group or shift to the new age-defined group does not determine team placement. In other words, while a player may have competed on the Blue team in 2025–2026, team placements are evaluated each year independently, and prior team assignment does not automatically carry forward into a new age group.

As always, team placement is based on:

  • Player evaluations during May 2026 tryouts
  • Ongoing coach and trainer assessments throughout the year
  • Comparative evaluation within the selected age group

Placement decisions will be made using the same evaluation standards and developmental criteria applied each year. 

15. What if we are still unsure what to choose?

You are not navigating this alone. Please reach out to:

  • Program Director
  • Director of Coaching
  • Travel Director
  • Club President