2026-2027 New Seasonal Matrix
For the 2026-27 season, Oregon Youth Soccer (OYSA) will use a seasonal matrix where age groups are determined by players' ages on an August 1st cutoff, aligning with school years. This means a player's age group for the season will be based on their birth year between August 1st of the previous year and July 31st of the current year, a shift from the previous January 1st cutoff.
Seasonal Matrix for 2026-27
Age groups
Formation cycle
Formation cycle
Players will be grouped based on their age on August 1, 2026.
Formation cycle
Formation cycle
Formation cycle
The cycle runs from August 1 to July 31.
Previous season (2025-26)
Previous season (2025-26)
Previous season (2025-26)
The age group formation was based on a January 1st cutoff.
Effective season
Previous season (2025-26)
Previous season (2025-26)
This change will take effect for the 2026-27 season and registration year.
For the 2026-2027 season, the Oregon Youth Soccer Association (OYSA), in alignment with US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer, will use a school-year seasonal matrix with an age group cut-off date running from August 1st to July 31st.
This change is intended to better align players with their school-grade peers.
The age groups for the 2026-2027 season are determined by the player's birth year, with the season beginning on August 1, 2026.
Why the change?
- School-year alignment: The new format aligns age groups with school-grade peers, which can increase participation and reduce the need for players to "force-up" an age group.
- Inclusivity: The change is intended to be more inclusive for players and families.
- National standard: The decision was made in coordination with US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and other national organizations.
Key points for the transition:
- Players born between January 1st and July 31st will progress to a higher age group compared to the previous birth-year format.
- Players born between August 1st and December 31st will remain in the same age group for the 2026-2027 season as they were in the 2025-2026 season.
- A player's age is determined by their age on July 31, 2027, at the end of the seasonal year.
- For example, a player born in September 2017 will remain in the U-9 age group for the 2026-2027 season, playing with most of their third-grade classmates.
The primary benefits of OYSA's shift to an August 1–July 31
Social Cohesion and Team Dynamics:
Social Cohesion and Team Dynamics:
Social Cohesion and Team Dynamics:
Players can play on teams with their school classmates, which fosters stronger friendships, better team chemistry, and a more enjoyable social experience. This is especially important at younger ages where social dynamics significantly influence participation.
Increased Player Retention:
Social Cohesion and Team Dynamics:
Social Cohesion and Team Dynamics:
previous "birth year" system (Jan 1-Dec 31 cutoff) led to some players leaving the sport due to team disruptions and social misalignment. By keeping friends together, the school-year alignment is expected to help more players, particularly teenagers, stay engaged with soccer longer.
Reduced "Trapped Player" Issues:
Social Cohesion and Team Dynamics:
Reduced "Trapped Player" Issues:
The new cutoff minimizes the number of "trapped players" – those in an older soccer age group than their school grade. This was a common problem in the past, especially for 8th graders whose teammates had already moved to high school, leaving them without a team in the fall season.
Smoother Development Pathways:
Alignment with High School Athletics & College Recruitment:
Reduced "Trapped Player" Issues:
Grouping players with peers in similar academic and physical stages of development creates a more consistent competitive environment, allowing coaches to tailor their approach more effectively to the team's overall needs.
Alignment with High School Athletics & College Recruitment:
Alignment with High School Athletics & College Recruitment:
Alignment with High School Athletics & College Recruitment:
The change is more in line with how other US youth sports and high school athletics programs operate, which can simplify the process for high school coaches and college recruiters to evaluate players within their academic grade.
Standardization:
Alignment with High School Athletics & College Recruitment:
Alignment with High School Athletics & College Recruitment:
The three major U.S. youth soccer organizations (US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, and AYSO) have all adopted this August 1 cutoff, creating a uniform standard across the country and simplifying tournament and inter-league play.