Youth Soccer Age Group Explained (PDF Chart Included)

Determining the ‘soccer age’ of a child is essential for parents and youth soccer coaches to ensure players join teams in the correct age group. Calculating a child’s soccer age may seem challenging but it’s actually very simple. Below we’ll show you how to easily work out a child’s soccer age and determine which soccer age group a player should be in. You’ll also find a soccer age group chart and a printable PDF chart to help you easily work out multiple players’ soccer age groups quickly.

Determining A Child’s Soccer Age Group

In the past, determining a child’s soccer age was a little complicated because the soccer age group was aligned with the school year and not the child’s birth year. Luckily, in 2016, the youth soccer age group system in the United States changed so that it is now determined by a child’s birth year, making it much simpler to work out a child’s soccer age group. Here’s how to determine a player’s soccer age group in the U.S.

To work out a child’s soccer age, simply subtract their birth year from the year that the soccer season ends. For example, in the 2022-2023 soccer season, a child born in 2015 would be in the U8 age group. (2023 – 2015 = 8).

U.S Soccer Age Group Chart

To help you figure out a player’s soccer age group quickly, here is a simple U.S Soccer Age Group Chart for age groups U5 to U19.

Download Soccer Age Group Chart PDF

Download and print a PDF of this chart to help you quickly determine a player’s soccer age group.

More Youth Soccer Coaching Articles

Before you go, be sure to check out these related articles on coaching youth soccer:

Soccer Player Numbers Explained
How To Structure A Soccer Training Session
How To Make Soccer Practice Fun For Kids
7 Fun Warm Up Soccer Games For Kids