U.S. Soccer has mandated a nationwide shift from Birth Year (Jan 1–Dec 31) to

School Year (Aug 1–July 31) for team formation. Starts Fall 2026.

What to Expect

• No changes this Spring 2026 season.
• Starting Fall 2026, Skyline will form teams based on the school year.
• All US Soccer sanctioned Clubs in Colorado and across the country must follow this mandate

Why This Change Was Made

U.S. Soccer made this decision with players in mind. They found that most players are happiest when playing with their school friends. Grouping players by school year means they are playing with peers at a similar physical, social, and developmental stage, which is beneficial on and off the field. Another key benefit is that teams/players will no longer be disrupted or displaced when they transition to play high school soccer.

COMPETITIVE - We Have Plan for You!

Spring 2026 Evaluation & Tryout Timeline (May 1st is the official start of Tryouts for ALL Clubs, per CSA)

February – March

Players will be evaluated during regular training sessions by DOC’s, the Technical Director, and Team Coaches. Some players may be invited to train or guest play with another team for additional evaluation.

April – Inter Club Tryouts (Skyline Players Only)

All Skyline players (Competitive, Elite, Developmental Rec, Recreational) must attend. Players will be grouped by their new school-year age bracket. Dates will be shared in March.

May 1 - May 18 – Team Formation Finalization

Rosters will be finalized during this period. The club will evaluate interested outside players at this time.

Additional Notes

• No Functional Training for Competitive teams this spring (to allow more in-season evaluation).
• Age Group Meetings will be held throughout the spring. Dates to come.
• Competitive Team Coaches will be announced mid to late April.
• Players may play up if approved by the Director of Coaching and Technical Director, and if they meet the criteria.
• Playing down is not permitted per U.S. Soccer rules and CSA rules.

More detailed information regarding Competitive and Elite Evaluations and Tryouts (dates, times, locations) will be shared via email, website, parent meetings & PlayMetrics.

RECREATIONAL - A Thoughtful Transition    

We understand that for some players, this change can mean moving to a different team. However, change also opens doors to new friendships, fresh experiences, and continued growth with fellow classmates.

A few important notes as families plan ahead:

• Players who ask to play up an age group (if approved) must return to their appropriate school-year age group if they later wish to play competitive soccer.
• Players who ask to play down a year (if approved & more difficult to approve) to play with friends, must return to their correct school-year grouping if they move into competitive soccer or participate in a CSA-run recreational league.
• Competitive soccer does not allow playing down, per U.S. Soccer and CSA rules.