Player Age Matrix

The SAY Soccer Player Age Matrix is a guideline that helps determine which age group a player should be placed in for a given soccer season. The matrix is based on the player's birth year and helps ensure that players are competing with others of similar ages and development stages. For the Spring 2026 season, the age categories are divided into specific age groups such as U8, U10, U12, U14, and U19 (High School), each of which is based on the player’s age as of a specific cutoff date.

The age groups are calculated using a "birth year range" which starts from August 1 of the year before the season starts, up until July 31 of the next year. For example, for players in the U8 category for the 2026 Spring season, they need to have been born between August 1, 2017, and July 31, 2019. Similarly, players in the U10 age group would need to have been born between August 1, 2015, and July 31, 2017, and so on for each age group.

By adhering to this matrix, the club ensures that players of the same age bracket play in the same league, promoting fairness and appropriate competition. It is also a helpful tool for parents and coaches to understand which group their child will be part of based on their birth year. If you have any questions about which category your child falls into, simply compare their birth year with the specified date ranges for each age group.

This matrix helps maintain a balance in competition, player safety, and player development throughout the season.