Girls Academy Shifts to School-Year Based Age Groups Starting in 2026–2027

The Girls Academy announced a significant change to how youth soccer teams will be organized, moving from a calendar-year system to a seasonal-year format that better matches the school calendar.

Beginning with the 2026–2027 season, player registration and team formation will run from August 1 to July 31, rather than the current January 1 to December 31 cycle.

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This adjustment brings the Girls Academy in line with other major youth soccer organizations across the United States, creating a more unified approach throughout the sport. The change reflects what officials describe as a commitment to improving the overall experience for players and their families.

“Our goal at the Girls Academy is to ensure a competitive and developmentally focused environment,” said Girls Academy Commissioner Patricia Hughes. “We are committed to understanding the collective needs of our member clubs and the importance of aligning with other national organizations in this adjustment, thus reinforcing our shared responsibility to create the best possible experience for our female players.”

The current calendar-year system will remain in effect for the 2025–26 season, giving families and clubs a full year to prepare for the transition. The new seasonal-year cycle will officially begin with player registration in August 2026.

Parent Perspectives on the Change

Planning and Logistics: For many soccer families, this change could simplify the juggling act between school and sports commitments. Having team formations align with the school year means tryouts, roster announcements, and season planning will flow more naturally with academic schedules, potentially reducing conflicts between important school events and soccer obligations.

Development Considerations: Parents of players born in the latter part of the calendar year may find this particularly beneficial. Under the previous system, children born in October, November, or December often faced significant physical and developmental disadvantages when competing against teammates born earlier in the same calendar year. The seasonal-year format may help level the playing field and provide fairer competition opportunities for these players.