Age Group Change FAQ

NHSA and NHSL are adopting the USYS (US Youth Soccer) age-group formation cycle. Starting Fall 2026, age groups will be based on August 1 – July 31 instead of the previous January 1 – December 31 calendar year. BAC is adopting this change for both Travel and Recreational programs. For full details, see the Board-approved BAC Policy. You can also reference the full decision from U.S. Soccer on player registration.

National youth soccer bodies (USYS, AYSO, US Club Soccer) are aligning to a seasonal-year cycle that better matches school-year cohorts. NHSA confirmed this change at its January 31, 2026, Annual General Meeting. This is a league-wide decision, not a BAC-only decision.

No. Spring 2026 is completely unchanged. The new age bands take effect starting with Fall 2026 tryouts.

BAC follows the official USYS/NHSA age chart, which is the definitive source of truth for all age band placements. You can look up your child’s age group using the BAC Age Group Matrix.

No one was “moved.” The cutoff date changed, which means some players will have a different age-group label. Most age groups now include two birth years. This is a labeling change, not a developmental or skill judgment.

BAC’s Board-approved principle is: age-appropriate placement first, team continuity second, no guarantees. All players are placed into their correct age group before any continuity considerations. For U12 and below, the Board is firm on this with no exceptions. For U13 and above, there is some flexibility depending on player numbers and coaching capacity, but age-group placement still comes first.

Placements are one-way for the season. Exceptions are limited to injury, safety, or administrative reasons only. Guest play and dual rostering is coach-managed with parent notification and Travel Director visibility and must comply with all NHSL/NHSA rules.

A one-time appeal may be submitted within 72 hours of the placement offer, only with new, relevant information (for example, an administrative error or missed documentation). Appeals based on evaluation judgment, player comparisons, or convenience are not accepted. The Board’s decision is final.

Play-up is not available simply to maintain team continuity. BAC allows play-up only through a formal exception process: school-grade alignment or rare special cases. All exceptions require Board approval. Coaches cannot approve play-up requests.

This applies when a player is in a higher school grade than is typical for their birthday — for example, an August/September birthday in Bedford, started kindergarten early, or skipped a grade. It is specifically about school-grade placement, not soccer ability. “My kid is advanced at soccer” is not a qualifying reason for a school-grade alignment exception. If approved, the player may try out with the older group, but it does not guarantee placement.

Submit a request before tryouts with supporting documentation (report card, school portal screenshot, or school letter). All requests are reviewed and approved by the Board. Coaches cannot approve exceptions at any level. For questions about the process, email TravelProgram@BedfordAC.com.

No. Play-down is not allowed for NHSL travel per league rules. BAC will support players through appropriate team tiering, coaching support, and recreational options where applicable.

BAC uses a pod model: all players in an age group participate in one pool tryout and are evaluated on technical skills, coachability, and effort. Coaches run the tryout sessions and designated BAC volunteer coaches make the final roster placements. A Pod Lead/Head Coach is assigned for each pod with multiple teams.

Designated BAC volunteer coaches make roster placements based on tryout evaluations. Head coaches provide input and run sessions. Roster size targets with an acceptable range are set prior to tryouts.

For U10 and below (developmental focus): Red (Tier 1), White (Tier 2), Black (Tier 3). Messaging emphasizes development and appropriate challenge.

For U11 and older (competitive): Elite (Tier 1), Premier (Tier 2), Select (Tier 3). Aligned with league formats including State Cup, which begins at U11.

Players retain their current jersey numbers through the existing two-year uniform cycle. Duplicates are permitted generally through Spring 2027. A new uniform cycle will begin Fall 2027. Coaches and the league will have flexibility during this transition period.

When NHSL does not offer a younger division (for example, no U7/U8 divisions), those players register within the next available pod and are evaluated alongside that group. They may be placed on any tier, including Tier 1, based on evaluation. This is standard tier placement, not a “play-up” exception.

February 18, 2026: Board approved all policy decisions.
Early March: Coach info session.
March–April: Family communications including heads-up email, FAQ page on bedfordac.com.
May 2026: Tryouts under the new age bands using the pod model.
May–June: Roster placements and offer letters.
August 2026: Fall season begins under Aug 1 – Jul 31 age groups.

BAC will publish and maintain this FAQ on bedfordac.com and update it as needed. Please start with your coach for general questions. If it’s not covered in the FAQ or your coach can’t answer, email TravelProgram@BedfordAC.com.