Important Announcement: Age Changes Starting Fall of '26
Hendricks Elite FC Families,
The HEFC and the Indiana Soccer League (ISL) are governed by US Youth Soccer (USYS). To that end, the ISL is aligning youth soccer with the USYS governing bodies' decision to transition to a school-year-based age group formation starting with the upcoming 2026-27 season. This means age groups will be determined by a player's age between August 1 and July 31, rather than the previous calendar year method.
Upcoming Spring ‘26 Season: Note that the current 2025-26 season still uses the previous January 1–December 31 birth year rules. The new system begins with the 2026-27 season.
2026–27 Age Group Chart:
| Age Group | Birth Date Range |
|---|---|
| U7 | Aug 1, 2019 – July 31, 2020 |
| U8 | Aug 1, 2018 – July 31, 2019 |
| U9 | Aug 1, 2017 – July 31, 2018 |
| U10 | Aug 1, 2016 – July 31, 2017 |
| U11 | Aug 1, 2015 – July 31, 2016 |
| U12 | Aug 1, 2014 – July 31, 2015 |
| U13 | Aug 1, 2013 – July 31, 2014 |
| U14 | Aug 1, 2012 – July 31, 2013 |
| U15 | Aug 1, 2011 – July 31, 2012 |
| U16 | Aug 1, 2010 – July 31, 2011 |
| U17 | Aug 1, 2009 – July 31, 2010 |
| U18 | Aug 8, 2008 – July 31, 2009 |
| U19 | Aug 1, 2007 – July 31, 2009 |
Key Takeaways
Alignment with School Grade: The primary benefit of this change is better alignment with a player's school grade, allowing them to play with classmates.
"Playing Up" or "Down": Players with birthdays between August 1 and December 31 will effectively "move down" an age group compared to the old calendar year system, while those with birthdays between January 1 and July 31 will generally "move up."
I Want My Player to Stay on Their Current Team: Please note, exceptions to #2 may be made for players who would benefit from “playing up.” This will be a case-by-case decision rendered by club coaches and HEFC coordinators.
June ’26 Tryouts: Travel players who make a team during tryouts will be subject to the above age group chart.
Learn More: https://www.usyouthsoccer.org/news/2025/06/10/updated-decision-on-age-group-formation
Questions and/or concerns? Abigail Browning (HEFC Travel Coordinator): asbrowning08@gmail.com
