Beginning with the 2026-2027 seasonal year, (US Club Soccer | ECNL, US Youth Soccer, and AYSO) are transitioning their age eligibility to August 1- July 31 (commonly known as school year) which replaces the January 1- December 31(commonly known as birth year).

Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club teams proudly competes in the various sanctioning bodies that will be adhering to the above change  as shown below:

ECNL & ECNL RL Boys & Girls- US Club Soccer
DPLO Girls- USSSA
Club Premier 2, Advanced Leagues & Open League- US Youth Soccer

For the 2026- 2027 season Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club will be forming teams based on the new August 1- July 31 Age Eligibility most commonly referred to as school year.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE UPDATED AGE ELIGIBILITY CHART

WHY
The goal with the change in age eligibility is to better align teams with graduation class year and reduce the number of "trapped player" situations.  In youth soccer a "trapped player" is a player whose birth year puts them in one age group but their school grade puts them in a different grade level.

PLAYER REGISTRATION ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
Players will be allowed to compete on a team that is older then their eligibility range.  Players will not be eligible to compete on a team that is younger then their eligibility range.

Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club will recommend that players compete on teams that are of their birth date eligibility range but players will have the option to tryout and be evaluated for team that are older then their eligibility range if they choose.

Trying out and being evaluated for teams older than a players age eligibility does no guarantee selection to that team.

Decision on players team placement and selection will be made by the coach in the best interest of the team and that player as it has always been done during the tryout/ evaluation process.

ACTION ITEMS IN PREPARATION FOR THE UPDATE
Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club prides themselves and has a reputation for being both a progressive leader and strategic planner in the youth soccer space.  The following are action steps that will be happening as we prepare for the upcoming transition.

Internal Audit
We have been in the process of pulling the birth dates of all players and began to map out what teams could look like based on the updated age eligibility update.

Internal Age Eligibility Training Dates
We will be scheduling internal evaluation dates for players within the club that give them a chance to meet each other, train with each other, and us a chance to evaluate players with the updated age eligibility.

CLOSING
We feel very confident in the depth of the player pool that we currently have, the level of our Coaching Staff, the opportunities that our organization provides, the quality of the facilities we have access to, and the experience that we are able to deliver to our membership.

We are a destination soccer club for all ages, levels and gender of players in Arizona and one that is recognized on a Regional and National level.

QUESTIONS
Email questions@azarsenalsc.org