Beginning with the 2026/27 season, Carmel FC — along with US Soccer and many clubs across the country — will transition to a new age group alignment structure based on the school year calendar.

Players will now be grouped from August 1 through July 31 birthdates rather than the traditional calendar year format. The goal of this change is to better align players with classmates and school peers, helping improve social development, team continuity, and long-term player experience.

What this means:
• Players born between August 1 and July 31 will now fall within the same age group.
• Many players may move into a different age grouping than they previously played in.
• Team names will continue to reflect the oldest birth year within the group.
• Some age groups may temporarily include a mix of returning teammates and new players as clubs adjust to the transition.

Example:
A player born in January 2018 would now align within the U9 age group for the 2026/27 season.

As always, Carmel FC will continue evaluating players carefully to ensure the best developmental environment for every child. While age alignment is important, player development, confidence, enjoyment, and appropriate placement remain our priority.

Please reference the chart / .PDF for the complete 2026/27 age group breakdown.