Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this age shift a PSC decision?
  No - this change is being implemented nationwide by US Soccer. All sanctioned youth clubs across the country, including CJSA, are moving to this August 1 – July 31 registration cycle starting with the Fall 2026 season. This will ensure uniformity across state and national competitions.

• The Connecticut school year age range is 9/1 – 8/31.  Why doesn’t the soccer age range match the school registration cycle? 
  Since this is a national change, it is not perfectly aligned with the state of CT school registration timing.  However, the shift to 8/1 – 7/31 brings them much more in sync than they are currently.

• How does this affect my child’s current team?
  Yes - there will likely be some changes for each age group. While some teams may see minor roster shifts, the goal is to keep kids within their school-grade cohorts as much as possible.

• Will my child be separated from their friends?
  The school-year model is actually designed to keep friends together. Under the previous calendar-year system, many teammates were in different grades and clubs were unable to accommodate the Sept/Oct/Nov/Dec birthdays that wanted to “play down” to be with their classmates.  This new system aligns soccer more closely with the school calendar, meaning more teammates will be in the same grade.

• If my child will actually be separated from their school grade peers due to this shift (ex: they are in an ‘older’ grade), will an exception be made? 
  The PSC will make every effort to provide flexibility in these select scenarios, based on their DOB and information gathered during the registration process.

• What if my child wants to "play up" even if that means playing above his/her grade level?
  Our club’s policy regarding “playing up” remains focused on the individual player's development & ability compared to the entire age group as a whole. We continue to have a policy outlining this approach - please reach out to psctravelsoccer@outlook.com for any questions.  

• Does my player's age group change affect their travel team placement?
  No - team placements are determined each seasonal year independently and prior team placement does NOT automatically carry forward to the next season.
  As always, travel team placements are based on the following:
  - Travel Placement sessions in early June
  - Ongoing Everson coach and Parent Coach feedback throughout the year
  - Comparative evaluation within the selected age group

• Will travel teams be reorganized?
  In addition to the points above, with any seasonal year, there are placement sessions in early June. Team structures may adjust both as part of the shift to the new age group cycle but also due to changes in players ability and development compared to their peers, and based on registration numbers. 

• I have a question, who do I contact? 
  An email can be sent to pomperaugsoccerclub@gmail.com at any time.