Dear Membership,

As part of U.S. Soccer’s recent update, most leagues nationwide will be shifting from birth-year registration to registration more aligned to the school-year calendar in 2026/2027. This includes all of the leagues our club currently participates in (in-house, PSCA, SSUL, WPL and EA). 

These changes will come into effect for U16 and older boys age groups in February 2026, and all other age groups in May 2026. New age group formats for 26/27 are below:

Age Group	Birth Date Range	Boys Team Name	Girls Team Name
U8	Aug. 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019	B18-19	G18-19
U9	Aug. 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018	B17-18	G17-18
U10	Aug. 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017	B16-17	G16-17
U11	Aug. 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016	B15-16	G15-16
U12	Aug. 1, 2014 to July 31, 2015	B14-15	G14-15
U13	Aug. 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014	B13-14	G13-14
U14	Aug. 1, 2012 to July 31, 2013	B12-13	G12-13
U15	Aug. 1, 2011 to July 31, 2012	B11-12	G11-12
U16	Aug. 1, 2010 to July 31, 2011	B10-11	G10-11
U17	Aug. 1, 2009 to July 31, 2010	B09-10	G09-10
U18/19	Aug. 1, 2007 to July 31, 2009	B07-09	G07-09

Communication from National governing bodies describing and explaining 2026-2027 age group format changes can be seen here. 

With these new age formats, many players in the club will be required to try out for a different age group than what they are currently participating in. 

The club’s approach to the management of the age group format changes is described below. 

How Players are Evaluated During Tryouts

Players are evaluated based on their football ability. This is a different selection process to NORTAC Programming, in which friend requests are permitted. 

Optimal Overload  

Optimal overload means there is a consistent level of challenge when a player performs their football actions. 

The most influential variable in terms of the amount of overload on a player is the quality of players that they are playing against in training and games. 

Our club always aims to maximize the chances of optimally overloading every Sparta team in games by , through refraining from “sandbagging” and instead being intentional in selecting leagues that will provide the appropriate amount of overload for each team.

If our teams are not being optimally overloaded during a league season, our coaches will organize as many additional games as possible using additional Sparta teams as a starting point to amplify the benefit of these games for our club.

Play Up Selection Criteria 

• If a player is not consistently optimally overloaded within their own age group in training or games, the Sparta coach in the age group above will provide as many play up training (and potentially additional game opportunities) as possible during the year, using age group management principles as described here.)

• If a player is not consistently optimally overloaded within their own age group in training and games, these players will be considered  for selection in the age group above, if they are of a high enough ability level (must be highly impactful for the best team in the older age group). 

Families will not be mandated to accept the invitation to play up, and the player will still have the option of playing on age.

• See here for how age group selections will be managed for current play ups in the club.

League Specific Play Up Rules and Implications

For league specific play up rules and implications for players, see here (rule 303) for the Washington Premier League (WPL), and here (pages 4, 7 and 14) for the Elite Academy League. 

 

Sparta Tacoma Player Selection Process for the 26/27 Season 

 

Tryout Attendance

• All players must try out for their own age group only (even if they are currently a play-up) unless a family receives email approval to be selected for an older age group.

• Approval emails for players that are selected to play up are expected to be sent by:

U16,U17, U18-19 boys: before February 2026

All other age groups: before April 2026

• Approval emails will be provided by the age group leader for the older age group, and will include the on-age group leader and Director of Coaching. 

• Sparta coaches will perform as many observation sessions as possible before official tryouts using new on age formats as a starting point for all players to facilitate players being selected in an age group that provides an optimal level of overload for their development.
  Potential Exceptions to ‘Play Up’ Selection Criteria

 

Goalplayers

• If a player plays in the goalplayer position and has the potential to gain more game minutes in an older age group, they may be considered for selection as a ‘play-up’ even if they are still optimally overloaded within their own age group within training and games. 

Tryout FAQ’s

See here.

With these player selection principles in place, and collaborative coaching teams committed to doing what is best for every player, our club is looking forward to managing this transition in the best way. 

Thank you for your continued support!

NORTAC Executive Board and Director of Coaching