26/27 Age Group Change Info
26/27 Age Group FAQ’s
The age group player formation cycle is changing from January - December, to August - July in the majority of leagues.
What is the change?
The primary reason for the change is consistency among major associations, and to better align players with their school peers and the school calendar.
Why is the change being made?
Yes, all players and teams will move to the new age classification model.
Will the new formation affect all players and teams?
We are part of the August 1 - July 31st formation cycle. You can check your child’s age group here: Zikoba Marketing - make sure to adjust to reflect 26/27 season.
Where can I see exactly what age group my child will be in?
We are actively communicating with coaches on what the best fits will be. That said, until we have a better grasp of what specific teams and age groups will look like, we wont have finalized assignments. Our goal is to have tentative assignments prior to the March age group sessions.
Do we know who the coaches will be?
Will my player be allowed to “move up” with their friends/teammates if they fall into the lower age group?
We generally encourage players to participate within their designated age group to ensure appropriate development, competition balance and alignment with the new age group cutoff dates. However, we understand every circumstance is different. Requests for players to “play up” with an older age group will be reviewed on an individual basis and considered in collaboration with coaches and club leadership.
My child is a year behind age level in school. Can they play with their school grade?
No. The new system is commonly referred to as a “grade-level” system, and in most cases it will align with grade level, but a player may not play on a team that is below where their birthday would place them.
