Beginning in the 2026–2027 season, Amherst Soccer Association (ASA) will adopt the New Age Matrix (August 1 – July 31), in alignment with U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS), and New York State West Youth Soccer Association (NYSWYSA).
However, impacted players (i.e. players born between August 1 and December 31) entering U9 and higher will have the option to try out at either of the following levels:
- Option 1: Their new age-matrix level, or
- Option 2: Their prior birth-year age level
USYS’s decision and FAQ’s can be found here: US Soccer Age Matrix FAQs 25-26
The impacted player option applies on a season-by-season basis, and does not establish permanent eligibility at any age level where applied.
U8 teams (with player’s birthdates between Aug 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019) will be formed under the New Age Matrix (NAM).
After careful evaluation and discussion at the Travel Committee and Board levels, discussions with the community and the valued feedback received, ASA leadership has determined that this is the optimal path forward for the club. This decision reflects the club’s responsibility to ensure a consistent, fair, and developmentally appropriate experience for all players across the program.
This framework will guide ASA’s implementation of the new age matrix beginning with the 2026–2027 season.
Why is ASA taking this approach?
This approach allows ASA to align with the national and state competitive structure while also providing a thoughtful transition for players directly impacted by the change that is appropriate for this region (New York State).
Our objective is to balance several important priorities:
- Player development. Ensuring players compete at the level that best supports their growth.
- Team continuity. Maintaining appropriate, healthy, and competitive team structures.
- Competitive alignment. Remaining consistent with leagues and tournaments that will operate under the new matrix.
- Short and long-term club stability. Enabling a structured and developmentally-appropriate transition.
By allowing impacted players the opportunity to try out at either level, ASA can evaluate each player within the full context of their development, competitive level, and team dynamics.
How will the process work?
Families will register their player for one age group at the time of tryout registration.
Players will be evaluated at that level using ASA’s standard evaluation process, which includes:
- Prior team placement
- Competitive tier (Red / Silver / White, etc.)
- Prior role and responsibilities
- Long-term developmental trajectory
No single factor determines placement; decisions are made holistically. No player is guaranteed retention of a prior team or competitive tier. However, player history and performance at their previous level will be strongly considered.
Final roster decisions will continue to be made through the established ASA process involving the coaches, Director of Coaching/Player Development, and Travel Committee.
ASA retains discretion and final authority over all roster decisions, player placement, and team formation in order to ensure competitive balance, developmental alignment, and roster integrity.
Note: ASA may limit the number of Option 2 placements to maintain roster balance and development pathways.
What will happen in 2027-2028 Season and Beyond?
In each subsequent season, 2027-2028, and beyond, the age level for the impacted player option will increase by 1. Meaning, in 2027-2028, U8 and U9 levels will follow the NAM, in 2028-2029 it will be U8-U10, and so on. Over time, ASA expects that players will naturally settle into the age level and team that best fits their development.
Looking Ahead
This transition represents a structural change across youth soccer nationally.
ASA’s goal is to implement the new system in a way that is fair, transparent, and centered on the long-term development of our players, and appropriate for our region.
We recognize that this change affects families in different ways, and we appreciate the feedback and thoughtful conversations we have had throughout this process.
ASA will continue to communicate additional details as we approach the 2026–2027 tryout cycle, including registration procedures and timelines.
As with all ASA policies, the club will continue to review implementation yearly to ensure it serves the best interests of our players and teams.
Thank you for your continued support of Amherst Soccer Association and our shared commitment to the development of our players and teams.
Please review some of the FAQs below. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at info@amherstsoccer.com.
New Age Matrix FAQs
We are. We are fully adopting the new age matrix.
What we’ve added is a structured transition so players aren’t forced into situations that don’t fit their development as a result of the change, and acknowledge the misalignment of US Soccer’s determination of “School Year” versus our region’s actual school year. Over time, alignment with the NAM across the club will naturally increase, and that is the end goal, but ASA does not feel it is appropriate to immediately and strictly apply the new age matrix to all players without flexibility.
Players choose where they are evaluated, but placement is always determined through the club’s evaluation process.
Your player can try out for her/his current age level. We understand the importance of team continuity, and it’s something we always consider. At the same time, all placements are based on evaluation and what’s best for the player’s development. This has always been the case, new age matrix or not.
Yes, players will be permitted to try out at both age levels.
The underlying structure is actually simple…we’re moving to the new age matrix. The added flexibility is there to handle the transition responsibly and appropriately for our region and for our players.
A permanent grandfathering approach creates long-term complexity and competitive misalignment, as well as misalignment with US Soccer and governing bodies. ASA’s approach provides flexibility now while still allowing the club to transition cleanly over time. It also enables impacted families / players who actually do wish to play under the new age matrix, to do so. It is not accurate to assume the entire community wishes to continue with the birth year matrix … we heard this loud and clear in the community and in the survey.
Player development isn’t determined by a single age group decision. Our focus is placing players where they can develop, contribute, and succeed long-term. There is no harm to impacted players playing under the NAM, if they choose to do so. Player development is often nonlinear. This plan meets the players where they are. Players will make new friends, parents will as well.
Youth sports team formation is inherently subjective, although we try to be as systematic in our evaluations as possible. Decisions are made collaboratively by coaches, the Director of Coaching, and the Travel Committee during ASA’s team formation process following tryouts. This has been the case in the past, and will continue to be the case.
Any change like this comes with challenges, but this approach is specifically designed to balance flexibility, fairness, regional appropriateness, and long-term stability for the entire club.
U8 is the natural starting point for the new age matrix.
At the U8 level, players are entering travel soccer largely for the first time, and teams are being newly formed rather than transitioned from existing rosters.
This allows ASA to establish a clean starting point under the new structure, while applying flexibility where it is most needed.