2025 SLAM SHOOTOUT SCHEDULE IS HERE!

Player Age Group by Player Birth Date and Seasonal Year

Summary of the New Age Group Change for the 2026–27 Season

Starting with the 2026–27 season, youth soccer in the U.S. (US Club Soccer, US Youth Soccer, and AYSO) will change the age-group cut-off date from January 1 to August 1.

Why is this changing?

There are two main reasons:

1. To reduce “trapped players”

A trapped player is a kid whose soccer age group doesn’t match their school grade.
This causes serious problems:
- In 8th grade, many teammates move to high school teams, but trapped players can’t.
- Four years later, the same thing happens again during senior year.
With the August 1 cut-off, fewer kids will get stuck in this situation.

2. To match soccer age groups with school grades

Most schools in the U.S. follow age ranges close to August.
Using August 1 means:
- More kids get to play with their friends from school.
- More children stay in the sport long-term because the teams feel more natural.

Why not September 1?

After more research and feedback, August 1 aligns better with school cut-offs nationwide and reduces both:

Trapped players, and
“Force-ups” (kids who have to play up a year just to be with classmates).

Important notes

This change begins 2026–27.
No cut-off date is perfect because school dates vary by state, but August 1 is the option that creates the least problems nationally.
It does not affect player development, level of play, or how soccer programs identify talent — it is simply about better alignment with school ages.

Spring 2026 registration is NOW OPEN!

The new season begins in late February

Want to take advantage of our early bird discount? Don’t wait — sign up here:
👉 https://system.gotsport.com/programs/47V989188

Development takes time. Opportunity comes to those who stay ready. 💪🐍⚽️

FROM REC TO NATIONAL LEAGUE PREMIER 1

The result of years of believing in the process, hard work, and unity.

We are incredibly proud to share that our RPB Strikers 2011 Black have earned a place in the National League Premier 1 – Sunshine Division, the highest level of competition in the state for their age group.

What makes this achievement truly remarkable is the journey behind it:

🔹 This team was not built overnight. The core of the group—eight players—began together at U9 in our Recreational Development Program.
🔹 Year after year, they’ve grown together through every challenge, every loss, and every win—shaped by shared values of effort, discipline, and unity.

This progress would not have been possible without the long-term vision and leadership of Mal Hasan, our Director of Coaching (DOC). His commitment to development pathways and his belief in building from within laid the foundation for this team’s journey. His trust in the process—and in Coach Diego Cappella to lead this group since U9—has allowed a generation of players to grow within a consistent and supportive environment.

Today, these boys take their place among Florida’s elite—not because they were selected from the best, but because they became the best through commitment, patience, and development.

This is more than a promotion.
It’s a milestone in a story that began with cones on a grassy field, a few kids chasing a ball, and a belief that growth beats shortcuts.

Congratulations, U15B Strikers. You are a true example of what it means to trust the process. 🐍