Missoula Surf 2026 Tryouts

Missoula Surf Soccer Club will host two tryout opportunities in 2026 for the 2026–2027 soccer year:

• Fall 2026 Tryouts

• Winter/Spring 2026 Tryouts

These tryouts will form teams for the 2026–2027 season (August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027) and reflect an important national change in age group registration.

Important Change: Birth Year ➜ School Year Registration

Beginning with the 2026–2027 season, U.S. Soccer (in partnership with US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer) is transitioning from calendar birth-year registration (Jan 1–Dec 31) to a school-year registration model (Aug 1–July 31).

What This Means for Families

• Teams will now be formed based on a school-year cutoff of August 1 – July 31.

• This change is designed to:

  • Keep classmates and friends together

  • Support social and developmental growth

  • Improve long-term player retention

The shift responds to feedback following the 2017 move to birth-year registration, which often separated school peers.

Missoula-Specific Information

Missoula public schools use a September 10 – August 31 cutoff.

Because U.S. Soccer’s new cutoff is August 1 – July 31, this creates approximately a one-month gap for some players whose birthdays fall between August 1 and September 10.

This means:

• A small number of players may not perfectly align with both their school grade and soccer age group.

• These players will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure the best developmental and team placement decision.

Our priority is always placing players where they will thrive both competitively and socially.

How Missoula Surf Forms Teams

At Missoula Surf, player development drives every decision.

Tryouts are designed to evaluate where each player currently is in their technical ability, tactical understanding, physical readiness, and emotional maturity. Teams are not formed strictly by age alone — they are built intentionally based on:

• Individual skill level and soccer IQ

• Developmental readiness

• Team balance and positional needs

• Long-term growth potential

Our coaching staff collaborates to create teams that will best support both the individual player’s development and the collective team environment.

Players Playing Up

In youth soccer, some players may play up an age group. This decision is never automatic and is made thoughtfully based on several criteria:

• Individual ability and developmental readiness

• Roster numbers and team formation needs (especially in smaller soccer communities like Montana)

• In some cases, the opportunity to play with their grade level peers

All “playing up” decisions are made case by case, with the player’s long-term development as the top priority. The goal is always to place players in the environment that will appropriately challenge and support them — not rush them.

2025–2026 Soccer Year Age Group Chart

(For the 2026 Tryout Cycle)
Soccer Year: August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026

What Parents Should Do

1. 1. 1. Identify your child’s birthdate range above.

      2. Confirm their grade for the 2025–2026 school year.

      3. Visit the U.S. Soccer Age Group Calculator for additional clarification.

      4. Reach out to us with any questions at info@missoulasurf.com.