Michigan Soccer Training
Team Sheet
Pick your position — the armband marks where you are.
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U11–U12
Nine players, full offside, real positions, and the last stop before the full-sided game. This is the age where formations start meaning something — and where Michigan's Director's Academy league deliberately keeps development ahead of standings.
New for 2026–27 · Age groups changed
For the first time since 2016–17, age groups are built on the school calendar again. US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer and AYSO all moved team formation from birth year (Jan 1 – Dec 31) to school year (Aug 1 – Jul 31), starting with the 2026–27 registration year. ECNL and ECNL-RL, Girls Academy, National 1 and MSPSP all follow it.
Born Jan 1 – Jul 31
Nothing unusual. Your player moves up one age group this season, the same as any other year.
Born Aug 1 – Dec 31
Your player stays in the same age group for 2026–27 instead of moving up — a one-time effect of the switch. This is the group that gets confused, and the reason for the change: they now play with their grade.
The exception: MLS NEXT is split
MLS NEXT did not move as one league. The Allstate Homegrown Division stayed on birth year (Jan 1 – Dec 31), to stay aligned with FIFA and the youth national teams. The Academy Division moved to school year with everyone else. That means a Michigan club running teams in both divisions is operating two different age calendars in the same building — and a player can be U15 in one and U16 in the other.
If your club plays MLS NEXT, ask which division a specific team is in before you assume a birth year. Homegrown vs Academy Division →
2026–27 age groups
| Group | Born between |
|---|---|
| U11 | Aug 1, 2015 – Jul 31, 2016 |
| U12 | Aug 1, 2014 – Jul 31, 2015 |
High school soccer is unaffected — MHSAA has always run on grade and eligibility, not birth year. Rec leagues set their own windows, so confirm with your club. Sources: US Youth Soccer and US Club Soccer age-group decisions, the MLS NEXT age group update, Girls Academy's seasonal-year announcement, and MSYSA's 2026–27 registration notice.
Full offside arrives — wingers have to learn timing, not just speed.
The build-out line disappears; pressing high becomes legal and coached.
Common formations (3-2-3, 3-3-2) map cleanly onto 11v11 shapes a year later.
Deliberate heading at U11
Still an indirect free kick. At U12 many leagues permit limited game heading — check your league's rule, because this is where confusion peaks.
Real fouls, real cards
Cautions get shown at this age. It's part of learning the game's boundaries — not a scandal.
Sideline note
U11–U12 is when parents first hear 'your kid should play up' or 'switch clubs now or fall behind.' Michigan's DA league exists specifically to resist that — the sorting truly starts at U13.