US Club Soccer / USSF / Washington Premier League — 2026/27 season
Age groups now follow the US Club Soccer seasonal year (Aug 1–Jul 31), set by birth date. Rec uses bands; competitive uses birth-year ranges.
| Rec band | Birth window (2026/27) |
|---|---|
| U6 | Born on or after Aug 1, 2020 |
| U8 | Aug 1, 2018 – Jul 31, 2020 |
| U10 | Aug 1, 2016 – Jul 31, 2018 |
| U13 | Aug 1, 2013 – Jul 31, 2016 |
| U15 | Aug 1, 2011 – Jul 31, 2013 |
U15 runs only when numbers support a team. A U4 band (below U6) is planned for Spring 2027.
Rec is club-run: fields are the marked Eastside Park pitches and differ from the WPL mandates below. U10 halves follow US Soccer PDIs; U13 follows WPL Rule 207.
Recreation is gender-mixed through U10 and gender-split at U13.
| Age group | Games | Practice | Violation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11U and younger | No heading | No heading | Indirect free kick (IFK) from the spot of the offense |
| 12U and 13U | No restriction | Max 30 min/week — ≤15–20 headers per player | No in-game enforcement; practice limit is coach responsibility |
| 14U and older | No restriction | No restriction | — |
These are US Club Soccer age groups under the USSF mandate, not rec bands — the U13 rec team is not all in the middle row.
No Re-Entry Protocol: any player removed for a suspected head injury may not return without healthcare professional clearance.
WPL field & format mandates (Rule 207)
| Age | Format | Duration | Ball | Field mandate (W × L) | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8U / 9U / 10U | 7v7 | 2 × 25 min | 4 | 40 × 60 yd (range 35–45 × 55–65) | 6'6" × 18'6" ideal; 6' × 18' or 6' × 12' acceptable |
| 11U / 12U | 9v9 | 2 × 30 min | 4 | 50 × 75 yd (range 45–55 × 70–80) | 7' × 21' ideal; 6'6" × 18'6" acceptable |
| 13U / 14U | 11v11 | 2 × 35 min | 5 | 75 × 112 yd (range 60–80 × 100–130) | 8' × 24' |
| 15U / 16U | 11v11 | 2 × 40 min | 5 | 75 × 112 yd (range 60–80 × 100–130) | 8' × 24' |
| 17U / 18U | 11v11 | 2 × 45 min | 5 | 75 × 112 yd (range 60–80 × 100–130) | 8' × 24' |
All halftimes are 5 minutes. 8U–10U Development League play carries additional modifications — build-out line, no keeper punts, offside at the build-out line, no intentional heading, and a 5-goal mercy rule — see the WPL Dev League rule modifications.
League-play requirements
US Club ID cards (physical or virtual) required for all players and up to four team officials. Current-season headshot; no hats, hoods, or sunglasses. No card and not on the match card means ineligible. Not required for recreational play.
Transfers: seven-day waiting period from the league receiving the updated roster, card release, and cleared fees. One US Club club per season; no guest players. WPL teams only, not rec.
Club Pass: max 4 per match in Classic/Copa. Players rostered to an outside tier-1 league (ECNL, ECRL, N1, MLS Next, EA, GA) may not play or Club Pass to a Classic/Copa team.
Minimum to start and finish: 5 at 8U/10U, 6 at 11U/12U, 7 at 13U and up.
Play up only — never down. Written WPL approval is required before registration for league teams wishing to play up.
Match-day posting rules such as host scheduling deadlines apply to WPL league matches and competitive administration.
Points: 3 win / 1 draw / 0 loss. Dev League standings cap at a 5-goal differential. Rec uses no points or standings.
Sources: WPL League Rules (retrieved 2026-09-17) · WPL Dev League Rule Modifications (retrieved 2026-09-17) · US Soccer small-sided and heading mandates · US Club Soccer player age groups