We reverted to the January 1 birth year in for the 2004 season based off the fact the it was in accord with our U.S. National Team Programs, Olympic Development Programs and the rest of the world.  We had support from our U.S. National Staff Coaches and a number of the clubs to make this change.  For the good of the game, we proposed this change with members of US Soccer. Unfortunately, some US Soccer member youth organizations could not see that this was for the good of the game.  In the future, we hope that the other youth organizations take into consideration the right reasons for which this was proposed and put politics aside to grow the game of soccer in this country. I am sure at sometime the birth year will revert to January 1 for all US Soccer member organizations.

 

Without having other youth governing organizations in support of this, and with some clubs simultaneously competing in other youth organizations programs, we are going to revert to the August 1 birth year for the 2005 season to be consistent with the other member organizations of US Soccer.   We, as well as many of the clubs, remain in support of the January 1 birth year and will work to hopefully have this reverted in the future.