Play a Different Division Policy

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Playing Up Policy

In Fall 2026, US Soccer changed the age range for divisions to a school year based model. The purpose of this change was to “play with your classmates”. The new age range for divisions are August 1 – July 31.

Region 785 follows US Soccer and AYSO guidelines for division of play. These guidelines can be found here: Player Age Matrix.

EXCEPTION TO PLAYER AGE MATRIX: Our Region falls within the San Diego Unified School District boundaries and the age cut off for school is September 1st. This discrepancy between August 1 and September 1 leaves August born players in a different division than their school grade peers. In order to meet the intent of the school-based model we are allowing an exception to the player Age Matrix for players born between August 1 and August 31. Parents MUST fill out the Consent to Play Up form (linked below) annually by June 30th to be considered to “play up” a division with their peers. No other birthdate exceptions will be allowed under this guideline.

ALL OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES: In extraordinarily rare circumstances, the Region may allow a player to Play Up a division due to their skill level (no other reasons qualify). Requests for a player to Play Up to the next division will be considered on an individual basis annually. Play Up requests will NOT be considered after June 30th.

General Guidelines:

Requests to Play Up must be requested via the Consent to Play Up form. The Regional Commissioner makes the final decision to grant or deny the play up in writing.
Forms must be submitted to [email protected]
Region 785 will not automatically recognize Play Ups granted by other AYSO Regions.
Play Up requests will only be considered if space is available in the higher division.
Players that play up will be all-star eligible for the division in which they played the season.
A Player may not switch age divisions between the Fall and Spring Seasons. In other words, if a Player plays up in the Fall, they must play up in the Spring.
Play Down requests will NOT be considered at any age level.
Play Up requests will not be granted to bypass any age division changes (except August birthdays, see above) and/or to allow players to join friends, former teammates, or siblings
If a player’s birthday falls within the 12U age matrix, they cannot play up to 14U due to the Heading Rule. NO EXCEPTIONS.