What are the USA Volleyball Junior age division definitions for the 2025-2026 season?

Question

Carolina Region · Accepted Answer

For the full USAV Age Definition policy and a chart to help check your age division, view this provided by USAV. Once a player participates (including but not limited to practicing, training, attending workouts and/or competing) in a club or varsity program for any university, college, community college, or junior college, he/she is ineligible to take part in any regional and national programming, which includes but is not limited to national JNC qualifying and championship events. 18 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2007 (including high school graduates eligible based on the above paragraph)

18 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2006 and a high school student in the twelfth (12th) grade or below during some part of the current academic year are eligible to compete on 18 and under teams.

17 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2008.

Girls 17 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2007 (18 years or younger) who shall neither have completed nor are in a grade higher than the eleventh grade (11^th) during the current academic year will be allowed to participate in the 17 and under age division. This age waiver is still subject to frozen roster rules. (This age waiver is based on recruiting concerns for girls in the 11^th grade who would otherwise be required to participate in girls 18’s qualifiers and the Girls 18’s GJNC.)

16 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2009.

15 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2010.

14 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2011.

Boys 14 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2010 (15 years or younger) who shall neither have completed nor are in a grade higher than the eighth grade (8th) during the current academic year will be allowed to participate at the USA Junior National Championships on 14 and under teams. This age waiver is still subject to frozen roster rules. (This exception is based on the net height difference of 7’4 1/8” to 7’ 11 5/8” between the 14 and Under Division to the 15 and Under Division.)

13 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2012.

Boys 13 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2011 (14 years or younger) who shall neither have completed nor are in a grade higher than the seventh grade (7th) during the current academic year are eligible for a Region approved waiver to compete in the boys 13’s age group. This age waiver is still subject to frozen roster rules.

12 and under division: Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2013.

Boys 12 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2012 (13 years or younger) who shall neither have completed nor are in a grade higher than the sixth grade (6th) during the current academic year are eligible for a Region approved waiver to compete in the boys 12’s age group. This age waiver is still subject to frozen roster rules.

11 and under division (NOTE: YOUTH-If register with Youth membership not eligible for National events [Qualifiers] - must upgrade to full Junior membership): Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2014 10 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2015 9 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2016 8 and under division (membership is FREE!): Players who were born on or after July 1st, 2017. Note: These age definitions are used for domestic club programs and are NOT the same age definitions for International Competition and Domestic National Team Development Programs for 2026. The Age Definition Policy was most recently revised by the USA Volleyball Board of Directors on May 27, 2025. The classification cut-off date of July 1 was reviewed by the USAV Junior Assembly and the USA Regional Volleyball Association Assembly and research justified the new cut-off date of July 1.

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What are the USA Volleyball Junior age division definitions for the 2025-2026 season?