Age Classification Guide

2025-26 Age Classification Guide

If anyone has any questions, please contact the Region office.

USA VOLLEYBALL JUNIOR PLAYER AGE DEFINITION

For use during the 2025-2026 Season

Once a player has:

  1. Been enrolled at a university, college, community college or junior college AND
  2. Been cleared to participate by that (volleyball) program

The player 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:

  1. Players who were born on or after July 1, 2007 (including high school graduates eligible based on the above paragraph)
  2. 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:

  1. Players who were born on or after July 1, 2008
  2. 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 (11th) during the current academic year are eligible to participate in the 17 and under age division. These players are still subject to frozen roster rules.   

16 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2009

15 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2010

14 and Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 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. These players are still subject to frozen roster rules. (This is because 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 1, 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 1, 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: Players who were born on or after July 1, 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: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2017

Note:  These age definitions are used by domestic club programs and are NOT the same as the age definitions for International Competition and Domestic National Team Development Programs.

The Age Definition Policy was most recently revised by the USA Volleyball Board of Directors on May 27, 2025.