In the United States, USA Water Polo uses August 1st as the cutoff date for age group eligibility.
That means:
A player’s age on August 1st of the competition year determines which age group they belong to for the entire season.
Example: If a child turns 13 on July 31st, they are considered 13U. If they turn 13 on August 2nd, they stay in 12U for that year.
This system applies across all youth divisions (10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U).
| Division | Eligible Birth Years | Age on Aug 1, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 10U | 2015 or later | 10 or younger |
| 12U | 2013–2014 | 11–12 |
| 14U | 2011–2012 | 13–14 |
| 16U | 2009–2010 | 15–16 |
| 18U | 2007–2008 | 17–18 |