BREAKING: The USA Volleyball Board of Directors has just passed new USAV junior age definitions for the 2020-2021 club volleyball season in accordance with the Regional Volleyball Association Assembly (RVAA) and the USA Volleyball Junior Assembly (JA). This motion is most likely in response to the abrupt cancellation of the 2019-2020 season due to COVID-19.
One of the most significant changes is a national waiver to allow volleyball ‘girls 18s in their junior year of high school to compete on girls 17s teams’. It is unclear if these are permanent adjustments or just limited to 2020-2021. See a breakdown of the updated junior volleyball age classifications below.
2020-2021 USA Volleyball Junior Player Age Definitions
- 18 & Under Division (18U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2002, OR Players who were born on or after July 1, 2001 and a high school student in the twelfth (12th) grade or below during some part of the current academic year
- 17 & Under Division (17U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2002 (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 will be allowed to participate at the USA Volleyball Junior National Championships on 17 and under teams. This age waiver is still subject to frozen roster rules. (This age waiver is based on recruiting concerns for girls in the 11th grade who would otherwise be required to participate in girls 18’s qualifiers and the Girls 18’s GJNC.)
- 16 & Under Division(16U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2004
- 15 & Under Division (15U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2005
- 14 & Under Division (14U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2006
- BOYS 14 & Under Division (14U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2005 (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 Volleyball 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 & Under Division (13U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2007
- BOYS 13 & Under Division (13U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2006 (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 & Under Division: Players who were born on or after July 1, 2008
- BOYS 12 & Under Division (12U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2007 (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 & Under Division (11U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2009
- 10 & Under Division (10U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2010
- 9 & Under Division (9U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2011
- 8 & Under Division (8U): Players who were born on or after July 1, 2012
