Date of Award

2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

School of Education

First Advisor

Guofang Wan

Abstract

In 2016, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) implemented a nationwide year-of-birth (YOB) age grouping policy that aligned youth soccer teams with calendar years (January 1st –December 31st), replacing the traditional schoolyear (August 1st –July 31st) grouping system. This dissertation investigates the impact of that policy on youth soccer participation in the United States, addressing a critical gap in empirical research linking national policy interventions to participation outcomes. Framed through the Fun Integration Theory (FIT) (Visek et al., 2015), which conceptualizes youth sport engagement as driven by social and intrinsic enjoyment factors, the study examines whether the YOB policy caused a statistically significant decline in participation by disrupting key motivators such as playing with friends and school peers. Using a quantitative interrupted time series (ITS) design, the research analyzes longitudinal participation data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and US Youth Soccer (USYS) from before and after the 2016 policy change, controlling for demographic and economic trends. Complementary qualitative interviews with youth soccer administrators provide contextual insights and triangulate quantitative findings. The study identifies a measurable decrease in youth soccer participation following the policy implementation, suggesting that misalignment between sport and school calendars negatively affected engagement. The findings highlight a persistent tension in youth sport policy between mass participation and elite talent development, arguing that the 2016 reform prioritized international alignment at the expense of inclusivity. The research concludes that future policy should balance developmental equity with social motivations for participation, recommending greater flexibility in age grouping practices and the incorporation of evidence-based frameworks to sustain long-term engagement. Ultimately, the dissertation contributes to broader debates on how youth sport governance can better integrate research, policy, and practice to promote both participation and performance in the United States.

Download

Share

COinS