RECREATION

Q: How do I register my child to play soccer with Shenandoah Valley United?
A: During open registration periods, you may register on the internet through the SVU website by entering www.shenvalleysoccer.com and selecting the registration link. This will bring up the registration form to be completed online. Shenandoah Valley United is striving for maximum on-line registration. However, if you do not have access to a computer you may register by filling out a paper registration form and dropping it off at the Club Office or mailing it with a check or money order, to the Club Office. Payment must be made at the time of registration in order for the registration to be processed.

Q: How do I make payment online?
A: Online Registration is available to everyone who desires to pay by credit card or electronic check. Step by step directions are given on the form for completing the payment. The payment is made through a secure line to a card service, which clears your check or credit card for payment. If problems are encountered when paying online, please contact the office for assistance by email at shenandoahvalleyunited@gmail.com or by calling 540-383-6341.

Q: Where is the club office?
A: The SVU office address is 54 East Market Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. It is located in downtown Harrisonburg, one block off of court square.

Q: What are the SVU office hours of operation?
A: The SVU office is open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m and Friday 10:00 a.m until 1:00p.m. Changes to these hours will be posted on the website.

 

Q: If I register for recreation and later find that I must withdraw that registration, how can I get my registration fee back?
A:
Full Refund

Player cannot be placed due to the closing of a division or a girl’s only program

Full Refund minus $25 Rental Fee.

Player’s family moves outside a 60 mile radius for a job related move before the season starts but after registration

50% Refund

Player’s family moves outside a 60 mile radius for a job related move after the season starts but before the half-way mark of the season (based on number of games).

Player is injured or has an illness that prohibits play and is documented by a physician before the half-way mark of the season (based on number of games).

No Refund will be given for:
Player’s participating in over half of the season (based on number of games).
Player’s losing interest, schedule conflicts, etc.

Player suspension for disciplinary reasons, nor for temporary or permanent withdrawal due to unforeseen emergencies.

Q: Does my child have to tryout to be part of the SVU recreation program?
A: No there are no tryouts, anybody can play!

Q: What does “U” (as in U6) mean?
A: “U” stands for Under. Players are placed by their age as of August 1. So U6 means that the player is Under 6 (or 5 years old) as of August 1 of that year.  

 

Q: How do I find out about my child's placement?
A: Once registration has closed, the teams coach will contact all players via phone call or email.

 

Q. When are recreation games and Practices?
A. The season consists of one practice and one game per week. Games are sched­uled Friday night or Satur­day morning on fields in the local community. Each team will have scheduled weekly games consisting of at least 6 games.

 

Q. How are my children supervised during practices?
A. Coaches are responsible for all players at all times during practices and games. No child will be left without adult supervision. All coaches are subject to a KidSafe background check prior to working within any of our programs.

 

Q. What type of instruction is given to players?
A. Practice activities are age-appropriate. Players are taught soccer skills and tactics appropriate for their age/skill level, according to the SVU Coaching Curriculum. Emphasis is placed on players enjoying a fun experience.

Q. What if it rains on game days or practice days?
A. Shenandoah Valley United DO NOT own any of the fields that we currently use. The Harrisonburg Park and Recreation determines field conditions and will advise us on their use. Please check the home page of our website for all field status. An email will also be send to all accounts as soon as we are notified of any field cancellations. If the park authority or SVU officials close the fields, no one may play soccer on them at all.

 

Q: What equipment is needed for each player?
A: Each player should come to practice and games prepared to play. Shin guards are mandatory for all players. They should also bring a ball, a water bottle and dress for the weather.

 

Q: What size of soccer ball should I purchase for my player?
A:         #3 Ball – U5 and U6 age groups
            #4 Ball – U7, U8, U9, U10, U11 & U12 age groups 
            #5 Ball – U13 and above age groups

TRAVEL

Q: What is travel soccer and what are its benefits?
A: The SVU travel program provides a step up in training, competition, and expectations from the recreation level.  In this phase of club programming, all coaches are certified by either the US Soccer federation (USSF) or National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and players are asked to make an increased time commitment to learn the game. SVU travel players train at least twice per week, play weekend matches, and attend at least two out-of-town tournaments per season.  The goal of the travel program is to enhance skill development, competiveness, and team tactics through a higher level of play for players who are looking to take their game to the next level.

 

Q: How will my son or daughter be picked for a team?
A: SVU runs open tryouts in Spring for all age groups (U9-U18; Boys & Girls) to form teams for the following soccer year (fall and spring). All players are evaluated during these tryouts by the team coaches and additional evaluators. Selected players are placed on appropriate teams by the coaching staff. SVU teams are reformed each year through this tryout process.

 

Q: How do I determine the right age group for my child?
A: The "magical date" for determining a player’s age group is August 1 (during the year of the tryout). A player that turns 9 before August 1 of this calendar year must try out for U10 for the upcoming fall and spring seasons, and must attend the U10 tryouts in the spring of this year. A player that will turn 9 on or after August 1 of this calendar year, or later, must participate in the U9 tryouts for the upcoming seasons.

 

2010 - 2011                                                                    2011 - 2012

Soccer Age Group		Birth date is between:
U9		August 1, 2001 — July 31, 2002
U10		August 1, 2000 — July 31, 2001
U11		August 1, 1999 — July 31, 2000
U12		August 1, 1998 — July 31, 1999
U13		August 1, 1997 — July 31, 1998
U14		August 1, 1996 — July 31, 1997
U15		August 1, 1995 — July 31, 1996
U16		August 1, 1994 — July 31, 1995
U17		August 1, 1993 — July 31, 1994
U18		August 1, 1992 — July 31, 1993
U19		August 1, 1991 — July 31, 1992

Q: Can my child try out in a different age group?
A: Players cannot tryout or play in an age group for which they are too old. Even if they miss the cutoff by one day, they cannot play ’down’ in an age group.

A player may try out in an older age group, with the express permission of the Director of Coaching, the Executive Director and VP of Travel, if in the opinion of the coaching staff, the player’s soccer development needs are not being met at his/her natural soccer age-group. For a player to try out in an older age group, that player must also attend at least one tryout session in his/her natural soccer age group. In these cases, a player typically must be among the top 3 players on the older age group, not simply the best player in his or her own age group.

 

Q: How many players are selected for each team?
A: Different age groups in travel soccer play with different game formats—and have different roster sizes. The following are the approximate roster sizes for the different age groups in SVU.

Under 9 & Under 10 Teams	7 vs. 7 game format	10-12 players on each team
Under 11 & Under 12 Teams	8 vs. 8 game format	11-14 players on each team
Under 13 - Under 18 Teams	11 vs. 11 game format	15-18 players on each team
Under 17 - Under 19 Teams	11 vs. 11 game format	16-22 players on each team

 

Q: How are players evaluated and selected for travel teams?
A: Players are evaluated using several criteria. The three most important areas of evaluation are technical ability, speed and character.

Technical — Can a player handle the ball technically under pressure and in tight spaces?

Speed —

Pure Speed — Is the players fast from point A to B?

Technical Speed — Can the player handle the ball under pressure?

Tactical Speed — Can the player make fast decisions with and without the ball?

Character —

Does the player like to compete?

Is he/she a positive influence on the group?

Does the player possess a high work rate?

Does the player bring passion and energy to the game?

Players are evaluated in these and other areas and, if selected, placed on teams that best meet each player’s developmental needs. Players that are not selected for the travel soccer program will be provided with information on other SVU programs and teams.

Q: How much does travel soccer cost?
A: Each player pays a ’player fee’ to play for SVU. This player fee covers club salaries, the club uniform, league and referee fees, the club’s administrative expenses, State and National registration fees, player insurance, select tournament application expenses, player development programs and many other expenses. For the 2010 – 2011 year, this player fee is $750 per player, per year, including tournaments. SVU makes a yearlong commitment to our players. We expect SVU players and families to make the same full year commitment. Additional costs can vary, depending on the number of tournaments entered, personal player equipment and team travel.

 

Q: How do I register my child to play soccer with Shenandoah Valley United?
A: During open registration periods, you may register on the internet through the SVU website by entering www.shenvalleysoccer.com and selecting the registration link. This will bring up the registration form to be completed online. Shenandoah Valley United is striving for maximum on-line registration.

 

Q: How do I make payment online?
A: Online Registration is available to everyone who desires to pay by credit card or electronic check. Step by step directions are given on the form for completing the payment. The payment is made through a secure line to a card service, which clears your check or credit card for payment. If problems are encountered when paying online, please contact the office for assistance by email at shenandoahvalleyunited@gmail.com or by calling 540-383-6341.

Q: When and where do travel teams practice?
A: The travel club is allocated fields throughout Harrisonburg by the Harrisonburg City Department of Parks, and through the generous giving of John Monger at Monger Fields. These fields are then assigned to travel teams based on team needs and coach preference. Each travel team will have a different practice schedule.

Travel teams generally practice a minimum of twice a week during the season, for 1½ to 2 hours per practice. U15 – U18 Premier Level teams will train 3 nights per week. Other programs for player development are also available to players within SVU.

Q: Who do SVU travel teams play?
A: Regardless of the team label, all SVU teams will compete in approximately 10 (5 home, 5 away) weekend matches in the Skyline League. The Skyline League is a collection of soccer clubs throughout Central and Western Virginia. Most teams will be entered in a block schedule where each SVU team travels to the same location each weekend. For league play matches, families should expect to travel Charlottesville, Staunton, Lynchburg, Roanoke, and Blacksburg for away matches once per season.

 

Q: How are the coaches selected for each team?
A: SVU employs a licensed coaching staff which is under the supervision of the club’s Director of Coaching (DoCs) and the Executive Director. All coaches are hired and paid by SVU. The coaches work for the club and are placed on teams to benefit the development of each player. The coaching staff is evaluated each year by the DoCs and may be rotated among the teams for maximum player development benefits. The standard term for a coach to remain with a team is two years. A complete list of the club’s coaching staff, and credentials, is available on the SVU website.

 

Q: How much time commitment is required?
A: Travel soccer teams play in two seasons per year. The Fall season lasts about 10 weeks from September to November. The Spring season lasts about 10 weeks from April to June. Teams typically play 8-10 games per season. Games are played on Saturdays and Sundays. Teams usually play one or more pre-season scrimmages and 2-3 tournaments per season, depending upon the age group and competitive level of the team. Teams begin practicing 3 or 4 weeks before the start of each season. Practices are from 1½ to 2 hours per session and take place at least twice a week. Travel players are expected to attend all team practices and games.

 

Q: When are the soccer seasons and when are tournaments held?
Fall Season: August to November.
Spring Season: March to May.

Teams often play pre-season, mid-season or post-season tournaments (3-4 games in a 2- or 3-day weekend). There are no league games on the following holiday weekends—Labor Day, Columbus Day and Memorial Day—so these are popular tournament weekends, along with pre- and post-season weekends. Players are expected to be available to play in tournaments. SVU also conducts a winter player development program for players in all age groups. In addition, SVU offers summer clinics and other player development opportunities.