Shenandoah Valley United Travel Team Registration Information

 

Each prospective SVU Travel Program player must be selected according to an open tryout process prior to placement on an SVU Travel or Academy team. The SVU open tryout process shall typically be held during May or June of each year to select players for the following playing year (Fall/Spring). A limited open tryout may be held each Spring at the discretion of the SVU Director of CoachingTechnical Director and affected coaches between the fall and spring seasons.

 

The SVU tryout process shall be open to all players and shall give equal consideration to each player without regard to race, religion, ethnic or social background, or economic status. Prospective players wishing to tryout after the team roster has been established may be considered if there are open position(s) on the roster and after being evaluated by, at a minimum, the team coach.

 

Players may be added to a team at any time during the seasonal year provided that there are open spots on the roster.

 

Tryout Pre-registration

Pre-registration is required for tryouts. Pre-registration will open the first week of May. Please click here for a direct link to our registration software. Pre-registration for tryouts does not have any fees. You will only be charged if you make a travel team and then accept your position following tryouts. Please remember your login information as you will need to access your account if accepted to a team.

 

Petitioning to Play Up

It is the goal of SVU Travel to field a full slate of teams in each age group with age pure players. SVU strives to field age appropriate teams when possible and with this goal in mind, requires that each player tryout in their age pure age group. A player will be allowed to “Petition to Play Up One Age Group” when their birth date is after the USYS August 1 deadline but meets the September 30 public school calendar deadline. In order to be selected to play one age group up with their school aged peers, the following criteria need to be met:

Playing in a Higher Age Division. Players may be allowed to play in a higher age division “play up” if it is clearly in the best interest of the player involved and if #1. and one of the other conditions are met.

1.       Approval by the Director of Coaching and/or Technical Director

2.       The player in question will likely a) be able to earn significant amount of playing time on the older age group team, b) be able to maintain this level of play throughout the entire season without an adverse effect on the player’s development and growth.

3.       The only option for the player is to play on an older age group team since there is no team in his/her own age group that a player can play. 

To request permission to try out “up an age group” does not guarantee selection to that team. Players must file new petitions each year. All petitioning players will be evaluated during the tryout process and the SVU Director of Coaching (DOC) and Technical Director will make the final decision. The DOC and Travel Program Committee will review the evaluations and each player will be contacted with their particular team selection following tryouts. Please email ShenValleySoccer@yahoo.com with any questions. Click here for Petition to Play Up Form.

 

Age Groups

SVU encourages all players to play with their Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) sanctioned age group. VYSA sanctions age groups from August 1 to July 31. Players will play in designated division according to birth date. In some cases, the player’s birth date puts them on a team that is younger than the team for their grade level. These players may petition to play up (per the chart below), or may choose to try out for the team in their true age group. Players may not play down an age group for any reason.

2009/2010 Seasonal Year

 

Registration

 

Travel registration for the Fall 2009 season will open following tryouts in June. The registration process and fee will be for the Fall 2009 season only. Those players on younger teams (U11-U13) playing again in the Spring will have a second registration and fee payment following the Fall season.

Uniforms – Please Read!

SVU will continue to use the same Squadra jersey / Togue short uniform used for the last year for the Fall 2009 & Spring 2010 seasons. Once you have been notified that you have been placed on a team, you can order a uniform (or replacement pieces) when accept your invitation from your team. See Merchandise / Uniforms - Uniforms for Academy and Travel for more information.

Seasons

Fall Season - Practices will start in early August and the season will run from early September until late October. Spring Season - Practices will start in mid-February and the season will run from early March until late May.

Most teams average 8 regular season games, at least 4 of which will be in Harrisonburg. The Club and each team determine how many tournaments (typically 1-2) will be attended in addition to league regular season play. Registration for one tournament is included in the seasonal registration fee; however, players are responsible for tournament travel expenses and any additional tournaments the team decides to play. Tournament registration fees can range $40-$50 per player per tournament. Teams may also elect to participate in the State Cup tournament, which is a single elimination contest accomplished over a 4 - 6 week
period at any venue around the state.

 

 

Verification of Birth Date

Players who have not played travel soccer for SVU will need to provide the club with proof of birth date. Accepted documents include:

·                     Original birth certificate with raised seal (no copies) or the VA “credit card” birth certificate

·                     Passport

·                     Current driver’s license, learner’s permit, or “walker” id

·                     Alien Resident Id Card – Green Card

·                     VYSA player pass 2005-2006 or later

 

Financial Aid

For those who wish to be considered for financial aid, please complete the online registration process and select the “pay in person” option when checking out. Then, please fill out the financial aid form available in the upper right hand corner. Please mail the form to us at PO Box 370, Harrisonburg, VA  22803-0370 or email to ShenValleySoccer.com. We ask that anyone requesting financial aid indicate what they are able to pay, and either include that amount when mailing the form or let us know when you will be able to pay that amount.