Who is the Challenge Program for? Your child who is searching for professionally led coaching in an organized and competitive environment, excels in their current program, or is interested in playing travel soccer in the future; Challenge program is perfect for them.
Is there any Tryouts? No. With no tryouts, parents/players are free to determine whether Challenge is right for them based on player athleticism, soccer experience, and potential interest in further soccer development.
Are there a minimum and maximum number of registered players? Yes. Registration is limited to 80 Players. Minimum Registration for each division (U7/U8 and U9/U10) is 25 players. If player interest is low, then parents will be called and offered placement on recreational teams and refunded the difference of program fees.
Practice Information: Challenge program trains twice per week, with one game per weekend. Practices will take place at Horizons Edge outdoor turf.
Are games inner squad format? Inner squad (COED) games are the majority of games played in the Challenge Program.
What Academy games? Academy games are for the U9/U10 age groups only. The pathway from U7/U8 age group introduction "learning to train" to Academy's philosophy of introduction "training to compete" is where we begin to see the differences between training and games. The U9/U10 age group, along with playing intra-squad games, teams will also participate in Home/Away games vs. regional CCL clubs (e.g. VBR Star, CVU, Culpeper SC, New River United, etc.) this is to serve as an introduction to our Travel soccer program.
Does Challenge travel? What days do they travel and how far do they travel? Games against other opposing teams may be scheduled, minimal travel required. All games are on Saturday and the majority will be local to Harrisonburg. Families will not travel more than once, if at all, or over an hour and a half distance. (For example) Within the 8 week program, SVU will communicate prior with CCL (opposing travel club academies U8-U10) teams to schedule friendlies to provide a holistic approach to the program. Challenge is preparation for the next step in SVU's player development model, being travel soccer.
Request for a refund and to withdraw from the Rec program must be made through an e-mail or written notice prior to the first game of the season. Refunds will be issued minus a $20.00 processing fee, if communicated ahead of the first game. Refunds will be sent in the form of a check and will take about 3 weeks to be processed.