Q: When are Recreation games and practice?
A: The season consists of one practice and one game per week. Practices are held during the week at designated field locations. All games are played on Saturdays at the Smithland Soccer Complex in Harrisonburg.
Q: Where is the SVU Recreation program offered?
A: There are four main practice locations for the SVU recreation program and they are identified by the high school in each area. Participants are free to choose any district and not required to practice in the district they live. All game day matches will take place at Smithland Soccer Complex on Saturdays.
Harrisonburg District
Broadway District
TA District
Spotswood/East Rock District
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.
Q: What are the program costs?
$70, Mini Kickers (u4-u5), includes t-shirt
$65, Recreation (u5-u8), plus $20 uniform
$80, Recreation (u9-u14), plus $20 uniform
Q: What is included in the price?
A: Virginia Youth Soccer Association Registration Fees, Insurance, Fields Maintenance, Website and Administration, Referees and SVU Recreation Staff.
Q: How do I purchase a uniform kit?
A: When you register online, you will be able to select a uniform size and order the uniform kit.
Q: What does the uniform kit include?
A: The uniform includes: Soccer Specific Jersey, shorts and socks. Uniform only needs to be purchased once yearly.
Q: Is there an age division for all player ages?
A: The Recreation program would like to offer every individual age division each season. However, typically there are not have enough participants registered to create each individual age groups. In the case that we are not able to offer individual age groups, we will combine appropriate age groups as in U5/U6. There may be an overlap for the September birth-month. It will be up to the parent discretion to determine what age group will be best for their child.
Q: What does "U" (as in U6) mean?
A: "U" stands for "Under." Players turning 6 during the September-to-August Recreational Soccer Year are placed in the U6 Age Group.
Note: In your account, if you do not see the program you are interested in registering for, this may be due to the age requirements for the particular program. Players may not play down an age group (e.g., move from U8 down to U7), but SVU does occasionally give permission to play up (e.g., move from U7 up to U8). If your player is interested in moving up an age group, please email us at [email protected].
Q: What is your refund policy?
A: Families may request a refund for registration fees if the player is unable to participate in the recreation season/camp/clinic. In order to have your request reviewed and considered, families must make a written request for the refund and explain why the participant will not be able to play. Not all refund requests will be awarded the same amount and not all requests are guaranteed to be given a refund.
If the request is made BEFORE the registration deadline has occurred, families will be charged a $10 administration fee for each registration and receive the remaining amount of each full registration. If the request is made AFTER the registration deadline has occurred, families will be charged a $10 administration fee for each registration and additional charges may be applied based on the length of time the participant has played during the season. Refunds will not be considered after the first three weeks of the season have passed.
Q: Does my child have to tryout to be part of the SVU recreation program?
A: No, there are no tryouts. Anyone can play!
Q: How do I find out about my child's placement?
A: Once teams have been announced you will be able to log on using your user name and password and see what team your child has been placed on. Your child's coach will also contact you to introduce themselves and let you know about the team's practice schedule.
Q: How are my children supervised during practices?
A: Coaches are responsible for all players at all times during practices and games, but we ask that each parent stays during practice, or communicates to Coach to let them know of parent absence. No child will be left without adult supervision. All coaches are subject to a 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: When are recreation games and practices?
A: The season consists of one practice and one game per week. Practices are held during the week from Monday-Thursday at designated field locations, which can be found in the chart above. All games are played on Saturdays at the designated field locations from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.
Q: What if it rains on game days or practice days?
A: Shenandoah Valley United DOES NOT own any of the fields that we currently use. Rockingham County Parks and Recreation department and the Harrisonburg Parks 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 sent to all accounts as soon as we are notified of any field cancellations. If the parks authority or SVU officials close the fields, no one may play soccer on them at all.
*The SVU season consists of eight (8) scheduled game dates with a 9th Saturday at the end of the season reserved as a make-up day. SVU playing fields are provided by the City of Harrisonburg and closes fields dues to weather in the best interest of children's safety and preservation of field turf. Because weather is out of our control, we cannot guarantee a minimum number of games.