Rules and Important Information

Age Group Assignments

The Shenandoah County Soccer League follows the player birthday registration mandate from U.S. Soccer, which is our national governing body (click here for more information). Beginning with the 2026-2027 soccer season, players are assigned to age divisions based on an August 1 – July 31 schedule.

Our recreational league is organized into 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, and 15U divisions. If a player falls in between an age division as defined by U.S. Soccer, they will “round up” and be placed in the next oldest division. For example, if the U.S. Soccer division chart places a player in the “U-7” division, they will be play in our U8 division.

Players may “play up” in an older division by request (with approval from coaches), but they can never “play down” in a younger division.

Recreational Rules

Seasons

Fall season games begin the weekend after Labor Day. Spring season games begin either the last week in March or the first week in April. There are no games on Easter weekend, Memorial Day weekend, or Labor Day weekend.

All 6U-12U games are played in the small-sided format with fewer players on the team and field during a game on a sized down field.

Practices

All teams practice at least one evening during the week and compete in one game per weekend (usually Saturdays with an occasional Sunday afternoon game). 10U, 12U, and 15U teams may practice up to two times per week at the coach’s discretion, based on practice field availability.

Required Equipment

Soccer shin guards and tennis shoes or soccer cleats are required to play. Players may not use baseball or football cleats. Please provide your child with a water bottle at practices and games and a soccer ball for practices. Parents take turns providing snacks/drinks for after the games, if desired by the coach.

Each player needs a complete uniform set for every season (two shirts and two sets of socks). Click here for information about uniforms.

Please provide your player with a soccer ball for all practices and games. The official ball size for each age group is listed below.

• 6U: Size 3
• 8U: Size 3
• 10U: Size 4
• 12U: Size 4
• 15U: Size 5

Important Information

• Registration forms are dated and numbered in the order they are received for team placement purposes.
• Due to the varying number of registrants in each age group and availability of coaches, some teams may be made up of players from different areas of the county.
• You may request NOT to have a certain coach. Additionally, a coach may request not to have a specific player. Other special requests can no longer be considered due to the large number of players registering each season.
• No jewelry (watches, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, etc.) shall be worn during games.

Miscellaneous

• Spectators must watch games on the opposite side of the field from the side the coaches and teams are on. See the Soccer Plex field layout for more information.
• Soccer socks are required and should be worn over shin guards.
• No baseball or football cleats allowed.
• Hard casts are permitted only with a doctor’s written permission.