What ages and program levels does Valley United offer?Soccer Shots covers about ages 2–7, Star City Soccer Academy serves roughly ages 6–9, recreational soccer runs about U7–U19 for families inside the Roanoke County school-zone boundary the club defines, and United Travel serves boys and girls from about U11 through U19 after tryouts. Winter indoor soccer welcomes all youth skill levels from the wider Roanoke Valley, and winter technical training splits beginner-friendly sessions from advanced travel-focused work.
About
Valley United is a Roanoke Valley youth soccer organization built around the idea of soccer for all, from introductory classes through competitive travel. Programming spans volunteer-led recreational leagues tied to Roanoke County Parks and Recreation, a professional-staffed travel track, partner-led early childhood Soccer Shots sessions, Star City Soccer Academy for younger advanced learners, winter indoor leagues, and optional off-season technical training that welcomes players from other clubs as space allows.
What the club offers
Recreational soccer targets youth roughly U7 through U19 who live inside the club’s Roanoke County elementary school boundary (Back Creek, Bent Mountain, Cave Spring, Clearbrook, Green Valley, Oak Grove, and Penn Forest). Families outside that footprint are directed toward their own city or county recreation soccer provider unless the player attends a qualifying public county school inside the boundary. Teams rely on volunteer parent coaches, emphasize sportsmanship, and supply a home white and away green jersey kit with shorts and socks bundled into registration. Soccer Shots delivers weekly classes for ages 2–7 with character themes such as teamwork and respect, organized in Mini, Classic, Premier, and Intro to Team Play levels. Star City Soccer Academy covers about ages 6–9 for players ready for a more advanced bridge, while United Travel serves boys and girls from about U11 through U19 after tryouts. Travel sides train under paid coaches using a stepped development model from small-sided play up to full 11v11 at U13 and older, add tournament weekends on top of league play, and historically connect standout boys with D.C. United Academy (MLS Next) pathways and standout girls with Metro United and the Girls Academy League platform. Winter indoor soccer runs as a separate registration open to any youth player in the Roanoke Valley, and winter technical training splits beginner groups (recreational or first-year travel) from advanced travel-focused workouts.
Where families play and train
Indoor league home games center on Star City Soccer Center at 3624 Aerial Way Drive, Roanoke, VA 24018, with possible auxiliary sites such as Patrick Henry High School or LabSports on turf that favors cleats. Recreational programming is delivered in cooperation with Roanoke County Parks and Recreation across county fields aligned to the school-zone map. Travel practices and games rotate among Roanoke-area facilities and wider Skyline Premier League geography stretching toward Charlottesville and Harrisonburg to the north, Martinsville and Danville to the south, the New River Valley to the west, and Lynchburg to the east. Alliance-related training for higher Valley United and New River United combinations can split time between Roanoke and the New River Valley when those blended teams are active.
Tryouts and registration
Travel roster spots follow an annual tryout cycle; players are grouped by ability after evaluations. Valley United and New River United have maintained a formal alliance that pools coaching evaluation, can blend top-tier teams across the two clubs, and still places other athletes on home-based Valley United teams with training closer to Roanoke. U11 and U12 tryouts stay club-specific, while older age groups have historically shared joint tryout dates in Roanoke and Blacksburg for alliance-level consideration. Recreational registration traditionally opens near the end of May and runs into mid-August, with teams forming in late July and practices often beginning around August 1 for a fall season that usually wraps by early November. Opening weekend games land on the Saturday before Labor Day. Late registrants risk waitlists or late fees, so early signup is encouraged. Indoor soccer and winter travel supplements set their own windows with firm deadlines and full payment rules. Account creation and program signup use the Login and Register links on valleyunited.us.
Fees, uniforms, and seasonal extras
Recreational registration runs $115 including the uniform bundle, and once the registration deadline passes families email the recreational director to ask about remaining roster space and include the player’s birthdate. Winter travel tournament preparation runs $165 per player for a package covering tournament entry, coach stipends, and a minimum number of winter training sessions, with refunds if a team cannot attend. Indoor soccer follows a seven-game season model with a flat per-player fee each winter, a game t-shirt, full payment due by the registration cutoff, and prorated refunds only if the league cancels mid-season. Travel uniform kits are ordered through Angelo’s Soccer Corner on invitation, with a required Adidas kit for field players and alternate goalkeeper apparel where applicable; uniform questions go to the club’s soccer leadership when invites are missing.
Mission, partnerships, and coaching approach
The club centers its mission on soccer for all while treating travel soccer as the most intensive player-development environment in the organization, pairing technical progression with leadership growth in schools and communities. Professional coaches anchor travel, volunteer leaders anchor recreation, and the youth academy coaching pathway focuses on ages 5–10 under the academy director’s supervision. Travel competition is organized for graduated levels of play through Skyline Premier League alongside statewide youth soccer structures. Families looking for program questions can email the Director of Soccer, Assistant Director of Soccer, or Academy Director at their valleyunited.us addresses, reach Soccer Shots at swva@soccershots.org, or contact indoor team organizers at indoor@valleyunited.us.
Explore more teams
Compare Valley United with other youth soccer options in your area before making a decision. These directory links make it easier to review local clubs, broader Virginia programs, and nearby team options in one place.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Valley United train or play?Recreational home areas follow Roanoke County Parks and Recreation fields tied to the elementary schools named in club eligibility rules. Indoor league play centers on Star City Soccer Center on Aerial Way Drive in Roanoke with possible backup turf sites. Travel teams practice and compete locally plus across the Skyline Premier League footprint from northern Virginia pockets down toward Danville and west into the New River Valley, and alliance-level groups may also train in Blacksburg when blended Valley United and New River United teams are formed.
When are tryouts or registration?Travel teams are selected each year after tryouts, with U11–U12 players staying in Valley United-only evaluations while older ages have historically shared joint tryout blocks with New River United for alliance rosters. Recreational signup usually opens near the end of May, stays open through mid-August, forms teams in late July, starts practices around August 1, and holds opening games the Saturday before Labor Day. Indoor soccer and winter travel programs set their own registration deadlines each season.
What do registration or seasonal programs cost?Recreational registration is $115 including the jersey bundle. Winter travel preparation blocks cost $165 per player for tournament fees, coach costs, and bundled training sessions. Indoor soccer charges a flat per-player fee for a seven-game season, with full payment due by the registration deadline and refund rules if the league cancels. Travel uniform kits are a separate purchase through Angelo’s Soccer Corner once players receive ordering invites.
What is Valley United’s philosophy or coaching approach?The organization promotes soccer for all while using travel soccer to deliver professional coaching, a stepped curriculum from small-sided play to 11v11, and leadership development tied to school and community life. Recreation stays volunteer-driven and developmental, whereas travel adds higher expectations, tournament travel, and pathways into partner academies for athletes who earn those opportunities.
How can families contact Valley United or partner programs?Email Director of Soccer Cory Carroll at cory.carroll@valleyunited.us, Assistant Director of Soccer Steven Ison at steven.ison@valleyunited.us, or Academy Director Landon Moore at landon.moore@valleyunited.us for staff-level questions. Recreational coaching interest goes to Recreational Director Steve Keller at steve.keller@valleyunited.us. Soccer Shots questions belong at swva@soccershots.org, indoor team setup at indoor@valleyunited.us, and program signup happens through the club’s Login and Register entry points on valleyunited.us.
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