ACADEMY

U8 - U10 Boys & Girls

New River United's U8 - U10 Academy program is the largest Academy program in the NRV and is one of the club's fastest growing programs. This year we have hit the highest amount of enrollments in our 50 Year history as interest continues to surge.

What exactly is the Academy?

The Academy is a steppingstone for players transitioning from Recreational Soccer to New River United's Competitive Travel Soccer programming. The Academy is best described as a Pre-Travel program for players looking to take their training to the next level.

The Academy trains 2x a week led by Licensed Coaches  under the supervision of our Academy Director. Matches are typically scheduled for Saturdays and are primarily played against other Academy programs from neighboring clubs. Due to how many teams we have in the program, we also use weekends as intra-club scrimmages where we can focus on improving the quality of play to help our players better understand the game. Our objective is to keep the focus on developing technical skills and learning new tactics in a fun, fast-paced learning environment.

There are 3 Age Divisions we offer in the Academy:

U8, Girls & U8 Boys:  for 2018 born players

U9 Girls & U9 Boys: for 2017 born players

U10 Girls & U10 Boys: for 2016 born players

While scores will be kept track of in most games to help our staff track data, they will be treated informally. This age group is not focused on wins and losses but in helping young players apply new concepts of what they have learned in training. Academy Matches are the test where players can apply what they have learned from training against other local clubs and teams.

Important Dates

Training Begins : March 9, 2026
Games Start: Late March 2026
Season Ends: May 16, 2026
                              
Training Location: 3400 S Point Dr, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA

This Spring, Academy trains on Mondays & Wednesday evenings from 5:30 - 7:00 PM.

Cost

Player Fee: $199 Per Season

Player Fees allow us to pay our Academy Coaching Staff which has allowed us to invest in higher licensed coaches and hire more Assistant Coaches to ensure an optimal Coach-to-Player Ratio. Player fees also help cover the cost of Referees and Field Maintenance to ensure the best match day experiences.

Please Note:  No player has ever missed out on any of NRU's Programming because of finances. Our Club offers the best financial aid and scholarship opportunities. E-mail our Academy Director to request more information.

*If your Player was born younger than U8 and they are interested in joining NRU's Academy program, then you will first need to get an Assessment with NRU Directors.



Questions? Please contact our Academy Director:

Academy Director: Matt Ebert

E-Mail:  coachmattnru@gmail.com