POLICIES & GUIDELINES

NVU Policies

When a player commits to NVU and completes the registration process, the player is deemed registered. Players must be registered and in good standing with NVU to participate in our activities. For spring and fall league play, each player is bound to NVU for the entire seasonal year, which runs from August through June of the following year and is obligated to fulfill the financial commitment for that seasonal year. NVU will make every effort to collect past-due fees as appropriate.

Registration fees for the 2025-2026 season are listed below. For travel leagues with two seasons, members can pay in full, utilize a six month installment plan, or a four month installment plan with the first payment due August 1. Installment plans require a non-refundable $400 deposit. Per Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) policy, players must fulfill their financial obligations in full to the club as part of their registration with the club. ****Processing fee for each card transaction is 2.9% + $0.30****

TRAVEL FEES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (U9-U19 Age groups train 3x a week)

League Fees
Referee Assignor Fees for League Matches
Referee Fees for League Matches
Coaching Compensation
Coaching Education
USYS Registration Fees
Club Management and Administration
Risk Management and Background Checks for Coaches and Team Admin
VYSA Insurance Fees
All Field Usage Fees
Field Equipment
TeamSnap Club Membership
Team Equipment

NOT INCLUDED IN CLUB FEES:

Uniforms
Tournament Entrance Fees
Supplemental League Fees
Lodging fees, food, and incidentals
Coaching Expenses for Tournaments Outside the DMV Area (Travel, Lodging, Per Diem)
All Other Fees and Expenses Not Explicitly Covered by the Current Policy

Registration fees paid to NVU may be refunded in whole or in part under the following circumstances:

Season-ending injury (doctor’s verification may be required)
Moving outside the DMV area and no longer playing for NVU (additional documentation or proof of change of address may be required)

Refunds will be prorated based upon months left in the applicable league season and must be approved by the Technical Director. All refund requests must be submitted within 30 days of the injury or relocation. All refund requests may be sent directly to the Technical Director or otherwise forwarded to the Technical Director if received by another NVU club official. Refunds will be issued in the original form of payment within 30 days from the date the refund was approved. This policy applies to registration fees only

NVU acknowledges the role of the internet in influencing our society and impacting the self-esteem and public perception of our players and organization. Therefore, NVU asks that coaches, volunteers, and players remain mindful of their tone on social media interactions. Applicability As used in this policy, “social media” encompasses a variety of online media and communications, and their scope is constantly evolving. For purposes of this policy, the terms “online media” and “social media” refer to internal and external websites, blogs, online social networks (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn), wikis, video, and photo sharing sites (e.g., YouTube, SKYPE and Flickr, Instagram, Snapchat), and other forms of personal online publishing and discourse. These policies also cover text messaging, email, and individual telephone communications. Aspirations ‍ ‍NVU strives to create a positive and inclusive organization dedicated to helping young athletes reach their potential. In furtherance of this goal, NVU aspires to engage members of the soccer community in positive, honest, transparent, and knowledgeable dialogue about NVU through social media. NVU views social media as a beneficial tool for distributing information about the organization and sharing the successes of athletes, teams, and competitions.

Social Media Guidelines All NVU persons shall abide by the following guidelines when using social media:

Be positive and respectful. When disagreeing with others, remain appropriate, professional, and polite. If you find yourself in a situation online that is becoming antagonistic, seek advice. If you are an NVU staff or club volunteer, we ask that you engage an NVU Board member for advice on disengaging from the dialogue politely and respectfully. Connect with your parents, coach, or NVU leadership team if you are a player.
Do not post content that would harm or damage your reputation or that of NVU. Social media posts will remain on the internet and negatively impact your college or professional ambitions. Remember that you represent yourself, your family, and NVU even on your own time. The public may interpret your online postings or social interactions as official club statements.
Use good judgment when posting comments online. Words can create risk and liability for the club. Do not post if you are unsure whether a statement is appropriate.
Encourage others to engage in positive interactions on social media. If you are concerned about any NVU Member’s use of social media, please bring your concerns to the attention of the Board of Directors.

Social Media Guidelines All NVU persons shall abide by the following guidelines when using social media:

Abusive or hurtful comments about a club member, team official, team manager, coach, parent, players, or another participant affiliated with NVU
Comments using foul language or “hate speech” (for example, including but not limited to racial, ethnic, or gender-bashing language)
Personal attacks or defamatory statements or comments (i.e., making negative personal, speculative, or untrue comments about a participant)`
Comments that violate the privacy of any individual
Words that are derogatory characterizations of any ethnic, racial, gender, professional, age, or religious group
Content that defames, misrepresents, or contains disparaging remarks about other people, officials, or clubs
Comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity
Comments or links to sites that contain viruses or malicious software
Comments containing explicit or pornographic words or images

The NVU Board of Directors shall enforce this Social Media Policy. The Board members, and any individual appointed by the members, shall have the authority to remove any inappropriate or offensive comments from official NVU sites and to block any individual or organization from posting on any official social media platform if they determine that such removal or block is in the best interests of the club or persons involved. The failure of any NVU member to adhere to this Social Media Policy shall be considered a violation and will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of such individual’s involvement in NVU.

Additional Resources:

U.S. CENTER FOR SAFESPORT MISSION

"The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the first national organization of its kind focused on ending all forms of abuse in sports. Its mission is to make athlete well-being the centerpiece of our nation's sports culture through abuse prevention, education and accountability."

U.S CENTER FOR SAFESPORT

TAKE OUR SAFESPORT COURSES TO BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO: PREVENT We help you proactively take steps to prevent abuse, showing how power imbalances and culture dynamics affect the prevalence of abuse, and highlighting ways to build inclusion and team cohesion. RECOGNIZE We introduce and illustrate signs and forms of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and misconduct, how they may appear in your environment, and how to recognize warning signs. RESPOND We’ll show you how to properly react and follow through on disclosures of abuse, how to intervene in situations where abuse may be evident, and laws that guide abuse reporting.

MANDATORY TRAINING FOR ALL COACHING STAFF

All coaches must be Safesport Trained certified in order to coach with NVU. Contact our Club Administrator to receive the access code to complete your SafeSport training. Once you have completed the training, you will receive a "SafeSport Trained" certificate.

Existing coaches must complete the 30-minute SafeSport Refresher Course prior to the s`tart of each season.

MANDATORY TRAINING FOR PLAYERS 18 AND OLDER

All players who are 18 years old must complete the SafeSport training. Any player who has their 18th birthday during the season must complete the training before continuing their participation with NVU. Any minor who wants to complete the training before their 18th birthday must submit a signed parent consent form. SafeSport Trained certificates are valid for one season. Once the core training has been completed, a refresher course must be met for the following season. Once the refresher course is completed, email your certificate to the Club's administrator to complete the player approval process

NVU will NOT tolerate behavior that brings the club, team, or game into disrepute. The club believes that the attitude shown by parents toward the coaches, the referees, and the opposing players is of paramount importance. Inappropriate comments or actions by adults undermine the essence of competition and introduce stresses for players:

I will set a good example for my child by adhering to the following policies:

I will not openly criticize the referees before, during, or after games.
I will not openly criticize our opponents or argue with their parents or officials during or after games.
I will only give positive feedback to players on both teams.
I will cheer at all games within the spirit of fair play.
I will be mindful of our opponents' feelings when cheering for our team in lop-sided games.
I will do my best to teach my player to become a student of the game and do likewise.
I will show the quality of our sportsmanship during and after every match and encourage my child to congratulate opponents and match officials after every game.
I understand that improper behavior at a match, practice, or other NVU event may result in a parent being asked to leave the field or the event by a referee, coach, or team manager.
Upon review of improper behavior by members of the Board of Directors, I understand that a parent can, if necessary, be suspended from watching their child play should such behavior be considered rude or otherwise offensive.
I will leave the coaching to the coach and refrain from giving my child or teammate any instructions during training or games.
I will endeavor to give timely notice (more than 24 hours) to my coach should my player be unable to attend a team event.
Should I have a soccer-related concern regarding my player, I agree to reflect for at least 24 hours before raising the issue with the coach.

As a player for NVU, I promise to uphold the following:

I promise to maintain a positive attitude during NVU events, training sessions, and matches.
I promise to be punctual and ready at the time I am required to be present for all training sessions and matches.
I promise to make every effort to contact the coach/trainer 24 hours in advance of any training/practice absence and 48 hours in advance of any game day absence.
I promise to be a team player and always encourage my fellow teammates.
I promise to follow the directions of my coaches and trainers.
I promise to respect my teammates, coaches, and trainers.
I promise to respect and not criticize opposing players, coaches, or teams.
I promise to respect and not criticize or raise my voice to officials.
I promise not to use foul or degrading language while playing for the Club.
I promise I will not engage in any fighting or flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct during any practice, training session, game, or event.
I will respect the game of soccer and its laws.
I will respect all equipment and playing facilities and not hang onto the goals and nets.
I will clean up after myself, my team, and others at our home and away facilities/fields.
I will accept victory AND defeat with dignity.
I understand that playing time is not guaranteed. I recognize that certain games are more competitive than others and that some players will earn more playing time based on effort, ability, or attitude at practices and games.

The NVU coaching staff adheres to the policies below, as detailed in the VYSA Coaches Code of Conduct.

Coaches are crucial to establishing and upholding ethics in the sport of soccer because players model the behavior of their coaches and peers. Even though winning is a fundamental goal for all competitors, the NVU Coaching Code of Conduct calls for coaches to disassociate themselves from a win-at-all-costs attitude and prioritize the health, safety, welfare, and moral education of our young people.

Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and treat each equally within the context of the sport, regardless of gender place of origin, color, sexual orientation, political belief, or economic status.
Coaches must place the well-being and safety of each player above all other considerations.
Coaches must never place the value of winning over the safety and welfare of the players.
Coaches must adhere to all guidelines laid down by governing bodies.
Coaches must direct comments or criticism at performance rather than the athlete.
Coaches must not exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
Coaches must encourage and guide players to accept responsibility for their own behavior and performance.
Coaches must ensure that the activities they institute are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience, and ability of the players.
Coaches must abstain from the use of tobacco or vaping products and alcohol while in the presence of athletes.
Coaches must cooperate fully with other specialists (e.g., other coaches, officials, doctors, and trainers) in the best interests of the player.
Coaches must always promote the positive aspects of the sport (e.g., fair play) and never condone violations of the Laws of the Game, behavior contrary to the spirit of the Laws of the Game or relevant rules and regulations or the use of prohibited substances or techniques.
Coaches must consistently display high standards of behavior and appearance.
Coaches must not use or tolerate inappropriate language.
Coaches must regularly seek ways of increasing professional development and continuing coaching education.

(Virginia Youth Soccer Association. Coaches Code of Conduct, https://www.vysa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2519888.)

HEAD INJURIES

NVU is committed to educating its coaches, volunteers, parents, and players on the nature and risk of concussions, the conditions for removing a player, the return to play prerequisites, and the dangers of continuing to play or returning to play too soon.

The Club recognizes the potential danger and long-term health consequences of this often difficult-to-diagnose form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Therefore, NVU follows the protocols established by US Soccer, Recognize to Recover.

The links below provide guidelines to assist players who have been diagnosed with or who are suspected of having a concussion.

COACHING STAFF

USSF A CONCUSSION FACT SHEET FOR COACHES

CDC: HEADS UP TO YOUTH SPORTS: ONLINE TRAINING ‍Required training for all NVU staff

PLAYERS

USSF: ATHLETE CONCUSSION GUIDELINES ‍What to do if you think you have a concussion.

USSF A FACT SHEET FOR ATHLETES ‍Facts about concussions. Concussion symptoms.

CDC FACT SHEET FOR ATHLETES: AGES 14-18

CDC FACT SHEET FOR ATHLETES: AGES 11-13

PARENTS

USSF: A FACT SHEET FOR PARENTS