How Do I Register or Try Out for New River United?

Updated

New River United (NRU) handles registration and tryouts through two separate paths on its website: a REGISTER link for its ongoing programs and a Tryout FAQ's page for the competitive age groups. If your player is trying out for a Competitive Development (U11–12) or Competitive (U13–19) team, start with the Tryout FAQ's page, since that is where NRU directs families for tryout details. For Rec League, Academy, Adult League, or Futsal, the REGISTER link is the relevant entry point. NRU does not publish tryout dates, fees, or required documents in the material available here, so treat the linked pages as the source of truth before you commit to a date.

Registration vs. tryouts: which one applies to you

NRU's program list splits into two broad categories, and the process differs for each.

Program Entry path Notes
Rec League REGISTER Recreational play, no tryout indicated
Academy REGISTER Listed as a program, not a competitive tryout group
Adult League REGISTER For adult players
Futsal (Summer/Winter) REGISTER Seasonal indoor format
Camps, Clinics & Technical Training REGISTER Includes Upper 90 Soccer Camp
Competitive Development (U11–12) Tryout FAQ's Tryout-based age group
Competitive (U13–19) Tryout FAQ's Tryout-based age group

The distinction matters: registration programs are generally open enrollment, while the Competitive Development and Competitive programs use tryouts to place players. If you are unsure which category fits your player, the age group is the fastest filter — U11–U19 competitive pathways go through tryouts, everything else goes through registration.

How to try out for a competitive team

  1. Go to the Tryout FAQ's page first. NRU lists "Tryout FAQ's" as a top-level item under PROGRAMS, which signals it is the intended starting point for tryout questions rather than a general contact form.
  2. Confirm your player's age group. NRU separates Competitive Development (U11–12) from Competitive (U13–19). The FAQ page is where age-group eligibility and any birth-year cutoffs would be defined.
  3. Check dates, requirements, and what to bring. The site does not publish these details in the available material, so the FAQ page is where you should look for the tryout schedule and any preparation instructions.
  4. Register or express interest as directed. Follow whatever the FAQ page specifies — NRU does not describe an alternative walk-up or email-only tryout route in the material available.

Expected result: You should come away knowing the tryout date, the age group your player belongs to, and what NRU expects players to bring or complete beforehand.

Common snag: Families sometimes register for a Rec League or Academy program when their player actually intends to compete for a Competitive team. Those are different paths — registering does not enter a player into a competitive tryout.

How to register for Rec, Academy, Adult, or Futsal programs

  1. Use the REGISTER link. It appears in both the main navigation and the footer, so it is reachable from any page on the site.
  2. Pick the program that matches your player. The options listed are Rec League, Academy, Adult League, Summer Futsal, Winter Futsal, and Camps/Clinics/Technical Training (including Upper 90 Soccer Camp).
  3. Complete the registration steps the site presents. NRU does not publish its registration form fields, payment methods, or fee amounts in the available material, so do not assume a program is free — confirm cost and payment details during the registration flow or by contacting the club.
  4. Verify your submission. After registering, confirm you receive whatever acknowledgment the system provides. If nothing arrives, follow up using the contact details below.

Expected result: Your player is enrolled in the selected program and you have a record of the transaction or confirmation.

Common snag: The REGISTER link serves many programs at once. Make sure you select the correct season for Futsal (Summer vs. Winter) and the correct program tier, since these are listed as separate entries.

What to check before you commit

  • Financial Aid. NRU lists a Financial Aid page under OUR CLUB. If cost is a concern, review that page before registering rather than after.
  • Age-group fit. Competitive Development is U11–12 and Competitive is U13–19. Confirm your player falls in the right band before choosing a tryout path.
  • Program type. Rec League, Academy, Adult League, and Futsal are listed separately from the competitive pathway. Pick the one that matches your player's level and goals.
  • Tryout FAQ's. This is NRU's designated resource for tryout-specific questions. Read it before contacting the club, since it likely answers the most common questions.

Getting help

NRU's contact details are listed on the site:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Address: 2890 N. Franklin St. Suite D, Christiansburg, Virginia 24073

NRU describes itself as established in 1976 and as the largest non-profit sports organization in the New River Valley, offering programs from Recreational League through Competitive Travel. If the Tryout FAQ's page or the REGISTER flow does not answer your question, the email above is the direct route to the club.