Question 1

How do I know which age group my child belongs in and what programs they are eligible for?

Accepted Answer

For the 2026 Spring season Valor Soccer programs will continue to run according to birth year (i.e. calendar year). Beginning the 2026-27 Playing Cycle (starting in Fall of 2026), US Youth Soccer is changing from the birth-year system to a seasonal-year system (August 1 - July 31). Every program guide states which age groups and birth years programming is available to. You can also check the Eligibility Matrix to see what programs are available to your child.

Question 2

What do the "U's" mean?"

Accepted Answer

You will often see "U" followed by a number when describing eligible age groups for programs. The "U" stands for "Under."
EXAMPLE: U9 means "Under 9 years old," which translates to every player in the U9 age group is under 9 years old. 
 
Each "U" age group has a corresponding birth year(s).
EXAMPLE: For the 2025/26 Playing Cycle, the U9 age group corresponds to birth year 2017. You will see "U9 - 2017" paired together. 
EXAMPLE: For the 2026/27 Playing Cycle, the U9 age group will correspond to birth years 2017 & 2018 (August 1 - July 31).
 
Your player's birth year will never change, but they will move up in "U" age groups as they grow older.

Question 3

Where is Valor Soccer located?

Accepted Answer

Valor Soccer's main office is located in Maple Valley, WA (21327 Renton-Maple Valley Rd, Maple Valley, WA 98038). We serve the communities of Kent, Covington, Auburn, Maple Valley, Ravensdale, Black Diamond, Enumclaw, and Buckley. 
 
The Rec and FirstKick programs are localized to Program Locations (Auburn/Kent Valley, Kent Fairwood, & Maple Valley) and teams train at nearby facilities such as schools and community parks. 
 
Elite, Premier, & Select teams typically train at Ravensdale Park, Summit Park & Ballfields, Petrovitsky Park, and Wilson Playfields.

Question 4

What are the differences between Valor Soccer's programs?

Accepted Answer

From beginners to recreational players seeking to play alongside their friends to elite athletes dedicated to developing their skills to their full potential, Valor Soccer provides a pathway for every player. The primary differences between our programs are the age groups they are available to, level of competition, duration of the season, and licensure of coaches. These are very brief program descriptions. Please visit each program guide to view full details. 
 
TOPSoccer 
Valor Soccer is proud to support TOPSoccer for players with developmental and/or physical disabilities. TOPSoccer is structured differently than our other programs. TOPSoccer is open to participants 4 years of age and older and free for all!

FirstKick
U5-U8: Boys & Girls
Seasonal (Fall & Spring) 
No tryouts 
Volunteer coaches

Recreational
U9-U19: Boys & Girls
Seasonal (Fall & Spring)
No tryouts
Volunteer coaches
 
Select
U10-U19: Boys & Girls 
Year-round
Tryouts required
Professional coaches with grassroots level licensing 
 
Premier
U8-U19: Boys & Girls 
Year-round
Tryouts required
Professional coaches with nationally-recognized licensing

Elite
U13-U19: Boys & Girls 
Year-round
Tryouts required
Professional coaches with nationally-recognized licensing

Question 5

What do all the acronyms mean?

Accepted Answer

We use many acronyms! Most are leagues and associations that Valor Soccer is part of. 
USSF = United States Soccer Federation 
USYS = United States Youth Soccer
WYS = Washington Youth Soccer
ECNL-RL = Elite Club National League- Regional League (league for Elite teams)
Pre-ECNL = Pre-Elite Club National League ("Elite" option for U11 & U12 teams)
RCL = Regional Club League (league for Premier teams)
NPSL = North Puget Sound League (league for Select teams)
SSUL = South Sound United League (league for Recreational teams)

Question 6

What is Pre-ECNL and what does it mean for my player?

Accepted Answer

Pre-ECNL is a new stage within the ECNL pathway for U11 & U12 teams. This means our top teams in these age groups may have the opportunity to compete in a more competitive environment through RCL Division 1.

It's important to note that this is optional based on the team's level of play. Teams will be placed in the environment that best supports their growth, and our existing structure will remain in place for teams that are not placed at the Pre-ECNL level. Club dues will remain the same for any Pre-ECNL teams.

Question 7

Why do competitive programs cost more?

Accepted Answer

Playing competitive soccer is more expensive than recreational soccer. Club dues for competitive programs cover the costs of state, regional association, and league fees, entry fees for Washington Youth Soccer-sponsored state cup tournaments, field rental and maintenance, administrative costs, coaching fees, referee fees, and operational costs. The playing cycle for these programs is also significantly longer than seasonal Rec and FirstKick programs.

Question 8

Is financial aid available?

Accepted Answer

Yes, visit valorsoccer.com/financial-aid for more information.

Donate | Financial Aid | Contact Us | PlayMetrics Login

Club FAQ

How do I know which age group my child belongs in and what programs they are eligible for?

What do the "U's" mean?"

Where is Valor Soccer located?

What are the differences between Valor Soccer's programs?

What do all the acronyms mean?

What is Pre-ECNL and what does it mean for my player?

Why do competitive programs cost more?

Is financial aid available?

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