Since Virginia public schools use an October 1 cutoff date, we recognize that some players may be placed in a soccer age group that does not align with their grade level.  To better support development and team continuity, Blue Ridge United will apply the following guidelines for players near the cutoff:

Players Born in August or September

Players with August or September birth dates can complete a Play-Up Request Form, included here, for the opportunity to continue with their school-grade peers.  Each form submission will be evaluated by Blue Ridge United Technical Staff, who will determine whether the player is approved to play up or should remain in their USYS-assigned age group.

Please note: the deadline to submit this form is March 31

Families will be notified of the decision prior to tryouts.

This process ensures:

• Proper developmental placement for each player
• Preservation of competitive integrity
• Alignment with each player's individual pathway

All Other Play-Up Requests

Players born outside of August or September may submit a play-up request by sending an email to tryouts@brysa.org.  These requests will also be evaluated by Technical Staff; however, play-up approvals for non-August/September players will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Examples of exceptional circumstances may include:

• Safety or developmental necessity
• Advanced technical/tactical ability
• Club developmental pathway needs

Important Notes

• All play-up decisions are made exclusively by BRU Technical Staff.
• This process maintains fairness, competitive balance, and player development integrity across teams.