Botetourt County Parks & Recreation recently added an update on the county website regarding the upcoming fall sports season.
Parents will not be able to complete fall registration without first verifying the child’s age with the Parks & Rec office. The verification receipt is a ticket to fall registration.
Fall 2024 Registration Steps:
Beginning with the Fall 2024 Season: Parents/guardians will be required to present approved original documentation to verify ages for any child that will participate in Botetourt Parks & Recreation Youth Sports.
- Verification only needs to occur once in the child’s youth sports career.
- All families will need to fill out an Age Verification Form. If parents would like to fill this out before visiting the Parks & Rec office or a BOCO library branch, they may do so by printing out the form at www.botetourtva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4266/Age-Verification-Form.
Youth Athletics Eligibility Policy can also be found on the county website: www.botetourtva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4267/Youth-Athletics-Eligibility-Policy-32524
The eligibility age for participation in youth sports is based upon sport.
- Soccer: 4-18 years of age
- Tackle football: 7-12 years of age
- Flag football: 6-13 years of age
- Cheerleading: 6-12 years of age
- Basketball: 5-18 years of age
- Baseball & Softball: 5-16 years of age
Although registration is open to all ages listed above, we cannot guarantee there will be enough athletes registered in each age division to create a team. A full refund will be given if there are not enough athletes to build a team in a particular age division. The cut-off date to establish the age of the child is September 30th of the current year unless stated otherwise in the program bylaws.
CivicRec will not allow parents to register their child for any BOCO Youth Athletics Program until age of the participant is verified.
Acceptable documentation to verify age:
- Birth Certificate
- Child Identification Card (issued by the DMV)
- Passport
Alternative verification documents will need approval- please contact the Parks and Recreation office to inquire.
Approved documents can be verified at:
- Parks & Recreation Office, Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M.- 4:30 P.M.
- Any BOCO Library branch- click here to view library locations and hours of operation.
If parents are unable to visit during hours of operation, please contact the Parks & Recreation Office to make alternative accommodations.
All athletes (beginning with fall 2024) must have their age verified to be eligible to play. Parents will not be able to register a child until their age has been verified in CivicRec and you have received the automated receipt.
Don’t have an original birth certificate? Parents/Guardians can request one from the Office of Vital Records at the Virginia Department of Health. Click here for more information on requesting a birth certificate, including an online application. The Office of Vital Records currently estimates a wait time of eight weeks to obtain a document.
Take your children’s approved documents to the Parks & Rec office or one of the BOCO Library branches (Blue Ridge, Buchanan, Eagle Rock & Fincastle).
Registration for fall sports is now open. Get email and/or text notifications by signing up for BOCO Rec Sports Announcements (www.botetourtva.gov/list.aspx). Then scroll down to “News Flash” to enroll.
Questions? Email Botetourt Parks & Recreation at recreation@botetourtva.gov.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
