What is AYSO?
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was established in the Los Angeles area in 1964 with nine teams. It was the dream of a group of devoted soccer enthusiasts who started the organization in a garage. Today, AYSO has more than 50,000 teams and more than 650,000 players. AYSO is supported by more than 250,000 volunteers. Parents donate their time as coaches, referees, team parents, administrators or sponsors. A strong emphasis is placed on ethics and sportsmanship and the development of the whole child.
Mission Statement
American Youth Soccer Organization's mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs where everyone builds positive character through participation in a fun, family environment based on the AYSO philosophies:
Everyone Plays: Our Region’s goal is for kids to play soccer - so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least three quarters of every game. No player on any team may play four quarters unless all players present have played three quarters.
Balanced Teams: Each season we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible because it’s more fun and a better learning experience when teams of similar ability play. It allows for each player to gain the experience of a wide variety of teammates of different skill levels. Everyone also gets to meet new people in our community and make new friends while playing against old ones.
Open Registration: Our program is open to all children between 4 and 19 years of age who want to register and play soccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the only criteria for playing. There are no elimination try-outs and nobody gets cut.
Positive Coaching: Encouragement of player effort provides for greater enjoyment for the players and leads to better-skilled and better-motivated players. A coach can be one of the most influential people in a child’s life, so AYSO requires they create a positive experience for every boy and girl.
Good Sportsmanship: We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect, rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.
Player Development: We believe that all players should be able to develop their soccer skills and knowledge to the best of their abilities, both individually and as members of a team, in order to maximize their enjoyment of the game.
All Divisions
The player will need a properly sized soccer ball, shin guards underneath a pair of socks and close toed shoes such as soccer cleats for all AYSO events. No jewelry such as earrings, necklaces and watches are to be worn. Your Fall Registration fee includes a uniform. No pets, such as dogs, at AYSO events.
Contact information for each division can be found at the bottom of your receipt or (https://ayso.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=856221)
Division Descriptions (scroll down for summary chart )
U5 has a very detailed description here: (https://ayso.bluesombrero.com/Default.aspx?tabid=856222). You will need a size 3 soccer ball each week. The 1 hour long session will take place on Saturdays (around 9:30 or 10:30 am) at the Gas Company Fields, 8141 Gulana Ave, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293.
U6 is a single session each week at Gas Company Fields, 8141 Gulana Ave, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 on a rotating time schedule, one hour sometime between 10 am and 5 pm. Each team needs a volunteer coach, assistant coach, and referee. The session is divided between a practice and a game. The first half is a practice and the second half is a game. The role of the referee is to call out of bounds plays and keep the game moving along.
U7 is a single practice one weeknight evening and a single game each weekend, both at Nielsen Field (6000 Will Rogers St, Los Angeles, CA 90045). Each team needs a volunteer coach, assistant coach, and referee. All training for volunteers is online and takes about two hours to complete. This is a non-competitive division (no scores or standings are recorded).
U8 is a single practice one weeknight evening and a single game each weekend, both at Nielsen Field (6000 Will Rogers St, Los Angeles, CA 90045). Each team needs a volunteer coach, assistant coach, and referee. All training for coaches is online and takes about two hours to complete. Difference between U7 and U8? The field is bigger and the teams are larger. Goal keepers are also allowed in U8; however, this is a non-competitive division (no scores or standings are recorded). Soccerfest is an end of season festival for all teams that have a certified regional referees who completes all referee assignments. No friend requests are accepted.
U10 is two practices on weekday evenings for one hour and a single game each weekend (Saturday or Sunday), both at Nielsen Field (6000 Will Rogers St, Los Angeles, CA 90045). Each team needs a volunteer coach, assistant coach, and referee. Most training for volunteers is online and in person and takes about two hours to complete the online portion. The coaches and referees are required to complete an in person course for about 3 hours. The in-person course is offered around Los Angeles at various regions and times. Region 7 will have a referee training course and coach training course in late August. U10 is a competitive division, scores are kept, standings are kept, and a playoff tournament happens at the end of the season. If a team does not have referee that has been certified and who has completed all referee assignments, the team does not qualify for the playoffs. The winner of the playoff tournament enters the Area D playoffs with a chance to go to Section 1 playoffs (Section 1 is most of Los Angeles). In addition, there is an All-Star team and tournament that occurs in January.
U12 is two, 1 ½ hour long practices on weekday evenings. Intra-region games are played each weekend (Saturday or Sunday), all at Nielsen Field (6000 Will Rogers St, Los Angeles, CA 90045). Each team needs a volunteer coach, assistant coach, and referee. All training for volunteers is online and in person and takes about 4 hours to complete the online portion. The in-person course is offered around Los Angeles at various regions and times. Region 7 will have a referee training course in early September. U12 is a competitive division, scores are kept, standings are kept, and a playoff tournament happens at the end of the season. If a team does not have a referee that has been certified and has completed all referee assignments, the team will not qualify for the playoffs. The winner of the playoff tournament enters the Area D playoffs with a chance to go to Section 1 playoffs. In addition, there is an All-Star team and tournament that occurs in January
U14 has two, 1 ½ hour long practices on weekday evenings and games each weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday). The games are inter-region and extra regional.(besides playing at Playa Vista, games will be played in Redondo Beach, El Segundo, etc.). Each team needs a volunteer coach, assistant coach, and referee. All training for volunteers is online and in person and takes about 2 hours to complete the online portion. The in-person course is offered around Los Angeles at various regions and times, the in person coach training is a full day long course. Region 7 will have a referee training course in early September. U14 is a competitive division, scores are kept, standings are kept, and a playoff tournament happens at the end of the season. If a team does not have a referee that has been certified and has completed all referee assignments, the team will not qualify for the playoffs. The winner of the playoff tournament enters the Area D playoffs with a chance to go to Section 1 playoffs. In addition, there is an All-Star team and tournament that occurs in January.
U16 and U19 have two, 1 ½ hour long practices on weekday evenings and games each weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday). The games are inter-region (besides playing at Nielsen West, games will be played in Manhattan Beach, El Segundo, etc.). Each team needs a volunteer coach and assistant coach. All training for is online and in person and takes about 2 hours to complete the online portion. The in-person course is offered around Los Angeles at various regions and times. U16 and U19 are competitive divisions-scores are kept, standings are kept, and a playoff tournament happens at the end of the season. Because of high school soccer conflicts, these divisions wrap up before Thanksgiving. The winner of the playoff tournament enters the Area D playoffs with a chance to go to Section 1 playoffs.