What is AYSO?

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is the premier youth soccer organization in the USA.  It started in 1965 in California as an alternative to competitive teams and now serves over 600,000 youth across the nation.  AYSO is based on five philosophies/tenets:

Open registration - everyone can sign up and will be placed on a team.
Balanced teams - every effort is made to balance the skills and athletic talent on a team so that each game is as even a match as possible
Everyone plays - every child plays at least half of every game.
Positive coaching - coaches, parents and referees practice positive techniques to encourage the kids; the players are more important than the score.
Good sportsmanship - coaches and referees stress good sportsmanship in every game and practice.

All regions are governed by Regional Guidelines.  There are standard guidelines set by the national organization, and regions may adapt these guidelines to fit their region.  Regional Guidelines cover all aspects of the season, from Board member job descriptions to how many players are on a team in a specific division.  Copies are available upon request. 

All AYSO regions are run exclusively by volunteers: coaches, referees, regional staff, team parents, the people that sort the uniforms... we’re all volunteers!  So if you want to help make a positive difference in your children’s lives, offer to help out!
We are REGION 864 in AREA J (South Florida) in SECTION 14

The Equipment

Soccer has required equipment like any other sport.  This equipment is available at K-Mart or any sporting goods store. 

 * Shin guards are required for practices and games. Keep an eye on the shin guards; the children do outgrow them quickly!
 * Regular running shoes/sneakers are fine. Cleats, if worn, must not have a toe cleat (like baseball cleats).  If your child is wearing baseball cleats, we suggest that you file down the toe cleat.  Cleats should be round and blunt, not sharp. 
 *  A soccer ball for each child is required for practices.  Would your child play baseball without a glove?  Make sure you get the correctly sized ball for your child’s age. See the list below for the appropriate sized ball for your child this season:

 Under 6 and Under 8 - Size 3
 Under 10 and Under 12 - Size 4
 Under 14 to adult - Size 5

The Field
 

The Laws of Soccer (abridged) 

Soccer games are ruled by “Laws”, not Rules.  The Laws of the Game provide for all aspects of a fair game - description of the field, equipment of players and officials, fouls and misconduct, length of play, scoring, etc. 

The Laws of Soccer are set by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), soccer’s international governing body.  AYSO adapts these laws to suit the age level of our players and to fit with our tenet of “everyone plays”.  

AYSO has a publication, called “The ABCs of AYSO - An Introduction to Youth Soccer,” which contains clear explanations of the Laws of soccer.  You should have received a copy along with this Parent/Player Handbook at registration. How the laws are specifically adapted to each age division can be found in that division’s section in this handbook.

If you did not receive a copy of “The ABCs of AYSO”, please call the Soccer Hotline and we’ll get one to you as soon as possible. 

Team Balancing

We make every effort to balance our soccer teams. Players are rated, by their coaches, on their soccer skills and athletic ability at the end of every season.  These ratings are used in the team “draft” at the beginning of every season.  In the lower divisions (Under 6, Under 8), the ratings may be more casual, especially since we are trying to give a positive soccer experience to all children, regardless of their physical maturity or athletic aptitude.  In the upper divisions, ratings are important to ensure that all teams are balanced in skills, athleticism, and knowledge of the game. 

The draft is supervised by members of the board of directors, and final picks are reviewed before team rosters are handed out to the coaches.  We have eight years of experience now in different ratings and draft methods, and we think we’ve worked the kinks out of the system.   

In addition, this year we are "balancing the coaches" by making sure that each coach has equal access to quality training clinics, reference and curriculum materials, and requiring that coaches which are moving up to an older division get certified with that older division. If you feel that there has been a discrepancy in ratings or team drafts, please feel free to call the soccer hotline at (305)453-4950.

Your Coach

Your coach is a volunteer, like the rest of the AYSO organization.  All coaches take personal time to participate in clinics, get training, work on drills and practices, and help children learn about soccer in a fair, fun, and safe environment. 

Coaches should welcome questions about the game, the laws of soccer, scheduling, or practices.  They are interested in the growth and welfare of the children.  To some coaches that may mean winning; to others, it is more of a personal enrichment.  Please remember that all our coaches are trained by AYSO and that individual differences are normal and expected.  Support your coach - without them, there’d be no AYSO soccer!

The Referee & Game Play

Soccer officials are called referees.  There is at least one trained, certified referee for every Under 8 and older game who monitors the game from the field itself.  In addition, assistant referees may be on each touchline.  Sometimes these assistant referees are known as “linesmen” or are “lining” the field.  In our region, parents are often used as assistant referees in the younger divisions.

Safety, fairness, and fun!  That’s the referee’s job description.  They are present to ensure that the match is safe, fair, and fun for the players.  Soccer is a players’ game, and interference by non-players such as coaches and referees is limited.  Here are some things to remember as you watch the games:

Soccer is not like basketball or football, where play is stopped every time a foul is called.  In soccer, if a player is fouled but maintains control of the ball (keeps the “advantage”), the referee will say or motion “play on” and no foul will be called.   

Also, soccer is a contact sport.  Referees also take into account the physical coordination of the players and will not call fouls when players fall over - as younger players have been known to do!  

Referees are required by Law V to refrain from interfering with the game unnecessarily, and also to refrain from whistling for trifling or doubtful offenses.  

Referees are volunteers just like everyone else in the Region.  They use their valuable time to take classes and officiate at games, usually more than one game a week, because of their commitment to the children and to the game.  We also have youth referees, usually high school students who are using their soccer skills to contribute to their community.  New referees are often nervous - there’s a lot going on out there! Please refrain from arguing or heckling the referees, please be considerate especially when dealing with youth referees, and don’t be afraid to ask questions - after the game!

All-Star Teams

Older divisions have “All-Star Teams”, players with skills and abilities above their league-mates.  Starting with the Under-10 division, the best players in each division are chosen to represent the Upper Keys on the “Traveling All-Star Team” and compete in a state-wide tournament.  In addition, we have In-house teams which consist of players highly skilled and/or highly motivated and showing great improvement.

Traveling all stars are nominated by their coaches and voted upon by every coach in their division.  In-house all stars are named by their coaches to the team (no voting) and may be named to the team based on good sportsmanship, attitude, or improvement. 
 

Soccer Accident Insurance

AYSO carries Soccer Accident Insurance for all players, coaches, referees and other volunteers.  A green brochure explaining the details of this program is part of the registration packet you receive.   The highlights of the program are as follows:

Medical expenses for accidents or injuries occurring only during a soccer game or practice are covered.

The proper accident report forms must be filed by the coach with the safety director.

There is a $100 deductible.

Coverage under this policy is secondary to the family’s primary medical insurance.

If you have questions about the Soccer Accident Insurance, contact the Safety Director. Back to the top