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The Tustin region of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was established in 1980 and currently has approximately 2,600 players. The national AYSO program began in Hawthorn, California in 1964 and is currently made up of more than 650,000 boys and girls 4 - 18 years old and 250,000 volunteer coaches, referees and administrators in 46 states. We believe AYSO is the largest youth sports organization in the world which we feel is a result of our collective dedication to the quality of our program and focus on our mission (see below for mission).
AYSO is a cooperative organization and relies on your help to function.
FAMILIES
OF ALL PLAYERS
ARE EXPECTED TO
PROVIDE SOME VOLUNTEER HELP
Parents who don't help put an additional burden on parents who do, and they "don't have time" either!
Most volunteer jobs do not require a great deal of time or effort. There are MANY volunteer positions. If you enjoy exercise and being outdoors, consider becoming a Coach or Referee. No previous soccer experience is necessary - the region provides all training, uniform, and equipment. For more info, please go to the Coach Page or Referee Page.
Click here for the National AYSO web site
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR NEW PLAYERS
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Equipment and Uniforms
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- Players must be in team uniform to play in games
- Shin Guards MUST be worn under socks for all practices and games
- Soccer ball --
balls size varies depending on the player's Division. Ball sizes
are 3, 4, and 5. See chart below for appropriate size for you.
- Shoes -- Most players wear soccer cleated shoes but they are not
required. If a player wears cleated shoes, ONLY shoes specifically
designed for soccer (without a center toe cleat) are allowed. Baseball or football cleats will be disallowed by the referee.
- Water
- All jewelry INCLUDING PIERCED EAR RINGS must be removed for games
(no exceptions)
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Practices
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- Times and days (usually 2 per week) will be established by each coach and will vary depending on coach's available time.
- Players are expected to wear shorts and shin guards and bring a ball and water to every practice. (Summer teams usually have only one, if any, practices each week)
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Games Times and Locations
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- All games will be played on Saturdays (Summer season: games
usually played in the evening, during the week).
- Soccer Games are usually played at one of the school yards of the Tustin Unified School District or at one of the area parks. Typically each Age Division is assigned a game location for the season.
- During the Summer Season start times are set in the early evening; during the Regular Fall Recreational Season games start throughout the day between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm
- Game time varies dependent on the Age Division
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Player Playing Time
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- Tustin AYSO policy provides that each player will play a minimum of three (3) 'quarters' of game time
- In the U6 and U7 Divisions, the team is split on game day into two (2) squads which scrimmage against each other on adjacent fields. Game stats are not kept in these Divisions
- In Division U8 and above teams play on one field with substitutes inserted at appropriate times.
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Buddy Requests
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- Tustin AYSO policy provides that players in the lower divisions (e.g. U5, U6, & U7) may request 'buddies' for team placement. We'll do our best.
- Players in U8 and above (older divisions) are placed on teams based upon spreading talent across the entire division -- thus supporting one of the five basic tenants of AYSO: Balanced Teams.
- For Divisions U8, U10, U12 ,U14, and U16-19 buddy requests are not taken and/or honored.
- Reasons such as favorite coach; most hated coach; carpool needs; time/day of practice; time/day of games; swapping similarly rated players; how good the team looks; how bad the team looks; and a host of other issues are insufficient reasons to support parent/player requested team placement.
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Game Decorum
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- Please make all cheering and sideline comments POSITIVE. Negative comments to players or referees are not allowed - sources of negative comments may be removed from the field
- It is NOT required to stop a game if a shoe becomes untied
or comes off (a frequent situation for younger players). Double
knots are suggested
- Only Players and Referees may enter the game field. To help develop good soccer etiquette, parents and other spectators are asked to remain off of the field at all times. Coaches may enter the field before the game to warm up players and during game time only by invitation by the referee.
- Teams and their spectators must sit on opposite sides of the field. Traditional holds that the home team chooses which touchline to set up against. This means that the visiting team (and their spectators) must sit at the opposite touch line. If you are asked to move, please do so. Everyone will figure out which side of the field that you are on when your child goes to the "other side" for the water break.
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| Coaches and Assistant Coaches
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- Coaches volunteer a large amount of their time to coach your child.
- Please offer the coach your assistance -- the team will be better for it.
- Arrive on time to practices and pregame -- the Coach usually has a plan for the children -- make sure the children are present to participate
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| Parents
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- Children love to see you help the team at practice-- the coach can tell you what to do.
- Please help the coach with their game plan... it may not be yours -- but the plan will work if everyone pitches in.
- AYSO is 100% volunteer run -- please some way to help your team or the organization
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| After the Regular Fall Season
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- Players in Under 10 and Up play in a post season tournament -- the winner continues on to Area and possibly Section play
- Commencing the 2003 Fall season, the U8 Division also play a post season tournament fondly known as the Weedon Memorial Tournament
- Post Fall Season Tournament Games are often played during the weekday evenings and Saturdays. Sometimes also on Sunday.
- All-Star Teams are selected and formed with play spanning from January through March
- Spring Select Teams are formed following the All-Star season providing an additional opportunity for players to grow their skills during the "off-season"
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Who Ya Gonna Call?
Still have questions????
Go to the Directory Page and locate the
division coordinator for your child (see table below) or the appropriate
person for e-mail and phone number.
Fall Season Team Referee Points
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Team Sizes
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Division 4 and down (U12-U19) - 11 vs 11 on the field
Division 5 (U10) - 7 Vs 7 on the field
Division 6A (U8) - 7 Vs 7 on the field
Division 6B (U7) - 5 Vs 5, split fields
Division 7 (U6) - 5 Vs 5, dual fields.
Division 8 (U5) - 5 Vs 5, split fields.
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Summer and Fall 2010
AGE / DIVISIONS - BOYS & GIRLS
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Age
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Birth Date
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Ball Size
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Under 5
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8/1/05 to 7/31/06 |
3
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Under 6
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8/1/04 to 7/31/05 |
3
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Under 7
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8/1/03 to 7/31/04 |
3
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Under 8
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8/1/02 to 7/31/03 |
3
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Under 10
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8/1/00 to 7/31/02 |
4
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Under 12
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8/1/98 to 7/31/00 |
4
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Under 14
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8/1/96 to 7/31/98 |
5
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Under 16
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8/1/94 to 7/31/96 |
5
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Under 19
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8/1/92 to 7/31/94 |
5
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This Web site is the information
place for local Tustin AYSO information and updates.
The National_
AYSO Web Site _has a great deal of information about
AYSO and the national program. New comers and "old
comers" alike will find lots of interesting stuff there. |
When does soccer season begin?
When does the season end?
When........
Generally the "regular" season for AYSO
soccer is the Fall season which begins when school begins in September
and ends sometime before Thanksgiving.
Other "seasons", i.e., Spring Select,
Summer, All Star, Plus, and Area Championships, are on the Calendar.
| Map
of
Tustin AYSO Soccer Fields
(Click "Thumbnail"
to right)
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OUR MISSION
STATEMENT:
THE MISSION OF AYSO REGION 96 IS TO DEVELOP AND TO DELIVER
QUALITY YOUTH SOCCER PROGRAMS WHERE EVERYONE BUILDS POSITIVE
CHARACTER THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN A FUN, FAMILY ENVIRONMENT
BASED ON THE FOLLOWING AMERICAN YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATION PHILOSOPHIES:
1. EVERYONE PLAYS
Everyone plays means every child,
regardless of ability, plays at least 3/4 of every game. In children
learn skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship, developing confidence
and self-esteem, by playing on the field and not by standing on
the sidelines.
2. BALANCED TEAMS
Balanced teams is AYSO's way of keeping competition
at a fair level of play so that it is more fun for everyone. Team
balancing can be somewhat complicated, especially in a region like
ours where one division can have 28 teams. When it doesn't work,
it is not by design. But, the original intent and the ultimate results
always have the same goal. Balanced teams mean more competitive,
interesting games for all who play and watch.
3. OPEN REGISTRATION
Open registration is AYSO's equal rights amendment.
It means that AYSO does not restrict membership on the basis of
talent, race, religion, or gender. AYSO believes that every child
that signs up on time should be placed on a team and should get
the opportunity to play. Every region, particularly Region 96, strives
to accomplish that every season.
4. POSITIVE COACHING
Positive coaching is the glue that holds together
the AYSO philosophies and gives them meaning for our players. Positive
coaching means instructing without condemning, praising the individual,
but correcting the group. It means giving encouragement, displaying
good sportsmanship, and setting a good example for our players and
parents.
5. GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
Our aim is to create a positive environment based
on mutual respect, rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude. Good
sportsmanship is playing hard, but clean with a sense of fair play.
Good sportsmanship is knowing when to cut back your play and not
run up the score. All of our programs must be designed to instill
good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.
What
is "Club" soccer, as opposed to AYSO soccer?:
"Club"
soccer is considered "competitive soccer" where AYSO,
as well as many other youth soccer organizations, are considered
"recreational soccer".
Club teams recruit
only players they feel will make their team stronger. AYSO does
not recruit players but accepts everybody who wants to play.
Club teams may
remain together year after year and strive to make their team as
strong as possible. AYSO forms new teams every year and attempts
to distribute the skill level, of individual players, as evenly
as possible to make the over all skill and ability of each team
as equal as possible.
Club coaches
are allowed to sit out players as much as they see fit. AYSO national
policy, "Everyone Plays", requires every player to play
a minimum of half of every game. In Tustin we require every player
to play three quarters of all games in Tustin regional play.
A soccer club
is usually made up of of multiple teams. They may have one or more
teams in each age bracket and for each gender. There are several
levels of club play: bronze, silver, gold, and premier, premier
being the highest level. A soccer club may have teams at one or
more levels and may vary in size from 1 team to 100 teams or more.
In general,
AYSO focuses on "everybody plays", everybody has fun,
and good sportsmanship. Club teams want their players to have fun
and demonstrate good sportsmanship too but the focus is considerably
greater on competition and winning games. A considerably higher
level of commitment is expected from club players and coaches may
remove players from the team who do not perform up to a certain
level of expectation.
Club soccer
gives highly skilled players an opportunity to play against players
of similar skill levels, challenging those players to further raise
their level of play. The club environment is appropriate for players
with high skill levels who are willing to make club soccer a high
priority in their life.
AYSO remains dedicated to providing a place for ALL kids, at all
skill levels, to have fun and participate in a quality, organized,
youth sports program. We remain absolutely focused on the same AYSO
philosophy (after over 20 years):
- Everyone Plays
- Balanced Teams
- Open Registration
- Positive Coaching
- Good Sportsmanship
Click
the above logo for official AYSO merchandise
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