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. It also employs 50 people at its National Support and Training Center in Hawthorne.
Over the years, AYSO has created many valuable programs and concepts. Most notably, AYSO revolutionized youth sports with its "Everyone Plays®" and "Balanced Teams" philosophies. In AYSO, each child who registers is guaranteed to play at least half of every game (three-quarters in Region 58). To help create evenly matched games, all AYSO players are placed on new or "balanced" teams each year. These decisions are made based on each player's skill level and the overall ability of the team.
The AYSO National website at www.ayso.org provides a great overview of the program.
The Regions are the heart of the program. They are the local community soccer programs where kids, coaches, and parents have the most fun playing AYSO soccer on their neighborhood fields! Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park is the proud home of Region 58, where over 2,000 kids and hundreds of families and volunteers spend Saturday together at the park cheering, laughing, growing, and learning to develop a life-long passion for sports and the game of soccer.
AYSO Region 58 is a youth soccer organization, a community, a lifestyle, a family, an adventure, a learning experience, a place to make memories, and a season of exciting and busy Saturdays, all wrapped up in color-coordinated jerseys and cleats. Give your child the opportunity to play soccer and learn about life, sportsmanship, and the fun of competition and physical activity with a soccer program that has been kicking around since 1964.
A Game For Kids And A Game For Life!
AYSO is child-first and child focused. We are a soccer organization with happy, healthy kids as our passion. Every decision, every rule and every program has "what's good for kids" as its basis. Every girl and boy stepping on a soccer field for the first time can have fun. AYSO's child-first approach also makes it one of the finest player development programs. Everybody likes to win, but developing successful players and people is what's fundamental in AYSO.
You can set a soccer ball down on any corner in the world and have friends. It is a global sport that Americans have embraced in record numbers... because it's fun even with a beginner's skill. It's also a game you can play and enjoy for the rest of your life (U-5 soccer is one of the fastest growing levels in the U.S.!)
With children's natural joy in running and kicking, soccer builds on these two skills and adds in techniques to control the ball and work as a team. It also encourages creative decision making and strategic thinking. And it's a fast game that keeps each player moving the entire time. In AYSO there's no spending the game on the bench!
AYSO has age appropriate small-sided games. A full size soccer team has 11 players on the field. But smaller-sided teams for younger children allow more touches on the ball and a more successful soccer learning environment. AYSO small-sided games emulate classic "street soccer" where children of many skill levels choose up teams and play together for a fun neighborhood game. This is a similar environment to where many of the greatest soccer players in the world developed their skills. Small-sided games continue as excellent way to develop our younger player's soccer skills and prepare them for a full 11-on-11 match.
What is AYSO's Innovative Soccer Program?
AYSO's Vision is to provide world class youth soccer programs that enrich children’s lives.
AYSO's Mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on AYSO's Six Philosophies:
- Everyone Plays®
- Balanced Teams
- Open Registration
- Positive Coaching
- Good Sportsmanship
- Player Development
The mission is accomplished by providing these essential services:
- Coaching and referee programs including quality delivery systems
- Quality administrative and operating systems with a support network
- Strong financial position
- Special network for volunteers, supported by a national staff
- Program research and development
How Do We Do It?
Progressive Play Makes for a Better Soccer Experience
AYSO Region 58 takes a progressive approach to soccer according to the age and experience of our players. Beginning players in the U5 Division are introduced to soccer through a very simple game that includes an age-appropriate number of players, field size, and modified Laws of the Game. As players gain confidence and soccer skills, the game builds up to the full 11-a-side game at U14. Download the rules-at-a-glance to see how AYSO Region 58 modifies the FIFA Laws of the Game to create a fun, fair and safe soccer experience.