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AYSO Competitive Program
AYSO's National Board of Directors has authorized the development of the EXTRA program and its use on a pilot basis to provide options for players to play soccer at a more challenging level. EXTRA is designed to address declining enrollment and player retention without compromising the philosophies and commitment to enriching children's lives that make AYSO unique among all youth sports organizations. Set forth below are the guidelines and suggested best practices for the optional operation of EXTRA as part of the AYSO FLEX™ initiative.
AYSO's Strategic Plan, which supports creation of optional "extended play" opportunities for Regions and Areas that have a need, makes it clear that although the operation and structure of extended play programs will be determined by the local program organizers, they must incorporate these basic parameters:
- Everyone on a team plays. Every player plays at least 10% of each game.
- The teams must be constituted with the goal of creating competitive balance.
- Selection to the teams must be based on open and impartial evaluations.
- Administration and coordination of the program must run through the appropriate AYSO Region, Area or Section.
- The program must meet appropriate standards for coach and referee training and certification as established by AYSO.
- The extended play program may only be offered in conjunction with a standard primary program.
- EXTRA programs may include U-10 through U-19 players.
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, California.
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. 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.Since its establishment, AYSO has continued to grow and offer its membership relevant programs.
In 1971, two San Fernando Valley residents developed AYSO's first girls program. Today, a corporate sponsor has joined with AYSO as the organization's first official sponsor of its national girl's initiative. Currently, 40 percent of AYSO's players are girls.
In the mid 70s, an AYSO coach chartered new territory as he welcomed the organization's first player with Down Syndrome. As a result of this landmark union, soccer was introduced into the Special Olympics. Today, AYSO offers its membership the Very Important Player (VIP) program for kids with special needs. VIP boasts 75 programs and 1,500 players.
In 1995, two AYSO parents established the first AYSO program in Moscow. Today, AYSO programs exists in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and interest continues from Americans abroad looking to bring the values and philosophies of AYSO to expatriates and local communities
