- What is AYSO?
- How do I register my child in AYSO?
- I've registered my child in AYSO, what's next?
- Who is my coach ?
- What time (or where) are the games and practices each week?
- How do I order an additional (or new or replacement) uniform?
- Where can I find soccer shoes (or shinguards or balls)?
- Why doesn't somebody do something about ... ?
- How do I move my child to a different team ?
- What if all the games are cancelled due to snow or rain?
- What is your refund policy?
AYSO stands for American Youth Soccer Organization. There are nearly 630,000
players in AYSO and more than 250,000 volunteer coaches, referees and administrators.
See the National website for the history and structure of AYSO. Nearby regions include 104 (Eastside Albq.) 364 (Socorro), 515 (Los Lunas), 671 (Edgewood), 800 (Grants), 928 (Belen) and 1341 (Santa Fe).
Attend a registration session.
The current registration dates are:
Sunday, April 20:Edward Gonzales Elementary School from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 26:Taylor Ranch Community Center from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 4:Edward Gonzales Elementary School from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 10:Taylor Ranch Community Center from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Attend a late registration session - these dates are not yet scheduled
If the season has already started contact the Regional Registrar.
Step 1:Get shoes, shinguards and a ball
Step 2:Wait to hear from your coach. Your coach will call you in mid-August (see the FAQon this).
Step 3:Enjoy the soccer season! Games will be held in September/October and again in March/April
You're probably asking this question because you registered in the Spring and now
Summer's almost gone. You've got piano lessons to schedule, two jobs to juggle, a
Harley-Davidson to service, and you need to know what days of the week to set aside for
soccer practice. If you haven't heard from your coach by the week before practice starts, contact the Regional Coach Administrator.
All games are played on Saturdays. Time will vary through out the day. Check the Schedule page for game times and field locations.
The coach officially sets practices times and days. (U5/U6 teams practice on the game field before the game) Most coaches will try to find a time that is agreeable to all the families on the team. Please remember it is the coach who is volunteering their time to plan and conduct every practice and game, so the practice days do need to ultimately fit their schedules.
Parents & players: Give your coach the jersey number (if known) and size.
Coaches: Give your Region Coach the jersey number, size and team number (very important).
Region Coach: Contact the Equipment Manager with the jersey number, size and team number. Orders are placed Saturdays and take about two weeks.
AYSO will provide a team uniform that includes shorts, a jersey. and some really big
socks. The same uniform is used for the fall and spring season, so be sure to put the
uniform in a safe place over the winter break. Well-fitting soccer shoes (specifically for
playing soccer on grass and dirt) are an excellent investment. "Turf" or
"all-terrain" soccer shoes are recommend for the grass (or lack thereof) and
dirt we play on in Albuquerque. For young players, ages 4 to about 8, any type of athletic
or running shoes (not high tops) is acceptable -- traditional "Mitre-type"
soccer cleats are not recommended for young players. Soccer shoes are different from other
cleated shoes - be sure you get the right ones. Some types of cleats are prohibited in
soccer, such as baseball cleats. If your child must play in baseball cleats, be prepared
for a referee or coach to cut off the toe cleat. Shinguards will be required for every
practice and game (Your player will not be allowed to play if he/she does not have shinguards).
An age-appropriate size practice ball is the best way to learn and
maintain basic ball-handling skills before and after school, on weekends and during the
summer. Shoes, shinguards and balls are available at a number of sporting goods stores
around Albuquerque - look in the Yellow Pages for the nearest store.
AYSO is a volunteer organization, so chances are that something you think should be
done doesn't have someone available to do it. We have volunteers who work hard to
ensure the safety of the players, the formation of teams, the
distribution of uniforms and equipment, the scheduling of fields, games, referees,
clinics, summer camps, etc. etc. etc. Not
to mention the wonderful folks who give up their time and energy to coach our wonderful
children. The trainers and referees are volunteers, and all the staff who hold this
organization together are volunteers. You could be a volunteer, too!
Please see the positions we have open to find an
exciting opportunity best suited to your volunteering needs!
AYSO volunteers go to great effort to ensure balanced teams while, at the same time,
keeping coaches, teammates and practice fields as close together as possible.
Still, there are sometimes extraordinary circumstances that warrant a move. For this
reason, the AYSO board has a Move Committee which reviews move requests and approves those
that meet board guidelines.
Examples of reasons to move that do not meet board guidelines:
- "Suzy wants to play with her best friend Sonya, who's on the Silver Strikers."
- "Bobby carpools to school with boys on the Mighty Amphibians, so he has to be on that team."
- "Carmen is really much too good a player for the Rainbows, she should be on the Raptors."
- "Franklin can't practice with the Lectric Lizards 'cause he has piano lessons on Thursday, he should be on the Vipers -- their practice is on Wednesday."
If you feel that you have extraordinary circumstances and need to move
your child to another team, please contact the Regional Registrar. A move request must include all
relevant information - the Committee isn't able to conduct research.
If you wake up one Saturday, look out your window, and say "yikes, what a lousy day for soccer!" call the Region 1447 line at 350-7122. If games are cancelled (or there is any other major change in schedule) there will be a recorded message.
If a parent wishes to withdraw their child from AYSO soccer they may do so at anytime. Refunds: Full refund by 6/30, 50% refund by 7/31. No refunds are available after 7/31.
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