Spring Select is designed to provide a more challenging level of play for those players who possess the appropriate interest, skills and abilities and to enhance each player's experience and individual growth through the game of soccer while retaining the spirit and organization of AYSO.
The goal of Spring Select is to strengthen AYSO by retaining players and volunteers in additional programs operated under the AYSO philosophies. Spring Select teams travel to other regions and play in tournaments. Spring Select teams are selected following the completion of the Fall season and may begin practicing in January. Spring Select teams are free to participate in tournaments when they are formed all the way through July and their season typically runs from March through May.
Requirements:
Current AYSO volunteer application filed and accepted by National office
Coach certification (age-specific) requirement per National, Area and Regional Guidelines
AYSO Safe Haven (current online version), Regional Referee, CDC Concussion course
Minimum two (2) years coaching experience
Regional Board approval
Regional Commissioner Approval
Click here to apply as a coach for the 2018 Season. Application must be submitted by October 28th 2017.
The AYSO Philosophies
EXTRA programs must comply with the Six Philosophies of AYSO:
· Everyone Plays - Our programs' goal is for kids to play soccer - so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least a half of every game.
· Balanced Teams - Each year we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible - because it is fair and more fun when teams of equal ability play. EXTRA requires regionally balanced division teams.
· Open Registration - Our program is open to all children…who want to register and play soccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the only criteria for playing. EXTRA requires that any registered player is eligible to apply for EXTRA. Players not selected are guaranteed placement on a team in the standard primary program.
· Positive Coaching - Encouragement of player effort provides for greater enjoyment by the players and ultimately leads to better-skilled and better-motivate players.
· Good Sportsmanship - We strive to create a positive based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in all facets of AYSO. All players, parents, coaches and other AYSO volunteers in the EXTRA program are expected to adhere to a high standard of conduct and sportsmanship.
· Player Development - We believe that all players should be able to develop their soccer skills and knowledge to the best of their abilities, both individually and as members of a team, in order to maximize their enjoyment of the game.
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Regional Support
Officiating
Regions must provide an adequate number of referees who are capable of supporting the various age divisions of teams entered. Hosting Regions and Areas are responsible for providing referee coverage for Select games.
All Select games shall be officiated using the Diagonal System of Control, i.e. one referee and two assistant referees. The use of "club linesmen" is encouraged when an insufficient number of assistant referees is available. The Dual (two-man) System of Control is not allowed.
Regional Referee Administrators shall not assign "neutral" referees-- volunteers who are parents/guardians of players nor coaches of the participating teams, nor have other close connections to the teams--of appropriate skill and ability to all Select games assigned to their Region. Unless otherwise approved by the appropriate administrator, Referees shall be a minimum of two years older than the oldest players in the division to which they have been assigned.
Fields
Regions must provide an adequate number of fields for the number of teams entered. Fields and equipment need to be age appropriate as specified in the AYSO Coaching programs for short-sided play or in the FIFA Laws of the
Game. Participating Regions are responsible for properly preparing and maintaining all fields used. Field set-up and take down is the responsibility of the hosting Region.
Availability of fields must first service the needs of the standard primary programs. Additional charges for making available new fields or additional usage of currently held fields must be passed on to the teams participating in the Select program.
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Scheduling of Games and Standings
The schedule for Select games should be established as early as possible and made available to all participants, including being posted on a Web site, if possible. Select programs shall create written guidelines concerning game cancellations or forfeits due to weather, lack of available players, misconduct or other reasons, and game rescheduling, if any. If the Select program desires to maintain and publish standings or give awards, written procedures must be created to ensure accurate reporting of results and fairness of tiebreaking procedures. All awards are to be consistent with the standard primary program practices and/or guidelines.
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Paid Trainers
Use of paid trainers must be consistent with the existing National AYSO Policy Statement.
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Misconduct, Discipline and Dispute Resolution
All Select programs shall have written guidelines to deal with player, volunteer and spectator misconduct, and shall include procedures for submission of reports of misconduct, penalties and monitoring that are consistent program wide. During the pilot phase, recommended guidelines will be provided to ensure consistency in application for monitoring, measurement and reporting purposes to the National Board of Directors.