American Youth Soccer Organization began in 1968. Montgomery’s Region 297 has served this area since 1981.
WHEN ARE THE GAMES?
Games are Saturdays, usually between 8am-12 noon. There are occasional weekday afternoon games to ensure everyone gets all their games played.
WHERE ARE THE GAMES?
Games are played at Mara Memorial Park-AYSO297 Complex on Dickinson Drive/Hwy 231, near the Gunter AFB gate. In some seasons, some age groups may play some games in Wetumpka, Prattville, etc.
AYSO297-Mara Memorial Fields
WHEN AND WHERE ARE PRACTICES?
Practices vary by team and by school. It depends on the players, parents, and coaches schedules.
Some teams practice at their own schools; many practice at Mara Park. We have a calendar to reserve days and times there to prevent schedule conflicts.
WHEN DO GAMES START AND END?
Fall season begins in September and ends in early or mid-November. Spring season starts in March and ends in early or mid-May.
Each year we plan around holidays and Spring Break. We make up weather days as we can.
HOW MUCH DOES IT REALLY COST…?
Our registration fee pays for:
Fall season AND Spring season (8 games in Fall, 8 games in Spring)
Jersey, shorts, and socks
Team and individual picture
WHAT DO I NEED TO BUY?
Shin guards are required.
Cleats are recommended, but not required. Be sure they are not baseball spikes or football shoes with toe cleats (not allowed because they can be dangerous).
A water bottle or sport drink bottle is good to have. Coaches will have balls, cones, and so on. The Game Day Tent will have almost everything else.
Our program's goal is for kids to play soccer so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least 50 percent of every game. It's no fun to spend the game on the bench...and that's no way to learn soccer!
Each year we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible because it's more fun and a better learning experience when teams of similar ability play. It allows for each player to gain the experience of a wide variety of teammates of different skill levels.
Our program is open to all children between 4 and 19 years of age who want to register and play soccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the only criteria for playing. There are no elimination try-outs and nobody gets cut.
Encouragement of player effort provides for greater enjoyment for the players and leads to better-skilled and better-motivated players. A coach can be one of the most influential people in a child's life, so AYSO requires they create a positive experience for every boy and girl.
We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.
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.