AYSO SIX PHILOSOPHIES
AYSO's philosophies are living tenets that separate it from other
sports organizations.
They are Everyone Plays®, Balanced Teams, Open
Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship and Player Development.
Everyone Plays®
Our program's goal is for kids to play soccer so we mandate that every
player on every team must play at least 50% of every game. It’s no fun to spend
the game on the bench…and that’s no way to learn soccer!
Balanced Teams 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.
Open Registration 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.
Positive Coaching 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.
Good Sportsmanship 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.
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.