What does it mean on the Registration form when it says Waitlist or No Programs Available?
Waitlist means we have hit our number of registrations for the volunteers we have to coach.
Easiest way to get off the waitlist is to volunteer to coach.
No Programs Available means your child has aged out or we are full in the age division and we had to close the division down.
Sign up as soon as registration opens to secure a spot. Feel free to reach out to us [email protected] with any questions.
When are player tryouts/player evaluations?
There are no tryouts. One of the key AYSO philosophies is that EVERYONE PLAYS. Every player gets out onto the field - no benchwarmers. Our program’s goals is for kids to play soccer so we mandate that every player (with proper equipment) on every team must play at least 50 percent of every game. It's no fun to spend the game on the bench. These are scheduled on a Saturday's (approx. 1 hr long), and all the children are run through some basic drills and observed by the coaches. This information is ONLY used to help us balance our teams. No one gets cut!
How are teams formed?
Players are divided into "divisions" based on their age. Each division has players within a 2-year age range (except for the youngest divisions, which have a 1-year range, and the oldest players, which have a 3-yr range. Players stay in their division for both the fall and spring seasons, like the school year, and move-up in the fall.
How long are the seasons?
Fall - Starts mid to late August ends first week of November (2 weeks of practice before 1st game - 8 games a season)
Spring - Starts mid to late March ends mid-May (2 weeks of practice before 1st game - 8 games a season)
What are Spring 2025 evaluations dates?
Saturday March 1st, 2025 - Times will be announced based on weather on Sunday February 23rd, 2025.
You can also see Evaluations page.
What are 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. This is a chance for all the coaches to evaluate the players to assist in forming balanced teams.
How often do we practice? How long is the season? When do we get game schedules?
Generally, most teams practice one night per week. Regular games are played on Saturdays, although makeup games may be rescheduled for weeknights. If we have an uneven number of teams in an age division there will be a "bye" on Saturday but a game through the week. We start practices two to three weeks before the first games, and a season has 8 games.
Game schedules will be provided by your coach. They usually are available a week or so before the first games.. (The reason is that it takes a lot of work to develop the schedules, and our regional volunteers need the time after registration to form teams and make/coordinate schedules.)
What night is practice?
AYSO is an all volunteer organization. Our coaches get to pick the practice night that best meets their schedule, so your practice night and time will depend on your assigned coach. Practice nights can be Monday - Friday 5:30pm - 8:00pm for any age division. If you can't practice on a particular night OR time, please note it on your form, and we will do our best to accommodate your schedule.
Will I have to travel to away games?
Our U6 and U8 teams play other teams from within our Region. We are Region 325, Loudon County, these teams play only in Lenoir City and Loudon.
Our U10, and U12 teams will play teams outside our Region in Our Area 5G, so approximately 1/2 of their games will involve travel to 'away' games. These other teams could include Sweetwater, Kingston, Oak Ridge, and Athens.
14u, 16u and 19u teams will play teams outside our Region and majority outside of our Area 5G. We enter into Area 5B schedule 5I will also enter into 5B. We do not know how many home games or away games there will be.
5B Regions include: Knoxville, Sevierville, Blount, and Norris.
5I Regions include: North and Northeast of Knoxville, Covers Harrogate, Morristown, Rogersville, Newport and Onedia.
5G Regions include: Lenoir City, Loudon, Oak Ridge, Sweetwater, Athens, and Kingston
Can we request to be with a particular coach?
Each season (fall and spring), we form new teams within our region (Loudon County/Region 325). It is our goal to form teams as evenly balanced as possible because it’s more fun and a better learning experience when teams of similar ability play. It allows each player to gain the experience of a wide variety of teammates of different skill levels.
Balancing teams is perhaps the most difficult activity our region volunteers face each season, and we use our best efforts to distribute our players fairly. Coaches do not get to pick their favorite players to form a select team. Teams are formed using player skill evaluations provided by the coaches. Players are distributed among teams to provide an even balance of skills for each team. We will consider placing a child with a particular coach in case of a special need.
If we miss a practice, do we have to sit out for the next game?
No. All players who show up for the game with proper equipment get to play, regardless of whether they attended practice or not. Of course, players who attend practice have had the chance to learn and improve their soccer skills and will be better prepared to play. But, EVERYONE PLAYS. We realize that life happens, and occasionally practice will be missed.
What are the costs to play?
Registration - $35.00
AYSO National Club Fee - $25.00 (required)
AYSO Credit Card Fee - $2.75
Total Registration paid online = $62.75
Uniform - $50.00 - This fee is paid separately by cash or check at a separate uniform pick-up date closer to the first game date. If last year’s uniform still fits, you do not have to purchase a new one. The Uniform comes with two jerseys (orange and green), one pair of shorts (black), and two pairs of socks (orange and green).
Late Registration - $72.75 (if signing up AFTER registration has ended January 31st, 2025)
Nonrefundable: AYSO Club National Club Fee - $25.00, the Credit Card Fee - $2.75, and the Late Fee - $10.00 - Refund for Registration of $35.00 can take up to six weeks to be mailed. Please fill out our form to Request a Refund.
What is the Refund Policy?
Please see Refund Policy page.
AYSO National Fee?
Every school year, AYSO National charges a membership fee of $25.00. This expense is only charged once a year per child, so if you've already paid it in the Fall, you won't need to pay it in the Spring. If your child only plays soccer one season the fee will still be $25.00. A portion of this covers backoffice expenses like accounting, legal, national marketing, website expenses, programming, etc. Some portion of this expense also covers supplemental accident insurance for when your player is on the field.
Where do my registration fees go?
Your base soccer registration fees cover our expenses here in the Loudon County Region. AYSO is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit entity so we charge soccer fees that cover our expenses and nothing else. Our biggest expenses are goals, balls, cones & other supplies, team photos, coach training, storage rental, field paint, volunteer background checks, referee uniforms etc.
Under AYSO National Policy Statements 3.2 Publishing Regional Financial Statements: Each Region must disseminate to all of its participants (coaches, referees, parents of AYSO player and administrators) its financial statements at least once a year. Such financial statements may be in the form of annual report required and filed with the National Office and shall consist of (a) a statement of receipts and expenditures for the previous twelve months, and (b) a statement of the assets and liabilities of the Region as at the end of such twelve months. A copy of such financial statements, if different from the Region's annual report, should be sent to the National Office, Attention: Finance Department, with a cover letter indicating the date and method of dissemination of such information. In order to facilitate such dissemination, the National Office shall send to each Regional Commissioner a suggested form of annual report.
What age divisions will there be?
Each season is different you can find what age divisions available on Registration & Fee page.
Registration is open to ALL players who meet the age requirements, regardless of ability, or experience. Open registration is one of the 6 key AYSO philosophies.
AYSO Soccer calculates a player's age for each Membership Year (MY) based upon the year the player was born.
The AYSO Membership Year runs from August 1 through July 31. Participants play in the same Division during the Fall Season and the subsequent Spring Season. Participants move up for the next Fall Season.
AYSO Age Chart for MY2024
(including Fall 2024 & Spring 2025 seasons)
Conduct
The Region advocates and expects exemplary behavior by all its participants, and it will hold a strict line on conduct as laid out in these policies. Abusive statements such as those that deal with race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, age, sex, or sexual orientation are not permitted. Sexual harassment, lewd comments and any form of inappropriate physical contact are prohibited. Bullying, hazing, corporal punishment and any act of violence are also prohibited. In addition, physical, emotional, sexual, and ethical abuses are prohibited, as is neglect or endangerment of a child.
AYSO is a mandated reporter of suspected abuse in many states and asks any adult who knows or suspects abuse of a child to inform the Region and law enforcement.