AYSO's philosophies are living tenets that separate it from other sports organizations. They are:

• 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 season 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 each player to gain the experience of a wide variety of teammates of different skill levels.
• OPEN REGISTRATION - Our programs are open to all children who meet the age guidelines. Interest and enthusiasm are the only requirements for playing. There are no elimination tryouts, and nobody gets cut.
• POSITIVE COACHING - Encouragement of player effort provides 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, to maximize their enjoyment of the game.