Balanced Teams

• Teams are created by the system using player evaluations from previous seasons.

• The goal is to ensure that all teams are roughly equal in skill.

• Coaches cannot request specific players, and parents cannot request specific coaches.

• Any attempt to manipulate team assignments violates AYSO’s Safe Haven and Safe Sport philosophies and may lead to coach disqualification.

In short: No parent or coach requests for team or player placement can be honored. Teams stay balanced and fair for all.

Everyone Plays

• Every player must play at least three quarters (3Q) of each game.

• No player can play all four quarters unless the whole team has already played at least three.

• Goalkeepers rotate like everyone else — they can’t stay in goal the whole match.

• Only a documented medical reason allows a player to sit out.

• Coaches who violate this fairness rules forfeit the game and may be disqualified from coaching.

Player Development

• Players should experience different positions, not just specialize early.

• Goalkeepers must also play as field players to develop broader skills.

• A player who serves as goalkeeper three times must play on the field in the last quarter.

• Coaches who don’t follow this rule risk forfeiting games or losing their coaching status.

Positive Coaching

• Coaches must be supportive, respectful, and encouraging — both to players and fellow volunteers.

• Mistakes happen, especially with new volunteers and referees. They need encouragement, not criticism.

• Parents are invited to step in and volunteer if they’d like to help improve the experience.

Open Registration

• Every child who wants to play soccer is welcome in AYSO.

• All players get fair playtime — no one should be benched without a medical reason.

• Teams are assigned randomly and fairly, so no team has an unfair advantage.

• Player scouting for advanced teams (like All‑Stars) cannot begin before October 7, 2023. Early scouting may disqualify a coach or team from the program.

Good Sportsmanship

• All players, coaches, and parents must show respectful behavior at games.

• If a coach is interested in a player from another team, they must first notify that player’s coach before talking to the player or parent.

• Those interested in more competitive soccer can apply to AYSO EXTRA, which requires greater commitment from families and coaches.

Invitational Tournament Eligibility

To qualify for invitation-only tournaments, teams must meet certain criteria:

Coaches and Team Requirements

• Two certified coaches (a head coach and an assistant).

• A designated team manager (optional to coach training).

• At least two certified adult referees.

Participation Requirements

• Each volunteer (coach, referee, etc.) must participate in at least 75% of regular-season games.

• Each player must attend at least 75% of all scheduled matches.

• Teams must uphold all AYSO regional and national policies.

• Teams with repeated violations may lose approval for Out‑of‑Region Play (OORP) or tournament invitations.

Coaches should submit OORP requests early to confirm that all requirements are met.

For questions: contact Regional Commissioner Julio Velez at [email protected].