Parents' Code

• Do not force an unwilling child to participate in sports.
• Remember children are involved in organized sports for their enjoyment, not yours.
• Encourage your child to always play by the rules.
• Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Your child will then be a winner even in defeat.
• Do not ridicule or yell at your child for making a mistake or for losing a game.
• Set a good example. Children learn best by example.
• Applaud good play by your team and by members of opposing team.
• Do not publicly question the referee's judgment and never their honesty.
• Recognize the value and importance of volunteer coaches, referees, and officials and give them their due respect. Without them there would be no AYSO soccer. Let the coach do the coaching!
• Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sporting activities.
• Alcohol is not permitted at any city park or school facility.

AYSO Mission Statement

PURPOSE - To operate soccer programs where young people can learn to develop a positive self-image, self-confidence, and other positive character traits through their interest and participation in soccer based on our philosophy of:

Everyone Plays - Our goal is for kids to play soccer - so we mandate that every player on every team play at least 3/4 of every game.

Balanced Teams - We require every Region at the start of each season to set up teams as evenly balanced as possible - because it is more fun where teams of equal ability play.

Positive Coaching - What makes winning kids is being built up, not down! We train and encourage our coaches to make the extra effort to understand and offer positive help to our players, rather than negative criticism. Winning Kids, not winning games!

Open Registration - Our programs are open to all children between 5 and 18 years who want to register and play soccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the only requirements for playing.

Good Sportsmanship - We desire to create a positive environment based on mutual respect, rather than a win at all costs attitude. All our programs must be designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.

To have the capacity to develop, provide and administer quality youth soccer programs throughout the United States, offering a fun, fair, positive and safe environment.

Players' Code

• Play for the "fun of it", not just to please your parents or coach.
• Play by the rules.
• Never argue with or complain about the referee's calls or decisions.
• Control your temper, and most of all, resist the temptation to retaliate when you feel you have been wronged.
• Concentrate on playing soccer and on affecting the outcome of the game with your best effort.
• Work equally hard for your team as for yourself.
• Be a good sport. Cheer all good plays, whether it is your team's or your opponent's. Thank the referees.
• Treat all players as you yourself would like to be treated.
• Remember that the goals of the game are to have fun, improve your skills, and feel good. Don't be a show-off or a "ball hog".
• Cooperate with your coaches, teammates, opponents, and the referees - there cannot be any soccer games without them.