Game Schedules Are Up

Consider them "Draft"

Updated Wednesday Night September 1. Game schedules are posted for all divisions. The referee scheduler will be up Friday night, assuming there are no major changes to the schedules.

You will find a link to the schedule page under the "Tools" menu at the top of the page. When you go there, please read the "Important Note About Team Numbers." It's important; thus the name.

Consider these schedules as "draft" for now. That is, some of the games for some of the teams may change over the next few days. Updates will be posted here as things change.

Team and Individual Pictures

Say "Cheese!"

Mountain Shadows will be taking team and individual pictures for us once again this season on September 18th, September 25th, October 2nd, and October 16th. Generally U5 - U10 teams get their pictures taken in the fall, and older teams get theirs taken in the spring. Take a look at the photos page for more information. Then talk to your team and set a date for pictures.

AYSO Adds Sixth Philosophy

Player Development

"Player Development" became the sixth philosophy of AYSO as over two thirds of the Executive Membership voted to add the first new philosophy of the organization in nearly 25 years. It joins Everyone Plays™, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching and Good Sportsmanship as the foundation tenets of the organization. The vote took place May 24 at the organization’s National Annual General Meeting in Dallas, Texas.

The goal of Player Development is to embrace the objective of improving the soccer skills and knowledge of every AYSO player, from VIP to U-19.

The effective date of the new philosophy is August 1, 2009 and the change will roll through materials as they are reprinted to ensure there is minimal budget impact at any level of the organization.

The new philosophy will be incorporated into AYSO’s by-laws and have as its description: 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.

1000 Minutes to Better Soccer

Attention all players: Do you want to get a party, recognition, and a cool shirt just for increasing your soccer skills? Then join the AYSO 1000 minutes program! Any player from U5 to U19 is encouraged to join. What is the 1000 minutes program? Click here for more information.

Coaches, get your players off to a good start for the season by explaining the 1000 Minutes program and encouraging them to participate. You can give them suggestions for things to work on during their individual practice, or you can have them download the 1000 Minutes Manual and work on foot skills. A little practice goes a long way!

Field Markers

I'll bet you thought field marking happened by magic; illusive fairies descend on the fields at night and paint lines so we can play soccer. Well, it's something like that. It is our dedicated corps of volunteer field markers, often unseen and unacknowledged, who make sure our fields are properly marked for each game. They battle the elements and the city's mowing and watering schedule for the players. So if you happen to see someone paining lines on our fields, take a minute to shake their hand and say, "Thanks!" And if you'd like to volunteer to be a field marker, please e-mail the Field Marking Administrator. He will set you up with equipment and training.

Field Marking Information

Field marking instructions are available on the referee page under "Useful Links." The information is presented as a slide show. Just click on each page to advance, or move your mouse over the lower right corner for more controls. This technology is experimental, so take a look and let the webmaster know if you like it or if you have trouble with it.

Injury Forms

Coaches, remember that if a player ever gets injured at a practice or a game, you are required to fill out an incident form and turn it in to the Safety Director within 24 hours. If you have questions about how to fill out the form, please contact the Safety Director. For more information about the Soccer Accident Insurance, see the information in the Parents section.

Safe Haven (CVP) Training

In an effort to protect all of our players and volunteers, AYSO requires all volunteers who will be working directly with the children to take our Child and Volunteer Protection (CVP) class, called Safe Haven. All coaches, assistant coaches and referees are required to take the class.

Region 104 implements this policy by requiring new volunteers to take the Safe Haven class from a certified instructor. Volunteers are required to take this class once. The best bet for this training is the Annual Coach and Referee Meeting. New referees who miss the Annual Coach and Referee Meeting can get their Safe Haven training as part of their referee clinic. If you are a coach or assistant coach who has never taken the Safe Haven course before, and you miss the annual meeting, you must attend one of the Safe Haven classes shown on the training schedule.

On-Line Volunteer Application

In addition to taking the Safe Haven class, every AYSO Coach, Assistant Coach and Referee is required to fill out a volunteer application and have an AYSO staff member verify his or her ID before you the first practice or game. In the past, you filled these out at your Safe Haven class, but now we also have a way to fill out that form on-line. Read the instructions, print your form, and either have your Division Commissioner check your ID and sign your form, or take it to the AYSO Training Center about 15 minutes before the start of a class and have the instructor check your ID and sign.

Sandia Volunteer Service Awards

"Sandia Serves"

Attention Sandia National Laboratories Employees - Your Volunteering Efforts May Result in Funding for AYSO! Sandia National Laboratories has a tradition of recognizing the volunteer support of its employees. Realizing that there are many employees involved in a wide variety of civic activities outside of work, they have developed the Community Service Awards program, called "Sandia Serves", to provide financial support for employee involvement.

Sandia National Laboratories employees volunteering 100, 250 or 500 hours to AYSO in a calendar year are eligible to participate. Record your hours by logging on to the Sandia Serves website (accessible from inside Sandia only) or fill out the form in the Service Award Flier and forward to Steve Nickerson for submission with Sandia. If you have questions about the program, you can contact Patty Zamora at 844-2146 or pgzamor@sandia.gov.

If you are a Sandian and you expect to volunteer 100 or more hours to AYSO this year, keep track of you hours, and file the form after the first of the year. If you are coaching an older team, practicing twice a week for 1.5 hours and attending games, you will get about 100 hours over the course of the season, so keep track and submit your hours!