AYSO Mission Statement

To develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on our philosophies:

• Everyone Plays
• Balanced Teams
• Open Registration
• Positive Coaching
• Good Sportsmanship

The mission is accomplished by providing these essential services:

• Quality education programs (coaching, instruction, management, and officiating)
• Quality administrative and operational systems with a support network
• Integrated volunteer network, supported by a national staff
• Program research and development
• Strong financial position

Brief History of AYSO

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was established in the Los Angeles area in 1964 with nine teams. It was the dream of a group of devoted soccer enthusiasts who started the organization in a garage. Today, AYSO has more than 50,000 teams and more than 650,000 players. It also employs 50 people at its National Support and Training Center in Hawthorne, California.

Over the years, AYSO has created many valuable programs and concepts. Most notably, AYSO revolutionized youth sports with its "Everyone Plays" and "Balanced Teams" philosophies. In AYSO, each child who registers is guaranteed to play at least half of every game. To help create evenly matched games, all AYSO players are placed on new or "balanced" teams each year. These decisions are made based on each player's skill level and the overall ability of the team.

AYSO Structure

AYSO's grassroots program starts with a community-based league, called a region. A region can range in size from a few hundred players to several thousand. Each Region is supervised by a Regional Commissioner and a local board of directors. 

A group of regions in close proximity make up an Area. Area Directors are responsible for activities of the Regions in their Area, as well as for Area-wide activities.

For administrative purposes, AYSO divides the country into 14 geographic Sections based on player population. Section Directors oversee activities in their respective Sections.

Section 99 is an administrative section designation for programs outside the United States.

Regions are assigned numbers chronologically with respect to when they were established. For example, East Wichita is Region 49, Area U, Section 4. There are currently over 1400 regions chartered. 

View AYSO National Policy...