FAQS

The answers to all of your burning questions!

Fall Season Information

Q: When does the Fall season begin and end?

A: Registration for the Fall season opens late April and ends August 31st. The Fall season begins with our Opening Day Celebration on Sept. 7th, 2024 with our first day of play on Saturday, Sept. 21st, 2024. Teams are formed in late August. To ensure that you player is placed on a team, it is recommended that you register early, before August. Parents that volunteer to coach are given priority placement.

Q: What is included with my registration fee?

A: Your Fall registration fee includes:

Full uniform (team jersey, black shorts and socks)Basic picture package (team photo, individual photos, and photo button)$25 non-refundable AYSO membership fee includes player insurance. This fee is paid once per member year (Fall – Spring of the following year)
End of season trophy
Field fees, maintenance, and equipment needed to run the region

Q: Are there any additional fees that I will be expected to pay?

A: Teams may choose to purchase a team banner, purchase a gift for the coach at the end of the season or hold an end of season party. Participation in these activities are optional and cost is discussed as a team. Costs for these additional items are typically split evenly amongst the team.

Holiday and Tournament teams will be required to pay additional fees for participation in these post season activities. Fees TBD.

Q: Where can I find the game schedule?

A: Our game schedule is not released until the around the first week of September. Once we have completed the schedule, it will be posted on our website and made available on our Google Calendar. Game times are subject to change.

Q: My player was placed on a "waitlist", what does that mean?

A: This can be for one of two reasons: 1) we have players but need coaches or 2) we need more players to make another full team. Either way, we will be in contact with you to let you the status and what we need. Best advise to stay off of the waitlist, volunteer to be a coach or help us recruit more players!

Equipment and Safety

Q: What equipment does my player need?

A: You will need to purchase:

Shin guards
Shoes (soccer cleats)
Soccer ball

All players are required to wear shin guards for all practices and games. If you player is not wearing shin guards, they will not be allowed to play. This is for the safety of the player.

Soccer cleats and the age appropriate size ball are strongly encouraged. Players in Playground, Schoolyard and U6 are not required to wear cleats, but we strongly encourage it.

Ball sizes: size 3 Playground, Schoolyard, 6U, and 8U. Size 4: 10U and 12U. Size 5:14U and older

Q: When will I receive my players uniform?

A: Coaches will distribute uniforms on their own after they have received them. Sizes and numbers are not guaranteed. Uniforms should be distributed with the smallest players size distributed first.

Q: My player just got their ears pierced, do they have to be removed?

A: Unfortunately, no jewelry may be worn at practice or during the game, even if it is a new piercing. Placing tape or a band-aid over the piercing is not allowed.

Practice and Games

Q: What days and times will my player practice?

A: Practice will only apply for teams U8 and above. Practice days and times are completely up to the coach and determined by their availability. Options may be discussed as a team, but ultimately the day/time is up to the coach. Practices will be held at the Field of Dreams. It is possible that practice maybe moved to Daniels Field once daylight savings time goes into effect. A player may not be moved to another team due to practice schedule conflicts. Practice in the Fall season is not mandatory, but highly recommended for U8 and above age divisions.

Playground, Schoolyard & U6: combine activities/practice and games combined on Saturdays only
U8: 1-2 practice(s) per week; 45 - 60 minutes max
U10: 1-2 practice(s) per week; 60 minutes
U12: 1-2 practice(s) per week; 60-90 minutes max
U14 & U16: 2 practice(s) per week; 60-90 minutes max

Q: Where are the games played?

A: Playground, Schoolyard, U6-U10: All games will be played on Field of Dreams only.

U12: Games at Field of Dreams; subject to potential Area Play (Torrance & PV)

U14: Participation in Area Play - includes field locations: Field of Dreams, Columbia Park (Torrance); Ladera Linda (PV); fields subject to change.

U16: Participation in Area Play - includes field locations: Field of Dreams and other Beach Cities fields (subject to change).
Practices will be held at Field of Dreams (times are subject to change during daylight savings).

Q: What are player evaluations and does my child need to attend?

A: Player evaluations are held August 3rd and 17th (times TBA) at Daniels Field. Player evaluations are for players in U10 and above. Your player will need to attend evaluations if they:

Were new to Region 6 in the 2024 Spring season
New to Region 6 2024 Fall
Have never played soccer

Player evaluations help us see a player’s skill level to help us fairly balance teams. Players that have played in Region 6 in the Fall in 2023 have been evaluated through the season by their previous coach and do not need to attend the evaluation. This is not a tryout. Players in Playground, Schooldyard, U6, and U8 do not need to attend player evaluations.

Teams

Q: Can my player be moved to another team?

A: Unfortunately, a player cannot be moved once the teams are formed. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to fairly balance and form teams. Moving players would disrupt this process. Older divisions (U10 and above) have gone through a draft process and cannot be traded, exchanged, “swapped”, or moved to another team.

Q: Can friends or classmate be placed on the same team?

A: We cannot promise that friends, classmates, or carpool buddies can be placed on the same team. U10 age divisions and above are put into a draft pool to form teams and will not accept any player/coach requests. One of AYSO’s philosophies is Balanced Teams. We balance teams in several different ways. For new players to the region, we have them attend a Player Evaluation event where they are evaluated using several different metrics. Toward the end of each season, we ask Coaches to provide evaluations as well.

Q: When will I hear from my players coach?

A: Coaches will receive their player rosters at the coaches meeting on August 24th. If you do not hear from a coach by August 31st, please email our Coach Administrator, Adam Hernandez at: [email protected]. If you are on a waitlist, that means that we are still looking for a coach. Consider volunteering to coach to get moved off of the waitlist! Want to know what is required to become a coach? Click here for more details.

Q: Can my player play in a different age division than what was assigned?

A: Players are placed in an age division based on their birth year. Players are not allowed to play down in any division. The Regional Commissioner may approve a player to play up in a division depending on the situation. Please see our age division chart for details.

Other FAQS

Q: Can I bring my pet to the field?

A: AYSO Region 6 holds the permits for the Field of Dreams soccer fields during our designated days and times. During the use of this permit, we do not allow pets on the fields. We understand that your pet is another valued member of your family, but please keep your pet at home. Please refer to our pet policy for more information.

Q: How can I volunteer?

A: There are many opportunities for you, as a parent, to get involved in the AYSO program. If interested in any of these opportunities, see our Volunteer pages for more information.

Q: My player missed picture day, when is the make-up day?

A: If your player misses picture day, they will have the opportunity to make up pictures on another assigned day. We will not have this date available until sometime in October. Your make-up picture package will not include a team photo.

Q: How can I request a refund?

A: We understand that plans change. If you need to request a refund, you may do so by submitting an email refund request to: [email protected]

Please include in your request:
Players First and Last Name
Your First and Last Name
Players division
Reason for refund request

Please be aware that the AYSO National Player fee of $25 is included in your registration cost and is non-refundable. Requests made 2 weeks prior to the start of the season and after will be charged a $40 refund fee (deducted from your refund). No refunds will be given after the start of the season (starting with picture day or fist game; whichever comes first)
Please allow 2-4 weeks to process the refund. Refund maybe given in form of a check mailed to your billing address.

Silent Saturday

Region 6 Silent Saturday is October 12th!

Silent Saturday is a throwback to the old schoolyard days when kids would congregate after school and on weekends just to play all day, without regard to who was winning and repercussions for poor play and decision-making. Coaches are requested to communicate and reinforce this with spectators!

The objectives of Silent Saturday are:

To emphasize that the game is about letting the kids have fun and play.
To show that kids can play well on their own with limited instruction.
To help the few parents and coaches who feel they must provide constant direction, understand how disruptive it can be.
To give players the chance to trust their skills and instincts without sideline input.
To encourage leadership skills among the individual players as they have the unique opportunity of giving their own instruction on the field.
To encourage a sense of true teamwork as the players must learn to rely upon one another and communicate with each other accordingly.
To support our volunteer referees, both youth and adult, by eliminating sideline interference and comments.

The spirit of Silent Saturdays is to allow players to make decisions and learn the game. After all, if the child doesn’t make their own mistakes, it will hinder their development in the sport. If parents think their children are confused and don’t know what to do without sideline instruction, that’s an indication that players haven’t been allowed to make their own decisions. Players will learn the game by making their own decisions, learning from their mistakes, and continuing to play.

For more information, watch this video discussing the benefits of having a Silent Saturday. This interview was featured on the Hallmark Channel and talks about best practices, why screaming from the sidelines is bad for player development and what to do when all of this becomes unmanageable. Consider sharing this video with families during your kick-off meeting or as needed when sideline behavior becomes an issue.

Basic Rules for Silent Saturday

Spectators
We request that you make no verbal comments about the game or direct any comments to the players, referees or coaches. Clapping IS allowed! Be creative in how you choose to cheer your child’s team – make signs to hold up or bring a rally towel in the team’s color and wave it wildly. There are lots of ways to cheer other than verbally – applaud/clap, but please no horns, whistle or noise-makers.

Coaches
It is recommended that you do not provide any direction – verbal or non-verbal – to players who are on the field. Speak to the team before the match, at substitution breaks and at halftime as you normally do. During the match, speak quietly to players on the bench about the game. If required, quietly call a player on the field over to the touchline to provide tactical instruction. Then let them convey the message to the team.

Players
While on the field, you are encouraged to speak to each other as normal. Continue to support and provide direction to each other, as you have in the past. Substitute players on the bench, should remain quiet and not cheer or provide tactical instruction to their teammates. Lest they simply replace the coach or act on their behest.

Referees
For this special day, referees are asked to monitor the spectators and coaches’ adherence to these guidelines and to offer gentle reminders if the recommendations are not being followed. Continue to verbalize often during the game as you normally do. You are there to help the players have a safe, fair and fun time.