Updated 12/1/2022

In addition to the AYSO National Rules, here are some brief local rules to note.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

Soccer has limited equipment requirements. Shoes, shin guards, and preferably blue socks and black shorts/pants are the players responsibility. Shin guards are mandatory during ALL practices and games. Full-coverage shoes are required, and it is advisable to use shoes designed specifically for soccer (e.g. soccer cleats). Players must also have their own water bottle during ALL practices and games. Utilize Facebook, emailing amongst other parents or local thrift shops to search for these items. Region 1437 has some gently used items for families as well. Contact the Treasurer Jennifer Dahn to request help in obtaining needed equipment.

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
 A player may bring and use their own soccer ball to practices. 

See below for ball size requirements:

Age Division	Size	Circumference	Weight
AYSO Schoolyard Soccer, 6U & 8U	3	23.0-25.0 inches	10-12 oz.
10U & 12U	4	25.0-26.5 inches	12-14 oz.
14U, 16U & 18U	5	26.5-28.0 inches	14-16 oz.

EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY AYSO REGION 1437 SOCCER PROGRAM:
 Our region provides all fields and field equipment, such as goals, nets, line paint and flags. The region also provides each coach with an equipment bag that includes balls, manuals, cones, and first aide kits.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:

1. No Goalie for 6U and 8U divisions
2. Players must wear shin guards at all practices and games. 
3. Player must have a water bottle to keep hydrated at all practices and games.
4. Players may not wear jewelry, soft hair accessories are ok.
5. No hanging or climbing on nets or goals, each year there is at least one death in the United States due to goals falling on a child.
6. Watch out for trash or debris on the fields and help pick up these items to keep the fields clean. 
7. No Player can play if they have a suspected concussion; this is not easy to determine so when in doubt the player stays out.  The player cannot return until a parent and medical release are provided to the coach.
8. No Player can play if they have a cast on any part of their body - player safety comes first.
9. No Player can play if they have an open / bleeding wound. 

AYSO INCIDENT REPORT:
All incidents must be reported to the Regional Chair at [email protected]. There are incident report forms in each coaches equipment bags and can also be found online: AYSO Incident Report Form
The AYSO Incident Report Form will be used whenever there is a personal injury, damaged property, or threats of or actual physical violence surrounding an AYSO game, practice, event or property. The form should be prepared by the Affected Party (Player, Player's Guardian, Coach, AYSO Official, AYSO Volunteer, Spectator or other). The Form may also be prepared by a member of the regional staff such as the regional safety director, or event staff members. 

FIELD RULES:
 DANGER: Goals can tip over on to a person, so do not play, climb or hang on the goals or nets. 

NO SMOKING

NO chewing products

No pets allowed

NO driving on grass areas

We are guests on School property so please be respectful of the property

Stay off the school equipment next to the buildings

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP POLICY:

Found in the AYSO National Rules and regulations book, AYSO has expectations of conduct for players, coaches, referees, parents and other spectators. Below you will find the sportsmanship guidelines AYSO outlines in the regulations book:

 

E. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF COACHES, REFEREES, OFFICIALS, OTHER VOLUNTEERS, SPECTATORS, TEAM MEMBERS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS 1. It shall be the duty of each coach, referee, official, other volunteer, spectator, team member and other participant to: a. Conduct himself/herself in a manner becoming a member of AYSO and consistent with the AYSO Six Philosophies and the highest standards of conduct.

b. Work together as a team in support of the children playing the match and in alignment with the Stewards of the Game and Kids Zone programs to promote a safe, fair, fun environment.

c. Comply with and promote compliance with the Bylaws, Rules & Regulations and policies, including those related to registration, certification and training.

d. Encourage clean competition and good sportsmanship.

e. Prohibit and abstain from making negative comments and complaints about officiating.

f. Present a healthy and safe athletic environment for team members, including but not limited to, not consuming alcoholic beverages, using tobacco products or smoking or simulating smoking or the use of tobacco products during practices or matches or in the immediate vicinity of the soccer fields.

2. It shall also be the duty of each coach to: a. Effective August 1, 2015, all coaches in all age divisions shall be trained consistent with the AYSO National Coaching Program standards for the age/skill level of the team he/she will coach; and train and coach the team to the best of his/her ability.

b. Remain within the coaches’ technical area (Article I.G.2) during the match; a maximum of two coaches is permitted for each team.

c. Limit his/her sideline participation during AYSO matches to comments that are positive and/or encouraging, with limited supportive instruction.

d. Upon team formation, and during all subsequent team gatherings, practices, scrimmages, and (Regional, Inter-Regional, Area, Sectional, National and tournament play), have in his/her possession all signed forms, rosters, waivers and/or identification cards as may be required by AYSO policies so as to verify registration of team members or confirm volunteer qualifications.

Team Formation and Balancing Procedure:

Before giving you our rules and policies, please remember that AYSO’s National Mission Statement is founded on five principles: balanced teams, fair play, good sportsmanship, positive coaching and Everyone Plays.

Please keep in mind that all requests are considered. Yet, at no time can we promise or provide a guarantee your request will be fulfilled. In addition, the process of making up teams is very time consuming work and once the teams have been made up every player move involves more than just that player. Not only would it necessitate displacing another player already assigned to the team, it would involve finding a replacement player of comparable skill levels (to maintain team balance). We also work hard to distribute players with goalkeeping skills, as well as players with volunteer parents, reasonably equally among the teams. Parents frequently see this from their perspective and don’t take into consideration that granting a seemingly simple request can have a wave of repercussions and stretch our volunteer resources beyond breaking. 

1. We start by dividing each division by birth year and gender (ex: all girls born in 2010 are separated from all boys born in 2010). We then try to ensure, as equally as possible, teams are split up with equal number girls/boys, and equal number of players based on birth year.
2. The board uses information related to known skill level and needed accommodations to also determine player placement
3. All coaches/co-coaches children are placed on their respective teams
4. We take into consideration minimum number of players on the field, need for sub's, and providing enough players on each team to allow for possible absences to games that can allow the team to still play.
5. Finally, we review special team requests received. These often are related to transportation needs, families with multiple children, or concerns related to playing with another child or particular coach.