AYSO stands for American Youth Soccer Organization which is a national soccer organization that has regions all over the United States as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Trinidad & Tobago. Except for a few paid individuals at the National Office, it is an all VOLUNTEER organization. For more detailed information about AYSO, please go to the AYSO National site at www.ayso.org .

AYSO is also an affiliate member of the United States Soccer Federation .

Mission Statement

The basic philosophy of AYSO is Everybody Plays. Our Mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote fun, family environment based on our 6 philosophies:

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

This mission is accomplished by providing these essential services:

• Quality educational 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.
• A strong financial position.

We, as a Region, do everything in our power to ensure that all of the children have the chance to kick a soccer ball. However, if only a few people volunteer for certification, we will only be able to accept a limited number of children on a limited number of teams. In other words, some children may not be able to participate even if they are registered to play.

General Information

Region 9 is located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California which is in the eastern part of Ventura County. We are part of Section 10, Area E. On average, our Region has just over 200 teams with over 2000 boys and girls ages 4-1/2 to 18 participating.

The success and growth of Region 9 is solely the result of the thousands of hours volunteered each year by our Coaches and Assistant Coaches (over 400); our adult and youth Referees (over 300); the parents who help staff our Information Booth, snack facilities and help as field crew members; and, of course, our Board of Directors (who are often a member of one or more of the previously mentioned volunteer types!)

Region 9 is administered by a Board of Directors consisting of Executive & General Board members. The Executive Board includes the Regional Commissioner (RC), Treasurer, Safety Director, Secretary, Regional Coaching Administrator (RCA) and Regional Referee Administrator (RRA) amongst others. The General Board includes all of the Division Administrators and several other program leaders. Some of these Board Members also have staffs to assist them, such as the RCA and RRA.

We believe that Child Development comes first; soccer is just one way to reach that G-O-O-O-O-O-O-A-L!

Schedules and Other Programs

Practices for the Fall Regular season begin in early August for all teams (U6 - U19). Dates and times are selected by the coaches in mid-July and will posted in late July. Games for teams in the U6 - U14 Divisions only begin on the first Saturday after Labor Day and end on the Saturday just before Thanksgiving. All games for these Divisions are played during daylight hours on Saturdays only. Game schedules for these Divisions are posted in mid to late August.

Our U16 and U19 teams follow a different game schedule than that of our U6 - U14 teams because of high school rules. They also play with teams from the other 5 regions that make up Area E: Newbury Park (42), Moorpark (363), Simi Valley (121), Agoura/Westlake Village (4) and Malibu (759). Games for these teams are played at various sites any day or night of the week - depending on where they are playing. Game schedules are handled through Area E.

We also have some other programs now available in Region 9:

• Our Winter League program (called "Premier League") is for U7 - U19 players and runs from mid-January to mid-March.
• Our "Adult League" program is on Sundays and runs concurrent with the Fall and Premier League seasons.
• Our very popular "Pot O' Gold" Tournament follows Premier League in March (and occasionally into April depending on when Easter occurs). The tournament has grown so large that we normally need 3 weekends to run it!
• AYSO Section 10 "Extra" program.

For details on these and other programs, go to the Other Programs & Activities link on our website.

Coaching & Refereeing

Our children deserve the best! In 1997 we began certifying coaches. In the spirit of providing the best for them, the Region only allows certified adults to coach. The training, safety and emotional needs of the children will be more than satisfied with coaches who have been trained in the basics of soccer, as well as trained in the basic emotional needs of the players. All of us want the best for our children.

The Region provides AYSO Training and Certification coaching clinics Free of Charge to the participants. These clinics consists of:

• Safe Haven Training: A two-hour course that is included in all of the Coaching and Referee Clinics and is also offered on-line. See our menu with eAYSO in the title for the link.
• U6, U7/U8 and U10 Coach Training: A 2 to 4-hour course geared specifically to each age group.
• U12 (Intermediate) and U14 & up (Advanced) Coach Training: A two-day course designed for coaching U12 and above.

Besides coaches, we also need referees. Each game in the "non-competitive" divisions (U7 and U8) requires 2 referees and all games in the "competitive" divisions (U10 - U19) require 3. (U6 games do not have actual referees; the coaches are on the field and act as referees while also coaching). In order to provide a sufficient amount of qualified referees, Region 9 conducts, or provides access to, Referee Training clinics Free of Charge to all participants. We even provide our referees with a "basic" uniform (except for shoes and a watch). For more information see our Referees Home page.

Come to Registration ready to sign up and please ask how you can become certified to coach or referee. Help us give as many children as possible the opportunity to play this wonderful sport.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and support.

Respectfully:
Steve Ferry, Commissioner
AYSO Region 9 Thousand Oaks