OUR PROGRAM

First and foremost, AYSO provides a recreational soccer program for children ages 3 through 18. AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) is a national non-profit organization with almost 600,000 registered players and 200,000 registered volunteers. It delivers programs through individual units called Regions. UPLAND is Region 32. The Regions are grouped into Areas and Sections. Upland belongs to Area 1-G, the other regions of which are in Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Fontana and Rosena Ranch. Area G in turn is part of Section 1, which covers Los Angeles County, the Inland Empire all the way to Nevada, as well as parts of Nevada. In Upland, our program has approximately 1,500 players and operates in a regular season that begins in August and ends in mid-December. Although we play in Upland, we accept registrations no matter where you live.

AYSO is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to AYSO, including to Region 32, are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to AYSO to support our programs, including scholarships for players whose families need some financial help, visit our donations page. Our taxpayer identification number is 95-6205398. Note that registration fees and other payments for players are NOT tax-deductible.

AYSO PHILOSOPHIES

AYSO was founded on five philosophies (to which a sixth was added) which affect every aspect our program.

They are:

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

"Positive coaching" and "Good Sportsmanship" speak for themselves, but here is some additional information on the others:

"Everyone Plays" means that every player on every team must receive a guaranteed amount of playing time. The national minimum is half the game, but in our Region we require a minimum of three quarters, with some exceptions.

"Open Registration" means that we accept every player who registers, provided we have space in the relevant age group. Although we evaluate players, the only reason we do this is to assure "Balanced Teams" by assigning players to teams that we strive to make as even as we can.

"Balanced Teams" are not so important when the children are 4, 5, 6 and 7, but once they reach the age of 8 years old, they are playing on larger teams and fields and balance becomes critical. The result is that, at this age, we generally do not grant or even consider requests for players to play together or to be assigned to a particular coach. Teams are put together every year and they do not continue on from one year to the next.

"Player Development" means that we emphasize development of age-appropriate technical and tactical skills and pure love of the game rather than winning at all costs. We want our players to improve through practice and opportunity to learn from committed coaches whose primary goal is to help players to get better.

We make up our teams afresh each year and we try our best to balance them. Once players are in 10U the teams are drafted by the coaches. 

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

At the regional, area and section level AYSO is an ALL-VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. All of our coaches, team administrators, program administrators – everyone is a volunteer. Unlike Little League or basketball, we do not pay referees – they too are volunteers. Participation in AYSO cannot be made conditional on your volunteering but, unless nearly everyone volunteers to do something, we would not be able to function. We offer extensive training programs for all our volunteers, especially coaches and referees.

Our policy is to require teams to provide at least two volunteers to train and participate as referees. Your child's team may be ineligible for the playoffs if your team does not provide referees to the program.

TEAMS, GAMES AND PRACTICES

Every girl and boy stepping on the field has fun developing soccer skills while enjoying the world's most popular sport.

We focus on positive messages and each child plays more than half of each game (usually 3/4 or more). 

At early ages the program focuses on a non-competitive fun experience building the foundation for player growth throughout their AYSO experience into their late teens.

Children are grouped into divisions based on their age in the calendar year. So a child who turns 4 any time in 2021, would be in the 5U division (children under 5) for the Fall season. The details for each division are as follows:

6U - 5 year olds ->  Players participate in 6 player teams playing weekly games each Saturday. Teams practice once a week and play a game on Saturdays. Games are generally 4 players versus 4 players on an age appropriate field. There are no goalkeepers or throw ins. This maximizes playing time for each child and allows coaches to balance the team. Games at this age are for fun! We don't keep score or post standings.

8U - 6 & 7 year olds ->  This age divisions introduces two weekly practices in addition to Saturday games. Practices are typically one hour each on weekday afternoons or early evening. Games are 40 minutes and played 6 players versus 6 players on an age appropriate field with small nets and no goalkeepers. Experience shows that 6 year olds lack the physical development and psychological focus to play the goalkeeper position. Eliminating the keepers results in an open and free-flowing game. The smaller sized teams allow players to fully participate in the game. Play is still focused on fun. We don't keep score or post standings. At the end of the season we have a Jamboree for this division to the teams who's parents participated in the required volunteering.

10U - 8 and 9 year olds -> In this division we introduce goalkeeping and competitive play. Weekly games are 50 minutes long and played 7 players versus 7 players on a with 9-10 players per team.   

12U - 10 and 11 year olds ->  In this division games are 60 minutes long and played 9 players v 9 players. Goals are now full-size. Players are introduced to positional play that approximates full team soccer. The 9-player teams allow greater space on the field and more involvement by each player.

14U - 12 and 13 year olds -> In this division we introduce full-size fields with 11 players versus 11 players competition. Games are 70 minutes long. We continue to ensure that all players participate at least 3/4 of the game.

16U - 14 and 15 year olds -> In older teen divisions the season is shortened to about 6 weeks in order to allow players to participate on their high-school teams. Games are played on Saturday and are often scheduled at other parks in our Area. They play in Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and Fontana.

19U - 16, 17, and 18 year olds -> If we have enough players we will form 19U teams. Similar to 16U, 19U teams play shortened seasons and are often playing in other parks. They play in Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and Fontana.

Teams are divided into groupings by age called divisions. Age is determined by birth year. A full listing of our divisions and age groups is listed on the website.

Every team also has 1-2 practices a week depending on age group (except for the very youngest Scottie Pups and Little Scotties). Practices will take place on a fixed day and time each week. These times are assigned to teams based on the coaches request after the teams have been formed. There is no way to put you on a team based on practices days since teams are formed before practice days and times are set. If you need your child to practice on specific days and times you would need to volunteer to coach to get the days and times you want.

The program for high school age players is slightly different. Teams play two games, one week night game and one weekend game, but the season ends in mid-November so as not to conflict with high school soccer.

WHERE DO WE PLAY?

All of our practices take place at Cabrillo Park.

Games are every Saturday for 10 weeks for 6U-14U.

Upper division games (16U-19U) are played in Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana and Ontario.

Little Scotties and Scottie Pups are played once a week during the weeknight. Days is still to be determined.

12U and 14U will sometimes play in another local city depending on how many teams we get in our own region. If we need more teams to play against we will reach out to another region to play them as well so our teams do not play each other more than two times if needed.

REGISTRATION AND FEES

We start registering players for the Fall Season in spring. Registration is done on-line and can be done at any time until July 30th. Starting August 1st, all players that register will be placed on a wait list. Players will be contacted via the account email when removed from the wait list.

Our fees include a uniform - jersey, shorts and socks - you must buy shinguards, shoes (sneakers OK but everyone wants to play in cleats) and a ball. The fee also includes team and individual photos and button.

To receive a full refund minus the national fee and service fees you must drop your child 30 days before the first game of the season.