How Much Does It Cost?
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Go to our Registration Page to get specific information on fees and how to register. Most expenses are covered by the registration fee, but each family on a team is expected to provide game drinks/snacks for one or more games each season. The Team Manager will also collect money at the end of the season for team participation trophies and for volunteer appreciation gifts.

When Do We Play?
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Fall and Spring Seasons: We play both Fall and Spring seasons each year – and the registration fee covers both the Fall and Spring. We play in Fall from about the time school starts until late October. Our older teams may also qualify to participate in post season tournaments that are held the first 3 weekends of November. Then we play again in Spring starting in mid February and ending about the 3rd week of April. Fall teams are maintained in Spring and we take new registrations to fill any vacancies that a team might have in Spring. If enough new players register, we may form an additional team in a division. Our U16 & U19 divisions have a late Spring limited season called a SoccerRama.

Special Programs: Our Select Programs consist of special teams that are formed to play in summer tournaments in June, including the AYSO Section Games, the Alabama Sports Festival, and the Clash of Champions. These teams require an additional registration fee and may involve out-of-town travel. This program begins in April and concludes the middle of July.

Fall Tournaments: At the conclusion of the Fall Season, we play a regional tournament for the U10s and above and have a Soccer Spree for the U5/U6 and U8 divisions. To participate in these events, each team must have at least one referee volunteer. Winners in the Regional tournament have the option to play in the Area Tournaments and, if they qualify in the Area Tournament, may also play in the State Tournament. These tournaments are held in the first 3 weekends of November.

When and Where Do We Practice?
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WHEN: Practices are held Monday through Thursday usually between 5 and 6 pm (coach sets the practice time with the team). Most teams practice 2 days a week – either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Our Under 6 teams usually practice only one day of the week. Practice last about 1 hour for U10s and below and may be longer for the other divisions. Teams may have optional practices during the fall and spring breaks.

WHERE: Region 160 practices at John Hunt Park on Airport Road just west of South Memorial Parkway or at Merrimack Park on Triana Blvd between Drake and Bob Wallace Avenues. Click here for maps to parks.

When and Where Do We Play Games?
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WHEN: Most games are played on Friday afternoons or Saturdays. U6 and U8 play games on Friday afternoons with some games on Saturday mornings. Most games for U10 and above are on Saturdays. Some games for all divisions may be during a regular practice time. Older Divisions may have games that are scheduled in the evenings. We do not schedule games during the Huntsville City School’s fall or spring break (on either weekend) or on Labor Day weekend.

WHERE: U6 and U8 divisions will play all their games at John Hunt or Merrimack Parks. U10 - U14 play most of their games at John Hunt or Merrimack Parks with some games at parks throughout North Alabama. The U16 and U19 divisions play at parks located through out North Alabama with as many as half of their games at John Hunt or Merrimack Parks. We occasionally also play games in other neighboring counties in the upper divisions. Click here for maps to parks.

What Types of Teams?
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AYSO teams are recreational. We balance the teams in each division to be similar in skills and ages of children. Our U10 and above divisions are competitive, in that during the fall season, the team records are used to determine standing for the Regional tournament and teams in these divisions may also qualify for post season tournaments. Teams may also qualify for the Area Tournament and State Tournaments held in the first 3 weekends of November.

Our U5/U6 and U8 teams are non-competitive divisions. This means that we do not keep records of the scores or rank the teams and these teams do not advance to a post season tournament. We do have a special mini-tournament – called a Soccer Spree - for them at the end of the fall season where the teams can earn points based on scores, sportsmanship, team readiness, etc and every player gets a ribbon proclaiming them as AYSO Soccer Stars!

GIRLS! GIRLS! GIRLS! AYSO offers Girls and Coed teams in most all divisions. So take your choice. Unless a Coed team is specifically requested, when girls register, they are placed on Girls teams. In general our Coed teams are predominantly boys.

We also form several special teams to play in the Alabama Sports Festival, the AYSO Section Games, and other tournaments held within traveling distance that are held in June and early July. These teams are open to all those who are interested, and who played in AYSO in the Fall or Spring seasons, but players may be selected on the basis of skill and team contribution if we have more players interested than we have openings. An additional player fee is required to cover team expenses and long distance travel may be required. Click here for Select Programs.

What Equipment Is Needed?
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Our registration fees cover the cost of the uniform (shirt, shorts, socks), insurance, national organization fees, team equipment, field usage fees, and other league expenses. Players must provide a ball, shin guards, and appropriate shoes to play or practice. Soccer cleats or other soft sole athletic shoes are permitted. Baseball or football cleats may NOT be used. Players will not be allowed to wear any jewelry during practices or games (this includes pierced earrings or other body piercing jewelry). The league has soccer equipment (balls, shin guards, water bottles, etc) for sale. Click here for more information. The table below indicates the size ball that is needed.

What About Parent Involvement?
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AYSO is an all-volunteer organization. Each team must have a coach, assistant coach, 2 referees, a team manager, and a league volunteer to participate. Our fees are low only because of our volunteers and the work they do. One person from each family should be prepared to volunteer for one of our many jobs in order for AYSO to continue to provide an outstanding program. We have jobs that can be done at home or at the fields and many require only a few hours. Click here for a description of the jobs available. Teams may participate in tournaments or soccer sprees (for our U6 and U8 teams), only if they have referee volunteers from their team who have officiated regular season games. When you register your children, please indicate where you would be willing to help on the Volunteer preference form provided on the registration page. Training is provided and all training is free to volunteers. Volunteers (coaches, referees, team managers, board members) are required to complete a Volunteer Registration Form also available on-line at www.eayso.org or can be downloaded from www.ayso160.org. See the registration page for more information.

What is AYSO?
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AYSO is the American Youth Soccer Organization and AYSO is SOCCER! From the fundamentals of dribbling, trapping, shooting, and passing to our strict adherence to FIFA rules, AYSO kids learn one game - SOCCER. Our Under 6 Division teams learn the correct way to do throw-ins, the concepts of attack and defense, and they never look back. Everything an AYSO player learns is applicable to future years of play. This way the children only learn the game once and spend time honing skills rather than learning new variations of the rules.

AYSO PHILOSOPHY

EVERYONE PLAYS: A child who has been assigned to a team and is not under disciplinary suspension or injured is mandated the right to play a minimum of ½ of the game by the National Organization. Region 160 encourages Coaches to play all players 3 quarters before having any player play 4 quarters.

BALANCED TEAMS: At the start of each season we set up teams as evenly balanced as possible, because it is more fun where teams of equal ability play. Our goal is to see that all teams are created equal. This is accomplished using player evaluations made by the coaches from the previous year and we may have evaluation practices at the beginning of the season to gather data to do the team balancing. The process is not perfect, but we try our best.

POSITIVE COACHING: What makes winning kids is being built up, not put down. We train and encourage our coaches to make the effort to understand and offer positive help to our players, rather than negative criticism. We strive to put forth good role models for our children in every AYSO volunteer. And we stress to our parents that their comments and cheers should also be positive and encouraging.

OPEN REGISTRATION: Our Programs are open to all children 4 to 18 who want to play soccer. Participation has no preconditions, other than reasonable health, provided we have sufficient volunteers to staff a team.

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP: We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect, rather than a win at all costs attitude. All programs are designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.

ASYO works because our volunteers work. The volunteers work because they believe in the ASYO philosophies. AYSO volunteers are not paid. Yet, it is their commitment which keeps AYSO alive and thriving. Because we want to provide soccer in a healthy, family environment, we want all our families to volunteer and we offer many ways for people to contribute their time to the organization.

COACH and REFEREE TRAINING: We provide extensive training for all who are interested in coaching or refereeing. No experience necessary. The clinics are provided free of charge throughout the year. Coaches are provided with team equipment and Referees get uniforms.

The ASYO Difference: Summing it all up - KIDS come first - IT’S for the KIDS! Our goal is to encourage our children in:

• Teamwork and good sportsmanship
• Commitment and confidence
• Goal-setting and achievement
• Friendship and fitness

ASYO brings families together for fun and recreation. Join the ASYO family, and experience the ASYO difference.

Insurance?
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If your child or you as a registered volunteer are injured while participating in AYSO practices, games, or other team or league events, you players are covered by the AYSO Soccer Accident Insurance. This insurance applies to expenses unpaid by your own insurance with a $200 deductible (Full Excess Coverage). Part A must be completed by the Regional Commissioner or the Safety Director. Part B is completed by the responsible party. To read more on the insurance and get the appropriate forms, click here.

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2007/2008 Board Members:

OPEN - Indicates position needs to be filled.

If you're interested in serving on the board, please contact the Regional Commissioner: Debbie Farmer, 508-8063

Calendar
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