AYSO Region 19

Culver City, Mar Vista and Palms and surrounding areas

AMERICAN YOUTH SOCCER ORGANIZATION
REGION 19
CULVER CITY - MAR VISTA - PALMS

HANDBOOK

AYSO is a national organization established in 1964. Region 19 was one of the first regions organized and has a long tradition of following the 5 basic principles of AYSO:

EVERYONE PLAYS!

Every child has the opportunity to play at least one half of every game.

BALANCED TEAMS!

No team is loaded with all the good players; strong players and beginners are equally divided. (Because of this we cannot accommodate specific requests for team assignments.)

POSITIVE COACHING!

Coaches are trained to stress the positive aspects of the game. Children are praised for their efforts as well as their results.

OPEN REGISTRATION!

Our programs are open to all children who want to play soccer.

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP!

We try to create a positive environment based on mutual respect, rather than a win at all costs attitude. (Parents must help by setting a good example.)

CODE OF CONDUCT

By registering a player in Region 19 you are agreeing to abide by the following:

1. Encourage all players with positive comments.
2. Coaching by Coaches and Assistant Coaches only.
3. Support the referees.
4. No inflammatory or foul language allowed.
5. Leave the area if asked to do so by a referee.
6. Treat all volunteers with respect.
7. No smoking or alcoholic beverages on or around the playing fields.
8. Help pick up litter on and around the playing fields.
9. No dogs allowed on or around the playing fields.
10. Read and abide by the Rules of the Region.
11. Volunteer!
AYSO REGION 19
PO BOX 32
CULVER CITY, CA 90232
310-559-4559
GENERAL INFORMATION

Our regular season starts in September and concludes in mid-December (U-19 and U-16 play between August and October). U-19 through U-10 have playoff games to determine Division Champions. The Division Champions represent the region in inter-regional Area play. Area Champions advance to Sectional play, and Sectional Champions advance to Tri-Sectionals.

Region 19 has 7 age groups playing in 14 divisions. The boys and girls play in separate divisions. The division your child plays in is based on age as of July 31st.

U-6: 4 1/2 - 5 Years Old
U-8: 6 - 7
U-10: 8 - 9
U-12: 10 - 11
U-14: 12 - 13
U-16: 14 - 15
U-19: 16 - 18

You will be contacted by your child’s coach sometime in mid-August. Games are played on Saturdays (U-19 and U-16 play Saturdays and Sundays). Teams practice once or twice a week depending on the age group, with the day and time of the practice up to the team’s coach. We cannot accommodate specific requests for team assignment. If you change your phone number, you must call us with your new number or we will not be able to contact you.

Region 19 sponsors an All-Star program to reward players of advanced ability in U-10 through U-14. Team selection is made December 1 and play takes place in January through March. Some players participate on Tournament Teams which are organized throughout the year and play throughout the year. Information on Tournament Teams is available through our Tournament Director.

To obtain a refund, a written request must be made to the Registrar prior to Sept. 30.

The player’s name and birth date, and a self-addressed stamped envelope must be included. Refunds are sent out in batches beginning in November.

A full refund will be provided if Region 19 cannot place your child on a team. In the case of a withdrawal prior to the start of practice or play, a full refund will be given less the cost of the uniform unless returned unused. In the case of a withdrawal after the start of practice or play, the refund amount less all costs to the region will be set by the Registrar.

AYSO Region 19 is an all-volunteer organization. We expect the parents of each player to volunteer to help in some way. The following describes some of our volunteer positions:

REFEREE

The referee is always in the middle of the action. We ask that referees sign up to officiate one game a week. However, you can referee more often if you like and less often if necessary. We send you to an AYSO referee-training clinic to make sure you are adequately trained. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked. There is also a junior referee program available for children 12 and over. We are always in need of more referees. We can’t play without them.

COACH

Along with being a referee, being a coach is the most fun and rewarding. It allows the parent to share in the excitement with the children. The coach is responsible for training the team, typically once a week, and supervising the team during games. Prior experience is not required. AYSO has coaching clinics for all experience levels.

ASSISTANT COACH

The assistant coach helps the coach run the practices and manage the team at games. When the coach cannot be present, the assistant coach acts in the coach’s place. No experience is required. We will provide coaching clinics for you.

TEAM PARENT

The team parent organizes and manages the parents. They schedule the parents for field set-up and take down and for bringing water and oranges to the game for half-time. They organize an occasional after-game activity like a pizza party or potluck and purchase the team trophies. No experience is necessary, just enthusiasm.

REGISTRATION

Prepare and distribute registration materials at registration days.

PICTURE DAY

One day in October when all teams have their photographs taken by a professional photographer. Help assemble the teams for their pictures and keep things moving in an orderly fashion.

OTHER

You will be asked to help with some activity such as fundraising, field or equipment maintenance or field or parking monitoring.

RULES OF THE REGION (ABRIDGED)

These rules supplement the National, Section-One, and Area-P AYSO Rules and Regulations.

PARENT PARTICIPATION

1. Parents must help with the set-up and breakdown of the fields.
2. Parents and players must pick up litter on and around the playing fields.
3. Parents must deliver and pick up the players on time.
4. Parents must call the coach if the player can not attend a practice or game.
5. Parents are expected to volunteer. Call 310-559-4559

SAFETY

6. All injuries must be reported immediately to the Region 19 Safety Director. Insurance requirements set strict time limits on the reporting period.
7. The referee may stop play to ensure the welfare of an injured player, even if the ball has not gone out of play.
8. The referee may stop play at any time because of unsafe playing conditions.
9. No one may enter the field unless instructed to do so by the referee.
10. Shin guards must be worn and be under socks at all practices and games.
11. Suitable shoes must be worn at all practices and games. No toe cleats or baseball cleats allowed.
12. No jewelry of any kind can be worn at practices or games including pierced-ear rings.
13. No cast or splints of any kind can be worn at practices or games. Players with knee braces can play only at the discretion of the referee.
14. Coaches must have possession of a player registration form for each player assigned to the team at all games, practices and team gatherings.
15. Goals must be properly anchored.

TEAMS

16. Every effort must be made to create balanced teams.
17. A request for a specific placement of a player cannot be granted.
18. After teams have been balanced, coaches will be attached by blind draw.
19. The retention of a player on a particular team is limited to the head coach's child.
20. All players in 9th grade will play in U-16.
21. Team rosters must be approved by the Regional Commissioner before the players are contacted.

PLAYER PARTICIPATION

22. During all games of the regular season, including the Regional Tournament and inter-regional play, all players except those in U-19 and U-16 shall play a minimum of three quarters of each game. Exceptions to this rule are:

22.1. For U14, if 15 or more players are present for a team, the 3/4 rule is suspended for that team but only to the extent that the fewest number of players play 1/2 a game. No player can play four quarters if any player plays only half a game.
22.2. For short-sided games, when the number of players present on a team does not allow for all players to play 3/4 game, the 3/4 rule may be suspended for that team as in 22.1, or the number of players on the field may be increased to allow for the 3/4 rule to apply for both teams.
22.3. For players who are persistently late, absent or disruptive at practice, only with the approval of the Division Commissioner.
22.4. For a player who arrives at a game already in progress.

23. Under those circumstances when the three quarter rule is suspended, players shall play a minimum of one-half of every game unless otherwise specified by AYSO.

CONTROL

24. The referee is responsible for enforcing the Rules of the Game and is governed by the Rules and Regulations as defined by AYSO.
25. Referee calls cannot be protested.
26. Referees shall at all times put great emphasis on the welfare of the players, encouraging clean competition and good sportsmanship.
27. Coaches must limit their sideline participation to positive instruction and encouragement.
28. Commissioners must conduct themselves in a manner becoming a member of AYSO, at all times encouraging clean competition and good sportsmanship.
29. Commissioners must police the sidelines and enforce the Region 19 "Code of Conduct" regarding issues not in the purview of the referee.
30. Commissioners must enforce the Rules of the Region and AYSO at all times.
31. Spectators must stay on their side of the playing field at least one yard from the touch line and no closer to the goal line than the 18 yard line.
32. Spectators must stay out of the coaches box.
33. No one is allowed behind the goal line except for photographers with permission from the referee.

REGION TOURNAMENT

34. U-10, U-12 and U-14 will each participate in an individual tournament to determine which team will represent the region in the Area Tournament.
35. Games played before the Region Tournament have no bearing on the final standings.

MONDAY OPEN PRACTICE

36. The Division Commissioners of U-10, U-12 and U-14 will organize a Monday Open Practice in which all players are encouraged to participate to sharpen their soccer skills.
37. Monday Open Practice is considered a precursor to Tournament Team and All-Star Team Practices. However, participation by a player is not an assurance of Tournament Team or All-Star Team selection, nor is it a prerequisite.

ALL-STAR PROGRAM

38. The All-Star Team Coach will be selected by a committee consisting of the Div. Commissioner, Assist. Div. Commossioner, the Coach Administrator, the Assistant RC and the RC or his/her Designee who will consider the following:

39. The All-Star Team Coach may not be selected until October.
40. The All-Star Team Coach selects the players at his/her own discretion subject to the review of the Division Commissioner and approval of the Regional Commissioner. To be eligible a player must participate in 3/4 of all regular season games.
41 The All-Star Team may not be selected until December.

TOURNAMENT TEAM PROGRAM (SEE PUBLISHED GUIDELINES)

42. A Tournament Team is any team put together for any reason other than the Regular Season, the post season Championship Tournament or the All Star Tournament.
43. The Tournament Team Program provides an opportunity for some players and coaches who want to play beyond the Regular Season.
44. The Tournament Team Program is a secondary program and Region funds are not used.
45. Tournament Team Coaches are self-selecting. However, they must be approved by the Division Commissioner and the Regional Commissioner and register with the Tournament Team Director.
46. The Coach must sign the "Coach Acknowledgment".
47. Individual teams are managed by the approved Coach.
48. The financial obligations incurred by the team are the responsibility of the Coach.
49. Tournament Teams may not interfere with the Regular Season or the post season Championship Tournament or All-Star Tournament.
50. All fundraising must be reported to the Tournament Team Director and an accounting must be made available upon request.
51. A complete set of Region 19 Standard Tournament Team/All-Star Uniforms must be purchased by each team.
52. Players from other Regions may play on Region 19 Tournament Teams if AYSO Registration is verified and if approved by the Region 19 Regional Commissioner.
53. The Tournament Team Program will be administered by the Tournament Program Director who reports directly to the Regional Commissioner.
54. All Tournament Team Tournament Rosters must be signed by the Regional Commissioner or his/her Designee.

SANCTIONS

55. A verbal warning from the referee to a player, coach or spectator is an official sanction.
56. A Caution (Yellow Card) from the referee to a player is a sign of misconduct, for example, a reckless foul, dissent, or unsporting behavior. Substitutes can also be cautioned. A second caution results in a Send Off, see below. While coaches and spectators cannot be formally cautioned, the referee can warn the coach or spectator of the possibility of being asked to leave the area immediately.
57. A Send Off (Red Card) from the referee to a player, results in immediate ejection without substitution from the present game, suspension for the next game and additional actions for violent conduct or fighting. ( See Disciplinary Action.) A Send Off to a coach or spectator is a demand that the person immediately leaves the area. Failure to leave may result in the suspension of the game.
58. A verbal warning or request for cooperation from a Commissioner to any person not on the playing field must be followed. Refusal to do so will result in a Formal Report.
59. The Formal Report of an incident by a Commissioner to the Board of Directors can result in a verbal warning, written warning, ejection from the following game, ejection for the rest of the season, ejection from Region 19, or any sanction which the Board deems appropriate.
60. Any person disrupting decisions of, arguing with or using inappropriate language with a Junior Referee will be asked to leave the area immediately.
61. The Suspension of the game by the referee is an available Sanction.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Violent or abusive conduct is not acceptable. The referee may Send Off any player, coach or spectator who endangers the safety of the players or who interferes with the progress of the game. A review hearing for any Send Off must be requested in writing from the Division Commissioner within 3 days.

SEND OFF (RED CARD) FOR:

VIOLENT CONDUCT
1. U-19 and U-16 OR ANY ADULT:
  1. First offense: suspension for the next 2 games.
  2. Second offense: review by the Re-entry Board and possible expulsion.
2. ALL OTHER DIVISIONS:
  1. First offense: suspension for the next game.
  2. Second offense: review by the Re-entry Board and possible expulsion.
FIGHTING
1. U-19 and U-16 OR ANY ADULT:
  1. First offense: suspension a minimum of 3 games and review by the Re-entry Board before player is readmitted.
  2. Second offense: review by the Re-entry Board and possible expulsion.
2. ALL OTHER DIVISIONS:
  1. First offense: suspension for the next 2 games and review by the Re-entry Board before player is re-admitted.
  2. Second offense: review by the Re-entry Board and possible expulsion.
OTHER
1. ALL DIVISIONS:
  1. First offense: suspension for the next game.
  2. Second offense: review by the Re-entry Board and possible expulsion.