• The home team for U10 through U16 are required to provide a center Referee for each home game. If they do not provide a Referee, it may be a forfeit of the game. If both teams decided they still want to play for fun as a scrimmage that is fine. The score may not count towards the season stats. *Home game location per your schedule. Please reference area11vscheduler.org

Team Formation:

-Mountain Empire AYSO teams are formed based on players birth year and gender.

-Players birth year is obtained from the registration form submitted upon registration and verified using a birth certificate.

-Players are assigned to teams automatically through our hosting website, Sports Connect.

-Coaches and (and assistant coaches) will not be assigned their teams until they have completed their background checks and live scan (if applicable). They will also not be given their teams uniforms until they have completed ALL required training for the current season. 

Team Balancing: 

-Teams are balanced at a special meeting deemed “team balancing meeting” by selected members from the board. Registrar, Coach Admin, CVPA and RC are part of the team building committee.

-Attendees may move players to other teams in the same division if the team

               - has an unequal number of boys vs girls when applicable

               - has an unfair advantage or disadvantage to other teams based on player ratings. Only applies to the teams in 10U-19U divisions. (see player ratings below)

-Player requests to play on the same team as friend or siblings will be assessed on a case by case basis, and will take into account the balancing of all teams before a decision can be made.

Player ratings: 

-Players may be rated based on their ability by a Coach or Board Member, or at a special assessment

-Players may be rated on a scale of novice to expert

-Player ratings help determine if a team is balanced to the other teams in that division

Other Team Formation Notes:

See Policy and Procedures 1.04d and 7.B.2

Playing “up”:

-Players may request to move to the next division older than their birth year by playing “up”

-Players must attend a special assessment with a Board Member to be considered for this movement

-Players are not allowed to play a division younger than their birth year, or play “down”

Wait List:

-After the publicized registration period closes, interested players may still sign up to play on a wait list.

-Players on a wait list are not guaranteed to be assigned to a team

-Wait list players will be added to teams in a first come- first served basis based on availability

Registration:

-Registration begins online on April 7th and will close on July 7th. 

-Payment Plans are available and will be paid in three installments with the final payment must be paid by August 1st.

Refund Policy: 

• Refunds requested prior to July 7th: Full refund paid minus non-refundable fee of $25/player

•  Refunds requested between July 8th - August 15th: Refund will be minus the uniform cost and non-refundable fee of $25/player

• NO refunds will be given after August 15th

Volunteers:

With our emphasis on child and volunteer protection, the primary components of the Safe Haven program include:  Registering and screening all volunteers.  Requiring training and certification.  Providing child and volunteer protection guidelines.  Promoting safety and injury prevention. 

Registering and screening those who wish to volunteer in AYSO is just the first step toward protecting our children, volunteers and Region resources. Requiring training and certification is the only way to provide volunteers with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect themselves from misunderstandings and false accusations while protecting our children from harm.  

Implementing child and volunteer protection guidelines and promoting safety and injury prevention are keys to creating a safe environment.  

These together will help to fulfill the vision of AYSO as a Safe Haven. AYSO educational opportunities afford volunteers maximum protection under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 for all volunteers who fulfill these requirements:  

• Complete and sign a volunteer application each and every year including uploading a photo of yourself 

• Are authorized to perform their job by the Region, Area, Section, National Board of Directors or other AYSO authority,  

• Act within the scope of their job description and AYSO’s policies, procedures and guidelines,  

• Complete child and volunteer protection training (AYSO’s Safe Haven, SafeSport and State required Concussion Awareness and Sudden Cardiac Arrest)

  • All training certificates must be emailed to [email protected] upon completion to verify training is complete and your team can receive their uniforms 

• Be properly trained for their position.

  • This includes additional course trainings for coaches and referees (on-line and in-person may be required to complete the training)

All Participants:

There are eight elements in the Safe Haven Intervention Cycle for child protection. These are proactive steps that provide for positive, healthy child development: 

• Foster meaningful relationships.  

• Make children and players full participants. 

• Promote ethical behavior.  

• Model and teach proper conflict resolution.  

• Encourage players to speak up.  

• Cultivate positive self‐images.  

• Instill excellence in individual achievement.    

• Keep things FUN!           

Kids Zone: 

AYSO’s Kids Zone program is one of the first programs of its kind to promote good sportsmanship and appropriate sideline behavior – key to promoting a safe, fair, fun, family‐friendly environment for experiencing the benefits of playing soccer. 

Parents and spectators pledge to respect the tenets of Kids Zone. Coaches, AYSO Safe Haven Kids Zone AYSO Reference Book 9:3 referees, parents and players agree to abide by a code of conduct. AYSO asks that all participants agree to help make every AYSO venue a Kids Zone where spectators agree to respect the following guidelines:  

• Kids are #1.  

• Fun, not winning is everything.  

• Fans only cheer, only coaches coach.  

• No yelling in anger.  

• Respect the volunteer referees.  

• No swearing.  

• No weapons.  

• Leave no trash behind.  

• Set a proper example of good sportsmanship.  

• No alcohol, tobacco products, smoking, controlled substances. 

Kids Zone Pledge: 

Coaches, referees, parents, and players all agree to abide by the following code of conduct as a condition to their participation in AYSO activities: 

• 1. I pledge to be on time or early when bringing my child to his/her practices and games. I understand that it may be uncomfortable for my child to be late to a game or practice and that he/she is subject to physical risk if not provided with adequate time to warm up. I understand that I am encouraged to stay during practices and games, but if I do not, I will be there when he/she is finished. Being punctual shows respect for the coach, who has other time commitments, and it tells my child that he/she is my top priority.   

• 2. I understand that the top three reasons kids play sports are to have fun, make new friends and learn new skills. I understand that the game is for the kids, and I will encourage my child to have fun and keep sport in its proper perspective. I understand that athletes do their best when they are emotionally healthy, so I will be positive and supportive.   

• 3. I will redefine what it is to be a “Winner” in my conversations with my child. Winners are people who make the maximum effort, continue to learn and improve, and do not let mistakes, or fear of making mistakes, discourage them. I understand that mistakes are an inevitable part of any game and that people learn from their mistakes. I understand that all children are born with different abilities and that the true measure of success is not how my child compares to others, but how he/she is doing in comparison to his/her best self.  

• 4. I will “Honor the Game.” I understand the importance of setting a good example of sportsmanship for my child. I will show respect for all involved in the game including coaches, players, opponents, opposing fans, and referees. I understand that officials, coaches, and players make mistakes. If the referee makes a call I do not agree with, I will refrain from questioning, insulting or making personal attacks against him or her.   

• 5. I understand that games can be exciting for my child as he/she deals with the fast‐paced action of the game, responds to opponents, referees, teammates, and listens to coaches. I will not yell out instructions. During the game, I will make only sportsmanlike comments that encourage my child and other players on both teams.   

• 6. I will not make negative comments about the game, coaches, referees or teammates in my child’s presence. This sets a bad example, which can negatively influence my child’s motivation and overall experience. I agree to act in a sportsmanlike manner and make every effort to foster a friendly and nonviolent atmosphere. I agree to honor the AYSO Parent Pledge in my words and actions. 

• 7. I will not use alcohol, tobacco products, e‐cigarettes or other vaping products, or controlled substances at any practices or games.  I will not bring firearms or other weapons to any practices or games. I am responsible for making my child, my spouse, other family members, and any persons I invite to an AYSO activity aware of this code of conduct and getting their agreement to abide by this code of conduct as a condition to their participation in any AYSO activity.