AYSO Article ~ Los Angeles Times

Somewhat unrelated, but my kid played in a youth rec basketball league at the Y one year. At the beginning of every game the refs would explain to the parents that there was no negativity allowed.

One of the rules of this league was that you could not pressure the opponent in the backcourt. But the players were young, and one player on my kid's team could just not get this rule. Opposing player had ball, he was going to defend that player. So repeatedly he would pressure the opposition in the back court.

The refs were screaming at him as the game progressed. In their defense, they were just teenagers themselves and didn't know how to deal with this player whose intense desire to play resulted in repeated infractions.

 

Without taking a lot of time to gives examples, I agree with the implications of the article. The atmosphere described is VERY different from my everyday, run of the mill premier game. Speaking as a parent, and as a ref.

 

People hanging out behind goals is a particular subject for me. One American Football ref told me to make sure no one was on the Touchdown line or near it because simply put that is where I make my money, and I don't need any distractions. The calls made there are doubly important, whether the ball is in the net or creeps over the goal line before a dangerous cross. That's where I make my money, those decisions right there, so I better be the only one there doing it.

 

Others have already commented on the "positive" coaching and spectator expectations (which might be present in club soccer, or not... or might be present in other organized youth sports, or not...) so I'll instead mention "access" to the sport.

ANYBODY who signs up will play. No tryouts, No evaluations, No 'picking'. National rules requires that everybody on the team plays at least half the game - most regions extend this requirement to 3/4 of the game.

There's a place for competetive leagues, of course, but giving EVERY kid who wants to play access to a sport is the point.

A somewhat similar situation - my son goes to a small private school... he's in his last year of 'middle' school (jr. high). They barely get enough people to sign up to field full sports teams. Basically, anybody who signs up will get to play. He's been able to participate in Soccer, Football, Volleyball, Basketball and Swimming over the past 3 years. In a more competitive environment, he may not have made any of those teams. But he has a sense of pride and accomplishment that he participated in his school's program.

Anyway, this past weekend I ref'd 5 games in the 'end of the regular season' tournament. Happened to be the younger age group... the bigger kids go next week. There was a kid on a team that made it to the semi-finals (a game I ref'd)... I noticed that he wasn't getting involved in much of the action. When he was on the field he was trying his best - but was sooooo slow, by the time he decided to go in any particular direction, the ball (and the rest of the kids were going in some other direction). He only got a couple of touches on the ball - mainly because the ball accidently rebounded to him as opposed to anything else.

I'm sure his coach would have rather had a more skilled player on the field. I'm sure his coach would have preferred to limit this one kid's playing time in order to give the team the best chance of succeeding in the tournament. But AYSO philosophy says the kid should get a chance to be on the field regardless of skill level, and there he was. Some kids get frustrated if they're not competitive... but not this kid. He truely was happy and thrilled to be out there.

As a former AYSO coach, I'm like:

As a parent (of a less than coordinated kid), I'm like:


P.S. The team mentioned above Won the semi-final game 3-2... but fell in the finals 1-0.

Maybe they would have had a chance for first place if they had been able to bench the kid, but...

 

No cheering should be allowed. People should not even be allowed to watch games. Performing in front of one's parents and complete strangers puts way too much presssure on children. Teams should have to play other teams they don't even know. Teams should be large enough that all games can be played with the club. For variety, team formations can be changed from game to game. Players should not have to play against other players they don't even know, players who might not always play nice, or who might say mean things. They should also not have to play in environments they aren't familiar with. Or in bad weather. There is a lot still that needs to be changed.

 

Agreed - it seems this was sort of a 'man on the street' response, and this is simply his (limited) assessment of things.

 

I take it you don't like rules limiting parental "involvement" in the game?

I for one would be thrilled if parents weren't allowed to watch the games...they try to direct the play without having any idea what is going on in front of them...they actively work against the team concept...they harass officials, opposing players (kids!), even teammates of their kids.

In short they turn what is supposed to be an activity for kids into a venue to express frustration over the limitations of their lives.

Way too often I leave a field think "WTF is wrong with these people..." and not considering the players or (sometimes) coaches, just the parent 'fans.'

I have high school girls playing whose knowledge of the game is geometrically advanced beyond what their parents know, and the parents are still trying to tell them what to do on the field.

I go to college games and parents of NCAA Division 1 players are whining to AR's and Refs like at 4th grade rec games. It's pathetic.

And I doubt you'll find a lot of folks here buying your sarcasm on this one.

 

This winter, I'm "just a parent" for the first time with my kids' sports. The last four years I've been their soccer coach, and I'm pretty laid back on the sideline with my players...giving praise, no negativity, the occasional instruction here and there, but mostly just watch them play and take notes for the next practice.

Now that I'm on the other side of the field (or court, as it were), I really see up close and hear the crap that's being spewed. I just sit back and watch, clap and cheer for a good play, etc. Sometimes I wonder if these parents are really watching, or they just go into autopilot like they're sitting in front of the 52" flat screen, yelling at a college basketball game.

If they would just shut up and watch, they'd see those kids doing some amazing things out there for their age and abilities.

 

You should avoid jumping to conclusions about a program you have no understanding of. AYSO has it's place in soccer. It is a perfect vehicle for recreational soccer. Nothing wrong for positive coaching, no yelling by parents, and every kid plays. May I remind you that Michael Jordan did not start until his Junior year of high school. He was on the JV as a Sophomore. AYSO is an alternative to the hyper-competitive leagues of USYSA. Each has their place and quite honestly, we could all do without the rude and borish behavior from parents, coaches and players that passes for common place and tolerable behavior in many of these leagues.

 

AYSO is a tremendous program. I wish we could see our more competitive programs incorporate the level of care for the kids that AYSO does.

And one important aspect for the referees reading this to consider - AYSO has been the starting point for more than one USSF referee. In my limited experience, AYSO does a far better job of cultivating and mentoring referees than anything I saw in club or high school.

I think the most important lesson AYSO teaches is that it is THEIR game - not the coaches, spectators, parents, or referees - but the KID'S.

 

Well said, David58.

I'm do both club and AYSO. AYSO takes a lot of unjustly earned snide commentary from many a snooty USSF referee until they find out at least 38% of our local Assoc. either still works with or comes from local AYSO regions. I'm sure there are plenty of country-bumpkin AYSO regions with schlumpy refs. Not in most of Socal... at least not in Area E. The referee organizational structures, assessment, upgrades and training are focused on constantly improving and highly intentional towards creating USSF-capable quality officials.

I personally like AYSO (and work for region in a board/staff level position) because: a) I have kids who play AYSO even though they can play for club (they've both been asked by club coaches many times in the last two seasons, but we just can't afford it) and b) as a Referee I want to see the level of professionalism in AYSO officials and x-certifications with USSF increase. My USSF local Assoc. benefits from AYSO's commitment to quality officials because a lot of the more motivated and skilled AYSO officials end up doing club games too (either b/c of their kids switching up to club or just because they love the game).

It's funny that the article mentions the "local rules" (without calling them that) about "mercy" or "slaughter" practices that AYSO National says are no-no's. Our region discourages such things (although we do keep coaches in their technical areas and spectators "coaching" from the goal lines get sent back with the other spectators (coaches job, really). Kids need to learn to deal with being down goals and focus on their skills and the game. Our region has 2800-3200 kids every season. I like that Referees do our best to try to keep coaches and parents focused on letting the kids play and figure things out on their own. Creativity in a player only comes from little to no interference from parents (& coaches).

Touchline control has similar griefs levels between club and AYSO play but they have different qualities. I've send a few coaches and parents off in AYSO matches for no less than I would for a club match. At the Allstar level AYSO sides have just as many obnoxious spectators as club sides. The funny thing for me is, when it comes to coaches, I actually have an easier time dealing with a club coach than an AYSO coach. I get ripped immediately for anything a club coach sees as less-than from me. But a quick explanation or the next call that is dead-on is all he needs and it's usually over. AYSO, most coaches are "trained" but many more have zero knowledge of the LOTG and they can be a total pain in the butt to deal with. The club coaches are tactical, a certain amount of banter to see if the officials can be tactically manipulated and when it's clear we can't be, they bag it (mostly). AYSO coaches, not so much. Some tend continue to escalate no matter how you deal with it because they simply don't know what they're talking about half the time. The advantage of AYSO is they have field monitors who help escort the sent off coach or parent away. In club we're largely on our own.

I thought the article was fine except for the local rules stuff that's supposed to have been killed off in AYSO by now. Our region aligned with National on most of those things. I do club for good football and my love of the game (okay and I admit, as piss poor as it is, for the money too). I expect their players to know the game and what they're doing, mostly. I do AYSO for the kids, the game, and to inspire referees to kick it up a notch. "No schlumpin' round here." I expect to have to talk to AYSO kids there differently than club players. It all works out.

Alberto is wise when he says, AYSO has it's place. I like both levels of play. Oh and when you're recovering from surgery, AYSO games give you a "therapeutic" forum to get your body back so your club game stays high.