No current field closures or schedule changes.Introduction
Region 13 offers a variety of programs to meet the needs of the large number of players in the region. These programs are described more fully below. In addition, some of the programs are administered by Area 1-C. Please see the Area Programs page for more information.
Regular Season
Youth Development Program (YDP)
VIP Program
Player/Referee Organization (PRO)
Thanksgiving Tournament Teams
Play-Through
All-Stars
Graduation Series
Tournaments
Soccer Camps
Regular Season
Region 13 is one of the largest regions in the entire AYSO organization. We currently serve in excess of 3400 players annually. We have over 250 teams and schedule more than 1500 games each regular season. This requires the dedicated and coordinated efforts of hundreds of volunteers including coaches, referees, parents and administrative staff.
Registration for the fall season is held in May. Coaching and referee clinics, team selection and game-scheduling take place in July and August. Our regular season games start after Labor Day and run through mid-December; including a weekend or two of play-offs. Please refer to the table of playing dates and locations, maps and schedules.
We are fortunate that almost all of our games for the players in Divisions U-14 through U-6 are played on Saturdays. The only exception to this would be in the event a game needed to be made up for weather reasons or to resolve a tie in the standings. Such games are usually played on Sundays toward the end of the season.
The four upper divisions (Girls U-19 and U-16 and Boys U-19 and U-16), will play games against teams from other Regions in Area C, on weekday evenings as well as on weekends. Due to the timing of the high school season, the AYSO season for these divisions runs from early September through mid-October, two games a week, with play-offs until mid-November.
By September 1, all coaches should have contacted their individual players. If you have not heard from anyone by then, you may contact the appropriate Division Coach. Do not call before September 1, many coaches are on vacation until then.
Youth Development Program (YDP)
The AYSO Youth Development Program is an AYSO National program that has grown out of AYSO's experience with the "AYSO Plus" and "Progressive Development Program (PDP)". YDP has features that Region 13 believes overcome many of the perceived shortcomings of those previous programs. Region 13 participates in YDP in the U10, U12 and U14 divisions.
The program requires a commitment from the players and their families beyond that required for regular season teams. The "extra" commitment is required becasue YDP teams practice 2 times per week. In addition, teams will receive instruction from paid trainers on nearly a weekly basis and a certain amount of local travel will be required. Enrollment in YDP is open to any player who will make the extra commitment regardless of skill level. There are no skill tryouts required. Teams are fomed shortly after registration closes.
The YDP teams from all of the regions in Area 1C that are participating in this pilot program will be scheduled to play among themselves. Individuals who are selected for both their coaching ability and their commitment to the AYSO philosophy will coach the YDP teams. The YDP matches will be held during regular season play on regular season fields and the YDP season runs concurrently with our regular fall season. YDP teams will travel to other Area 1C regions for their "away" games. Similarly, YDP teams from other participating regions will come to Region 13 to play some of their "away games. YDP players will be permitted to try out for All-Star teams at the conclusion of the regular season.
While YDP offers advanced training and inter-regional play, all participants must uphold the AYSO National rules and philosophies, such as guaranteed 2 quarters of play in every game, good sportsmanship and positive coaching.
VIP Program
We are again running a VIP (Very Important Player) division in our program. The AYSO VIP program was started in 1990 by Region 84 in Mission Viejo to serve the Orange County community. VIP was established to meet the needs and abilities of physically and mentally challenged children from age five to eighteen. The program is an adaptive one. Field size is small, the games are short sided (e.g. five versus five), the goals are large and there are no penalties. Currently there are over 1,000 special needs children playing in AYSO VIP nationwide. Region 13 is honored to be among the regions offering this program. Our registration is open and will remain open throughout the season. As in our other divisions, the VIP program is based on the five guiding principles of AYSO: Everyone Plays, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Balanced Teams, and Good Sportsmanship.
Player/Referee Organization (PRO)
We continue our efforts to improve our program and the quality of our games by supporting our Player/Referee Organization (PRO). Our goals are to find more referees, while at the same time, encouraging and promoting leadership among our young players. As articulated by Ron Cooke, president of the California South Youth Soccer Association, "Officiating the game of soccer is a most challenging endeavor, and shows a great willingness on the part of youngsters to begin to accept true responsibility. A young referee has stepped beyond the pressures of being a player. He or she now has to deal with TWO coaches and TWENTY-TWO opponents." Players age 10 and up are encouraged to join.
The PRO program is also recognized nationally with a web site devoted to developing young referees. Click here to see it.
In our efforts to improve PRO, we have identified two areas which continue to need attention: training and negative behavior. Training is a simple thing to rectify and we have set up clinics to this effect as well as a mentor program, where player/referees get support and encouragement from more seasoned referees. Negative behavior, on the other hand, is of major concern not only for its impact on the success of this particular program, but for its impact to all we teach. To counter this and retain our volunteers, we will continue this year a Sportsmanship Program called Total Team Performance, as well as continuing to support the kids zone initiative. As always, Region 13 will enforce the Zero Tolerance Policy.
Thanksgiving Tournament Teams
Slots at Region 13's Myles Standish Thanksgiving Tournament, held at the Rose Bowl on Thanksgiving weekend, are reserved for Region 13's Section, Area and one Regional All-Star coaches in each division. If more than one Regional Thanksgiving Tournament team is formed in any division, those teams are encouraged to enter the Thanksgiving Tournament held by South Pasadena, or travel to another tournament over Thanksgiving. These teams mirror the eventual All-Star teams, in that one team in each division will be comprised of the most skilled players meeting the selection critera (Section Team). A second team will consist of the next most skilled players meeting the selection criteria (Area Team). Finally, one or more teams will be formed out of the remaining players who meet the selection criteria (Regional Team(s)). Of course, only those players who indicate that they will be available for the various tournaments over the Thanksgiving weekend will be eligible for these teams. Non-All-Star coaches are free to apply for admission to any tournament.
Selection to a Region 13 Thanksgiving Tournament team does not guarantee that a player will ultimately be chosen for an All-Star team. Likewise, a player who is not chosen for, or one who chooses not to participate in a Region 13 Thanksgiving Tournament team is not automatically disqualified from ultimately becoming a member of an All-Star team.
If a player is not selected for a Thanksgiving Tournament or All-Star team, it does not necessarily mean the player does not have the skills needed. Regrettably, the coaches have only a limited amount of time to evaluate many talented players and from time to time overlook deserving players. The coaches do their best and hope that in the event a player is not selected, he or she will nonetheless keep working hard and continue to participate enthusiastically in the other programs offered by Region 13.
Playing in Thanksgiving tournaments may require the payment of approximately $20 - $35 entrance fee per player, a uniform deposit of $50 each and a referee deposit of up to $35 per player. These fees must be paid to the team coach at the first practice. A separate check should be made for the uniform deposit so that it can be given back upon return of the uniform immediately after the last Thanksgiving Tournament match. Checks should be made out to AYSO Region 13. The referee deposits will be returned if the team fulfills its referee responsibilities. In addition, travel and housing expenses may be involved if teams choose to enter tournaments that are more distant.
Play-Through
Each year in Division U-10, U-12 and U-14 regular season champions and runners-up are determined by pool play and a season ending playoff. 2 teams from each division are selected to continue playing in the Play-Through season. This extended season begins in January and is in the nature of a single elimination tournament. Teams have the opportunity to play the champions from the other regions in Area C. The Play-Through champion in each division continues play in the Sectional Play-Through Tournament and has the opportunity to play other league champions from around Southern California..
Please see this FAQ for details as to how Play-Through teams are selected.
All-Stars
The All-Star Program is an AYSO Area 1C program. Area 1C is comprised of all Regions in the west San Gabriel Valley. All-Star teams will be scheduled to play other All-Star teams from the Regions within Area 1C. Teams may have to travel as far as South El Monte to participate. Games are often, if not always, held on Sundays, starting at about 11:00 a.m. All-Star matches begin after the first of the year and run through Section Tournaments held in March. The All-Star program is available to players in Divisions U-10, U-12, and U-14. Tryouts are held in November and early December.
All-Star participation entails a commitment to play at a higher level against better competition from throughout Area 1C and possibly Southern California if teams progress to the Section Tournament. The commitment extends to both players and families. It is an honor to be selected to represent Region 13. However, with this honor and recognition comes responsibility. For instance, practices and games are not optional; they are mandatory. There will likely be two practices per week during All-Star season plus the game, and travel will be required. In addition, during the regular season after selection, players must be wiling to attend practices of their Thanksgiving Tournament and/or All-Star team in addition to their regular season team. This commitment sometimes interferes with other activities or sports. Please be aware of this potential conflict when deciding what is best for the player. In addition, All-Star players are urged to attend the Holiday Camp sponsored by Region 13, usually held just before or after Christmas.
Three different levels of teams will be selected in the following order: Sectional (most selective), Area and Regional (least selective). Every attempt will be made to balance Regional Star teams.
Player selection will be made within each division, by participating coaches electing the first eleven players and the coach of the team selecting his or her final four players. These selections will be based on observation of the players during regular season games, at the Sunday skills clinics, and at the formal All-Star tryouts. Combined tryouts for All-Star and Thanksgiving Tournament teams will be announced and any player may try out. The final selection for All-Stars will be held the Sunday after Thanksgiving weekend. Players must attend at least one tryout to qualify for an All-Star team.
The financial resources of Region 13 are directed almost entirely toward the regular season, which involves all registered players. We provide only limited financial support for the selective All-Star teams. They are designed to be self-supporting. Families hoping to participate should plan for additional expenses for registration fees, uniforms, spirit clothing and travel. In addition, the cost for attending the Holiday Camp may be over $100.
Many All-Star teams continue to play after the end of the official All-Star season. On almost any weekend around Southern California from March through July there is a soccer tournament being played. Region 13 is well represented in many of these tournaments. Players participating in the All-Star and tournament seasons often will play 30 - 40 extra games beyond the regular fall season.
Graduation Series
Skilled older players in Division U8 will have the opportunity to participate in a "second season" all their own. The Graduation Series is an AYSO Area 1C program designed to be a transition between U8 and U10 Divisions. Graduation Series teams play on a U10-sized field with goalkeepers. For the first time, the "off side" law will be applied by the referees.
Players are nominated through their coaches to tryout for these selective teams. Parents are encouraged to speak to their child's coach regarding having their child nominated for the Graduation Series team tryouts. Nomination is based on the player's skills, ranking, commitment and parent participation. Teams will be formulated based on tryouts and formed based on the coaches' nominations near the end of November. Practices will be held during the two weeks after regular season play has ended. Tryout scrimmages will be held at the beginning of December. Final teams will be selected in mid-December. Area play will take place starting in January continuing possibly through early March. These games may require families to travel to fields as far away as El Monte and will probably be played on Sundays.
The "Grad Series" is not a part of the regular season program and is designed to be self-supporting. An additional registration fee is required and there may be other associated costs. All children who play in the Graduation Series will be required to play in the U10 Division the following season and will not be permitted to return to the U8 Division.
All U8 coaches are eligible to volunteer to be nominated as Graduation Series coaches. A special evaluation committee will make the final coach selections. All coach candidates will be evaluated on a number of characteristics including certification, experience and volunteerism. U8 referees are also encouraged to make the transition to U10-type play by volunteering to referee Grad Series matches.
Tournaments
Region 13 hosts 2 tournaments each year. The first is the Myles Standish Tournament played over Thanksgiving weekend each year. This tournament is open to teams in Divisions U-10, U-12, U-14, U-16 and U-19. Over 120 teams enter to play each year. Games are played primarily on Area H outside the Rose Bowl with some games being played at Muir High School. In past years some of the championship games have been played inside the Rose Bowl.
The second tournament hosted by Region 13 each year is the Spring Break Classic which occurs in late March or early April around Spring Break time. This tournament is open to teams in Divisions U-10, U-12 and U-14, U-16 and U-19. It is a well attended tournament occasionally drawing teams from outside of California. Often, some of the championship games are played inside the Rose Bowl.
Soccer Camps
Region 13 is always looking for ways to help our players improve their soccer skills while having a good time. Therefore, we offer several soccer camps each year for different age groups. Camps are run by outside organizations with skilled coaches.
In the summer there are 2 or 3 camps offered each year. These are usually a week in duration and are held at either Area H outside the Rose Bowl or across the street at Brookside Park. Both full day and half day camps are available.
A Holiday camp is also scheduled each year the week before Christmas. This camp is for division U-8, U-10, U-12 and U-14 and is geared for those players continuing to play beyond the regular fall season. The camp usually lasts 4 days. This is a half day camp.