activities · 29
what they do
direct service · 25
- AYSO EXTRA Competitive Program Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsProvides a tryout-based, competitive soccer program (AYSO EXTRA) with balanced teams selected through fair evaluations, requiring that all players participate in at least 50% of each game and offering advancement opportunities through All Star teams, tournaments, National Open Cup, National Games, and travel teams.
- AYSO EXTRA Competitive Soccer Program Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates a try-out based, internal gaming-circuit program (AYSO EXTRA) that allows players to refine soccer skills in a more competitive environment, with requirements that all players participate in at least 50% of each game and are selected through fair evaluations to ensure balanced teams. Participants can advance to All Star events, tournaments, National Open Cup, National Games, and travel teams.
- AYSO EXTRA Competitive Soccer Program Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates a try-out based, internal gaming-circuit program (AYSO EXTRA) for players seeking a more competitive environment, ensuring all team members play at least 50% of each game and are selected through fair evaluations to maintain balanced teams. Participants can advance to All Star teams, tournaments, National Open Cup, National Games, and travel teams.
- AYSO EXTRA competitive play program Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsProvides a try-out based, competitive soccer program (AYSO EXTRA) for players seeking to refine skills in a more structured environment. Teams maintain competitive balance through open evaluations, and all players are guaranteed at least 50 percent playing time per game. Participants are eligible for All Star events, tournaments, National Open Cup, National Games, and travel teams.
- AYSO Playground and Schoolyard Jamboree Programs Early Childhood Soccer IntroductionRuns the Schoolyard Jamboree and Playground programs for 4-5-year-olds that emphasize foundational soccer and movement skills in a low-pressure, developmentally appropriate environment using 3v3 gameplay and structured 60-minute sessions.
- Community Soccer Clinics and Events Youth Soccer Clinics and Community EventsHosts community soccer clinics and events that introduce soccer programming, health and safety education, and family activities, such as a four-day clinic series that enrolled over 300 new players and engaged hundreds of students and family members.
- Community soccer clinics and events Youth Soccer Clinics and Community EventsHosts community-based soccer clinics and events that introduce new players to the sport, including multi-day clinics that have enrolled over 300 new participants. Events also include health and safety education and family activities, engaging hundreds of students and family members.
- Core Youth Soccer Program (Ages 6–19) Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates a primary youth soccer program for children and youth aged 6 to 19, structured around a school-year age matrix with an August 1 cutoff for division placement, and guided by six core philosophies including Everyone Plays®, Balanced Teams, and Positive Coaching. Ensures every player participates in at least half of every game.
- Core Youth Soccer Program (Ages 6–19) Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates a primary youth soccer program for players aged 6 to 19 across 850 local Regions in the U.S., serving over 400,000 players annually, with a commitment to the Everyone Plays® philosophy ensuring each child plays at least half of every game.
- EPIC Program for Individuals with Disabilities Adaptive Sports Programs for Youth with DisabilitiesProvides the EPIC program for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, using trained coaches and buddy assistants to support skill development, social engagement, and inclusive participation in soccer activities.
- EPIC Program for Players with Disabilities Adaptive Sports Programs for Youth with DisabilitiesRuns the EPIC (Exceptional Players In Communities) program for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, utilizing trained coaches and buddy assistants to support skill development, social engagement, and inclusive soccer participation.
- EPIC Program for Players with Disabilities Adaptive Sports Programs for Youth with DisabilitiesProvides the EPIC (Excellence, Participation, Inclusion, and Community) program for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, using trained coaches and buddy assistants to support skill development, social engagement, and full participation in soccer activities.
- EPIC program for individuals with disabilities Adaptive Sports Programs for Youth with DisabilitiesRuns the EPIC (Excellence, Participation, Inclusion, Community) program for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, using trained coaches and buddy assistants to support skill development, social engagement, and inclusive participation in soccer activities.
- Kickstart Program for Young Children Early Childhood Soccer IntroductionOffers an entry-level soccer program called Kickstart designed to introduce young children to soccer through fundamental motor skills development, delivered in non-traditional spaces such as gyms or multipurpose rooms using small activity grids. Sessions are led by certified Activity Leaders and involve collaboration with parents or guardians.
- Kickstart Program for Young Children Early Childhood Soccer IntroductionOffers an entry-level soccer program called Kickstart designed for children aged 3-5, focusing on fundamental motor skills through soccer-based activities in non-traditional spaces such as gyms or multipurpose rooms, using small activity grids and certified Activity Leaders.
- Kickstart Program for Young Children Early Childhood Soccer IntroductionOffers an entry-level soccer program called Kickstart, designed to introduce young children to soccer through fundamental motor skills development in non-traditional spaces such as gyms and multipurpose rooms using small activity grids. Sessions are up to 60 minutes long and include rest breaks.
- Kickstart and Schoolyard Jamboree programs for young children Early Childhood Soccer IntroductionOffers entry-level soccer programs for children aged 3–5, including Kickstart and Schoolyard Jamboree, focused on developing fundamental motor and soccer skills in a low-pressure environment using small-sided (3v3) games and activity grids in non-traditional spaces such as gyms or multipurpose rooms. Sessions last up to 60 minutes and involve collaboration with parents or guardians.
- National Network of Local AYSO Regions Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates 850 local programs (Regions) across the United States, collectively engaging over 400,000 players and 100,000 volunteers in youth soccer programming and community events.
- National Network of Local Soccer Regions Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates 850 local programs (Regions) across the United States, engaging over 400,000 players and 100,000 volunteers in youth soccer activities, supported by standardized age eligibility using an August 1 cutoff date.
- Schoolyard Jamboree for 4-5 Year Olds Early Childhood Soccer IntroductionRuns the Schoolyard Jamboree program for children aged 4–5, focusing on foundational soccer and movement skills in a low-pressure environment using a 3v3 game format to support age-appropriate learning and engagement.
- Schoolyard Jamboree for Ages 4-5 Early Childhood Soccer IntroductionRuns the Schoolyard Jamboree program for 4-5-year-olds that focuses on foundational soccer and movement skills in a low-pressure environment using a 3v3 game format to support age-appropriate learning and engagement.
- Youth Soccer Clinics and Community Events Youth Soccer Clinics and Community EventsOrganizes youth soccer clinics and community events that include soccer programming, health and safety education, and family activities, such as a four-day clinic series that enrolled over 300 new players and served hundreds of students and family members.
- Youth Soccer Clinics and Community Events Youth Soccer Clinics and Community EventsOrganizes youth soccer clinics and community events that include soccer programming, health and safety education, and family activities, such as a four-day clinic series that enrolled over 300 new players and engaged hundreds of students and family members.
- Youth Soccer Program for Ages 6–19 Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates a primary youth soccer program for children and adolescents aged 6 to 19, grounded in the Everyone Plays® philosophy, which ensures that every child participates in at least half of every game, promoting inclusion and balanced team development.
- Youth soccer program for ages 6–19 with balanced teams and guaranteed playing time Youth Competitive Soccer ProgramsOperates a core youth soccer program for players aged 6 to 19 across 850 local Regions in the United States, serving over 400,000 players and 100,000 volunteers. The program enforces the Everyone Plays® philosophy, ensuring each child participates in at least half of every game, and uses a school-year age matrix with an August 1 cutoff to determine divisions.
capacity building · 4
- Volunteer Certification and Training Youth Program Volunteer CertificationRequires all volunteers to complete Safe Haven certification courses and job-specific training to ensure qualified leadership across all AYSO programs, promoting safety, positive coaching, and operational consistency.
- Volunteer Training and Certification Youth Program Volunteer CertificationRequires all volunteers to complete Safe Haven courses and job-specific training to become certified, ensuring trained leadership across all programs and regions.
- Volunteer Training and Certification Youth Program Volunteer CertificationRequires all volunteers to complete Safe Haven training and role-specific certification to ensure safety, program quality, and alignment with AYSO’s core philosophies.
- Volunteer certification and training Youth Program Volunteer CertificationRequires all volunteers to complete Safe Haven courses and role-specific training to become certified, ensuring qualified leadership across all programs and regions.
strategies · 28
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Balanced Competition Framework fair evaluation and competitive balanceCombines fair team formation through open evaluations with a focus on player development over winning, ensuring competitive balance while maintaining a developmental and inclusive ethos.
- Child-Centered Developmental Approach child-first_developmentUtilizes soccer as a tool for holistic child development, focusing on age-appropriate skill acquisition, motor skills, coordination, and social interaction in a non-competitive, fun, and positive environment. This prioritizes the child's growth and enjoyment over winning.
- Child-First Developmental Approach child-first developmentUses age-appropriate, small-sided games and developmentally tailored activities to prioritize skill, motor, and social development in young children over competition, ensuring soccer serves as a tool for holistic child development.
- Child-First Developmental Model child-first developmentUses age-appropriate, small-sided games and developmentally tailored activities to prioritize motor skill development, social interaction, and fun over competition, ensuring soccer is accessible and beneficial for young children's growth.
- Child-first developmental approach child-first developmentUses soccer as a tool for holistic child development, prioritizing age-appropriate, small-sided games and non-competitive environments that foster motor skills, social interaction, and emotional growth over winning.
- Community-Based Access Expansion community-based access expansionExpands access to youth soccer in underserved communities by offering affordable, mobile, and flexible programming in existing community spaces, removing financial, logistical, and perceptual barriers.
- Community-Based Access and Outreach community-based_accessExpands access to quality youth soccer programs by designing them for communities with limited options, bringing programs directly to children in existing community spaces, and using introductory clinics to attract new players. This strategy aims to overcome barriers to participation.
- Community-Centered Accessibility community-based access expansionExpands access to youth soccer in underserved communities by offering affordable or free programs, utilizing existing community spaces, and bringing mobile programming directly to children, reducing financial and logistical barriers.
- Community-based access expansion community-based access expansionIncreases access to youth soccer in underserved communities by offering affordable, mobile, and flexible programming that operates in existing community spaces and removes financial and logistical barriers.
- Flexible and Adaptive Program Design flexible_adaptive_programmingDesigns programs with flexible space utilization and age-adaptive rules, including coed teams and flexible substitutions for older youth, to increase accessibility and accommodate diverse needs and environments.
- Flexible and Adaptive Programming flexible space utilizationDesigns programs to be adaptable across age groups and physical environments, using flexible space utilization and age-adaptive rules (e.g., coed teams, flexible subs) to support long-term engagement and broad accessibility.
- Flexible and Scalable Program Design flexible space utilizationUtilizes space-efficient, adaptable programming that can be implemented indoors or in multi-use spaces, supporting delivery in diverse community settings and increasing operational reach.
- Flexible and scalable program design flexible space utilizationUtilizes space-efficient, adaptable programming models that can be implemented in various indoor or multi-use settings, supporting scalability and accessibility across diverse community environments.
- Inclusive Participation Model Everyone PlaysEnsures equitable access and engagement by guaranteeing all players participate in at least half of every game, forming balanced teams annually, and maintaining open registration with no tryouts, fostering inclusion and diverse peer interaction.
- Inclusive Participation and Balanced Competition balanced_teams_player_developmentEnsures equitable access and development by forming balanced teams annually, guaranteeing all players at least half-game participation, using fair evaluations, and emphasizing inclusion alongside age-appropriate competitive elements.
- Inclusive and Equitable Participation everyone_plays_balanced_teams_open_registrationEnsures all children can participate in soccer regardless of skill level or financial background by eliminating tryouts, guaranteeing playing time, balancing teams, and offering affordable options. This approach fosters broad access and equitable development.
- Inclusive participation model Open Registration, Balanced Teams, Everyone PlaysEnsures broad access and equity through open registration, balanced teams, and the "Everyone Plays" rule, which guarantees minimum playing time and promotes inclusion regardless of skill level.
- Non-Competitive Skill Development non-competitive skill developmentFocuses on fun, play, and foundational skill-building without tracking scores or determining winners, creating a low-pressure environment that emphasizes personal growth and enjoyment.
- Open Registration and Low-Barrier Entry Open RegistrationAdmits all children regardless of skill level through open registration with no tryouts, reducing exclusion and supporting broad participation, especially among newcomers.
- Parent-Child Collaborative Learning parent-participation_modelEngages parents in a collaborative model, particularly for young children, to introduce them to soccer in a low-pressure environment, fostering skill development and exposure through shared participation.
- Positive Youth Sports Environment Positive CoachingBuilds a supportive culture through positive coaching, enforced good sportsmanship, and parent engagement via the Kids Zone® pledge to minimize negative sideline behavior and prioritize respect and encouragement.
- Positive Youth Sports Environment Positive CoachingCreates a supportive and respectful environment through mandatory positive coaching, the Kids Zone® parent pledge, and a focus on good sportsmanship, prioritizing emotional safety and mutual respect over winning.
- Positive and Supportive Environment positive_coaching_good_sportsmanshipCultivates a positive and encouraging atmosphere through mandatory positive coaching, promotion of good sportsmanship among all participants, and programs designed to reduce negative sideline behavior. This ensures a safe and respectful experience for everyone involved.
- Positive youth sports culture Kids Zone, Positive Coaching, Good SportsmanshipFosters a respectful and encouraging environment through mandatory positive coaching, the Kids Zone® parent pledge, and a focus on good sportsmanship, reducing negative behaviors and emphasizing respect over competition.
- School-Year Aligned Age Grouping school-year_alignmentAligns soccer age groups with school-year peers to enhance participation and retention by allowing children to play with classmates and friends, fostering social connections and continuity.
- School-Year and Age Group Alignment school-year alignmentAligns soccer age groups with the school year to support social continuity, enabling children to play with classmates and friends, enhancing retention and participation.
- School-Year and Social Alignment school-year alignmentAligns age groups with school-year peers to support social continuity, enabling children to play with classmates and friends, thereby increasing retention and participation.
- School-aligned age grouping school-year alignmentAligns age groups with the school year to support social continuity, enabling children to play with classmates and friends, thereby improving retention and participation.
named programs · 8
what they call their work
AYSO EPIC
Special program for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, providing a safe, fun soccer experience with trained coaches and buddy support.
AYSO EPIC Program
A specialized program for children and adults with physical or mental disabilities, providing a safe and fun soccer environment with trained coaches, volunteers, and buddies to assist during games and promote skill development and self-esteem
Everyone Plays®
Ensures every player participates in at least 50% of each game, promoting inclusion and skill development for all children regardless of ability.
Kids Zone
A program designed to eliminate negative sideline behavior by encouraging parents and spectators to sign a pledge to uphold positive, respectful conduct during games and practices
Kids Zone®
Program designed to eliminate negative sideline behavior by encouraging parents to sign a pledge committing to positive, respectful conduct at games and practices.
Safe Haven
A child and volunteer protection program that includes volunteer screening, mandatory training and certification, and safety policies to ensure a safe environment for all participants
Safe Haven®
Child and volunteer protection program requiring background screening, training, and certification for all volunteers to ensure a safe environment.
Small-Sided Games
Age-appropriate soccer games with fewer players on the field to maximize ball touches and create a development-focused, fun learning environment for young players
relationships · 13
who they work with
- AYSOVolunteers.org Partner — Collaborates with AYSOVolunteers.org to support volunteer needs and resources.
- Aurora Public Schools Partner — Partnered with AYSO PLAY! for the 2024 Aurora Summer Kickoff event.
- Colorado Soccer Foundation Partner — Co-hosted the 2024 Aurora Summer Kickoff event with AYSO PLAY!.
- Iron Sharp Partner — Co-hosted the 2024 Aurora Summer Kickoff event with AYSO PLAY!.
- Sator Soccer Partner — Collaborates to strengthen youth soccer goal infrastructure.
- Sator Soccer Partner — Collaborates with Sator Soccer to strengthen youth soccer goal infrastructure.
- Sator Soccer Partner — Collaboration to strengthen youth soccer goal infrastructure.
- The Autism Community in Action (TACA) Partner — Collaborates to expand inclusive soccer education nationwide.
- The Autism Community in Action (TACA) Partner — Partners to expand inclusive soccer education nationwide.
- The Autism Community in Action (TACA) Partner — Partners with TACA to expand inclusive soccer education nationwide.
- The Autism Community in Action (TACA) Partner — Partnership to expand inclusive soccer education nationwide.
- U.S. Soccer Partner — Aligns age determination practices with U.S. Soccer guidelines.
- U.S. Soccer Federation Partner — Engaged AYSO PLAY! to organize youth soccer events in Atlanta in conjunction with the announcement of its new headquarters.