AYSO United?

Anyone have any info on how the AYSO United program is doing? I met a senior doing the AYSO United program as part of my college interviews. She had stepped down from a tier 1 team to focus on her academics, but she still wanted to play soccer while she could. She told me some stuff I knew: that AYSO United is moving down the age groups, replacing the Extras programs at earlier ages; the United coaches, even though volunteers, are pretty experienced, often being parents that have played, and more experienced than some club coaches I've met; they play in tournaments against regular club teams. But she told me as well that United Teams aren't just competing in leagues against other United Teams, but also in silver and bronze level club leagues. That surprised me...I wasn't aware...I hadn't seen any United or Extras teams in the littles games I reffed nor in the leagues my son played. And while they have reciprocity with the coaching licenses, that reciprocity doesn't always run smooth (since there is some discretion involved) and in the leagues IIUC the AYSO players would have to go through the same age verification standards as the club players including carding. She told me too that some of the United Teams are holding their own on the silver level. That surprised me too...in tournaments the United/Extras Teams I've encountered are generally eaten up even by the middling bronze club teams. Any one (particularly the refs out there) seen the United teams play against the club teams? Is this really wide spread? Are they competitive? How are they doing? I was under the impression that they generally just played each other, but apparently not.

I'm interested in keeping apprised because if my DS hits high school several years from now and decides he wants to do the academic route, instead of committing himself to GKing, but wants to keep playing soccer (yet not go into the mess that is upper age AYSO rec ball) if this might be an option for him to continue playing (assuming he has no aspirations of playing in college or achieving a high level).
 
It may be an alternative for AYSO when players want to step up a level and play in a competitive environment but don't believe the smoke and mirrors. In our region the coaches are not skilled or experienced. In fact they are pretty bad and doing a disservice to the players that should be in a regular club with skilled professional coaches. The teams are playing in the regular leagues but often in brackets with each other at a low level. It is still just recreational but in a competitive environment where winning is valued but I don't see them really making a statement.
 
I, for one, look forward to United spreading across SoCal.

I think it will put downward pressure on continuously rising club fees. I also think it provides a check to the hubris of these clubs. What I mean by this is the following-- in the balance between the priorities of the player versus the organization, AYSO has always leaned more towards the individual player. Clubs lean way towards the organization as the priority/winner (think of what you sign every year for your club-- "the club comes first...").

IMHO, there are good and bad club coaches. There are good and bad United coaches. There are good and bad AYSO Rec coaches. You can't paint them all with the same brush. The banner under which they coach doesn't define their ability.

I've seen United teams playing at multiple tournaments. They haven't stood out as any different from the other teams competing.

I welcome their participation. If the clubs are so good at what they do, they will have nothing to fear...
 
I’ve seen some AYSO teams touching the ball and moving around at the local tournaments. Keep in mind that Club is very watered down
 
Anyone have any info on how the AYSO United program is doing? I met a senior doing the AYSO United program as part of my college interviews. She had stepped down from a tier 1 team to focus on her academics, but she still wanted to play soccer while she could. She told me some stuff I knew: that AYSO United is moving down the age groups, replacing the Extras programs at earlier ages; the United coaches, even though volunteers, are pretty experienced, often being parents that have played, and more experienced than some club coaches I've met; they play in tournaments against regular club teams. But she told me as well that United Teams aren't just competing in leagues against other United Teams, but also in silver and bronze level club leagues. That surprised me...I wasn't aware...I hadn't seen any United or Extras teams in the littles games I reffed nor in the leagues my son played. And while they have reciprocity with the coaching licenses, that reciprocity doesn't always run smooth (since there is some discretion involved) and in the leagues IIUC the AYSO players would have to go through the same age verification standards as the club players including carding. She told me too that some of the United Teams are holding their own on the silver level. That surprised me too...in tournaments the United/Extras Teams I've encountered are generally eaten up even by the middling bronze club teams. Any one (particularly the refs out there) seen the United teams play against the club teams? Is this really wide spread? Are they competitive? How are they doing? I was under the impression that they generally just played each other, but apparently not.

I'm interested in keeping apprised because if my DS hits high school several years from now and decides he wants to do the academic route, instead of committing himself to GKing, but wants to keep playing soccer (yet not go into the mess that is upper age AYSO rec ball) if this might be an option for him to continue playing (assuming he has no aspirations of playing in college or achieving a high level).
One of my daughters played on a United team, CSL Silver. We played league with other clubs in our area and did well. Parent coach was a former player. We trained two days and on a third day had a trainer who was a coach at another club. Fees for the year-around 800$, not including kit. Had its ups and downs but overall a good experience.
 
I, for one, look forward to United spreading across SoCal.

I think it will put downward pressure on continuously rising club fees. I also think it provides a check to the hubris of these clubs. What I mean by this is the following-- in the balance between the priorities of the player versus the organization, AYSO has always leaned more towards the individual player. Clubs lean way towards the organization as the priority/winner (think of what you sign every year for your club-- "the club comes first...").

IMHO, there are good and bad club coaches. There are good and bad United coaches. There are good and bad AYSO Rec coaches. You can't paint them all with the same brush. The banner under which they coach doesn't define their ability.

I've seen United teams playing at multiple tournaments. They haven't stood out as any different from the other teams competing.

I welcome their participation. If the clubs are so good at what they do, they will have nothing to fear...


With so much club consolidation around, it's probably a good thing that it gives others teams to play with (rather than the C & D teams of the mega clubs always having to go up against each other). I agree this is something to look forward to, and coaching quality should get even better as more and more parents that played have children move the AYSO ranks.
 
So will these new AYSO club teams continue to get an advantage with playing fields because they are with a "non profit"? Are you all aware that AYSO gets priority access and cheap deals with fields when other clubs have to scramble and pay high fees for fields? Maybe if clubs had to pay a minimal amount for field space their fees would be less. Also, as I mentioned, I was talking about our region where the coaches are not good, have acquired the basic required license but have done nothing to upgrade their skills or coaching approach and their teams are not doing well. Like with all club soccer, do your research.
 

So I am not sure I understand the "non-profit" post above. Does AYSO get some sort of preferential treatment for fields/facilities?

I know in our city it is based on the size of your group. I can see how AYSO might have larger participation than a typical club.
 
So I am not sure I understand the "non-profit" post above. Does AYSO get some sort of preferential treatment for fields/facilities?

I know in our city it is based on the size of your group. I can see how AYSO might have larger participation than a typical club.
There's a difference between non profit, and all volunteer. My understanding is AYSO is the latter.

Non profit just means the entity has no net revenue by the end of the year. This is accompished by paying its workers what's left over. An entity can be non profit, but the directors and coaches can make plenty of $$.

All volunteer means everyone works for free.
 
There's a difference between non profit, and all volunteer. My understanding is AYSO is the latter.

Non profit just means the entity has no net revenue by the end of the year. This is accompished by paying its workers what's left over. An entity can be non profit, but the directors and coaches can make plenty of $$.

All volunteer means everyone works for free.

I understand that. Just trying to figure out what the field allocation and use rate differences between AYSO and a club. I have never seen anything other than Tax ID required for a non-profit on a field use agreement. I am wondering if other cities further differentiate...
 
AYSO is sitting on over 80 million dollars! Their executives make over 6 digits while everyone else is a volunteer. At ;east regular clubs use their money to pay a director (Whether he/she does their job is another topic) that is expected to have a direct impact to the child.

The day soccer in the US stop being a capitalist business, that will be the day that true talent development will happen.

http://990finder.foundationcenter.org/990results.aspx?action=Find&fn=&st=CA&ei=956205398
 
AYSO is sitting on over 80 million dollars! Their executives make over 6 digits while everyone else is a volunteer. At ;east regular clubs use their money to pay a director (Whether he/she does their job is another topic) that is expected to have a direct impact to the child.

The day soccer in the US stop being a capitalist business, that will be the day that true talent development will happen.

http://990finder.foundationcenter.org/990results.aspx?action=Find&fn=&st=CA&ei=956205398

I think we are getting a bit off topic here but aren't all the clubs that develop talent overseas for-profit businesses?
 
I think we are getting a bit off topic here but aren't all the clubs that develop talent overseas for-profit businesses?


Yes and no, as it is a different model. Their model is to invest on players that will sell for a profit, in the US is to provide a recreational environment with a false promise of reaching the pot at the end of the rainbow with the ones on top getting the benefits of the profits.

My personal view is that AYSO has enough money to invest on quality field facilities at most of their regions.
 
My personal view is that AYSO has enough money to invest on quality field facilities at most of their regions.

Since they don't spend the money on salaries, one of the things AYSO does is pour the money into field development. In our area and our neighboring area, AYSO for example transformed some underdeveloped fields into play areas complete with lighting (which is the one element you really need to run a large organization's soccer practices). They generally do this by entering into agreements with the local park and rec. The local park and rec gets to new fields and some of the maintenance costs off their books. AYSO gets a preference but not exclusive use over those fields.
 
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