For more information about the A.Y.S.O. Program in Palo Alto see the Region 26 Home Page. 

• What can team members and parents expect from A.Y.S.O?  Every player has fun, every player plays every game, and has an opportunity to learn, practice their skills, be challenged and be a contributing member of the team.
• Parents must encourage and respect the players and support the team.  This league, and this age bracket in particular is all about learning the game and developing skills.  Scores and statistics are downplayed for now.  The league actively discourages "blow-out" games and tries to adjust teams (and sub-teams) to have matched talent.  In addition to supporting your child, parents will take over the following tasks:
• Prepare the field for the game with nets and corner flags.
• Create a team banner for the games.
• Organize the snacks at games.
• Communicate, via phone calls, email and or web.
• Participate (a coaches helpers) in an exercise or monitoring a sub-team.  No experience or formal structure is required for this job.  If we usually have one or two parents stay for the practice this will be fine.
• Referee.  A.Y.S.O. usually asks for 2 per team, one referee/week with a backup, more info .
  
• Safety.  Soccer is not the chess club.  Played properly soccer is not a contact sport like boxing, football or rugby.  It is however, a very intense sport and does involve considerable risk.  Safe play and respect for others and one's own body will be stressed.  Good habits and attitudes are likewise encouraged.  Safety includes drinking plenty of water, and wearing proper attire, including shin guards, no hazardous jewelry, and as the weather becomes wet proper footwear.
• Sportsmanship.  Soccer, more than many popular American sports, is about team effort and less about individual strengths.  Three fair and cooperating players can surpass two super-star athletes.  Scores are more likely to be known by the kids than coaches or referees.  Respect and good conduct must be given to team mates and the other team.
• Punctuality and attendance at practice will help everyone use our limited time well.  Practice is the only place coaches can give individual attention.  Techniques can be carefully considered, drills interrupted and actions carefully contemplated.  The coaches will try their best to not instruct from the sideline at a game (another difference from many popular American sports).  Such instruction is at best ineffective, and at worst frustrating, in this quick and dynamic game.  The games are fast and fluid, a remarkable place for the child to apply exciting new techniques and teamwork.  The players will get the greatest satisfation when most players, participate most of the time, at most of the practices.
• Punctuality and attendance at the games is important because each sub-team will have at most 1 substitution for sickness, exhaustion, injury, etc.  Three players (2 absentees on sub-team) cannot reasonably compete against four players.  All games must begin on time due to rigid field constraints.
• Siblings and friends are welcome to attend the practices at the discretion of the coaches.  These children must be under the supervision of another adult and promote the activities of the team.  There are two reasons for these restrictions.  First, A.Y.S.O. and the coaches are not insured for accidents, nor can they speak on behalf of parents in the case of medical emergencies for non-registered children.  Second, while it may be productive and a lot of fun to have other siblings in play and practice, it would be very unfair if these guests would disrupt practice of those on the team. Last year we had some younger and older siblings attend.  The older ones were very helpful with the exercises and the younger ones enjoyed watching and scrimmaging.
• Schedule ( I hope to have more before the first practice ).  As sunset gets progressively earlier, practices will be scheduled earlier and be shorter.
  
• The team needs to come up with a better name than B805!  Have your kids bring some ideas.
• Questions are entertained.  Here are some common answers to questions regarding philosophy and addressing common misperceptions of the game .
  

September 3, first practice
September 6, second practice
September 7, first game
October 6, picture day
November 16, last regular game

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