A Message from our Commissioner

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your child’s participation in Region 210 AYSO soccer. Our registration was very successful and the local AYSO Board of Directors is working very hard preparing for the 2007-2008 season. We currently have about 2,450 children registered to play. Because of our success we are making changes to several areas of the program. We are adding a Chicago Fire outing; we are decreasing the number of players on the field at a time, and we are changing the fourth, fifth and sixth grade divisions to serve the players better.

CHANGE IN TEAM SIZES
Most divisions will be decreasing the number of players on the field during a game. The rationale for these changes is to be more consistent with the local traveling clubs and the National AYSO program. Currently, the local traveling clubs play 6 V 6 at U8 and U9, and 8 V 8 at U10 and U11. National AYSO plays 6 V 6 in U8 and 8 V 8 at U10.  Additional information can be found at www.soccer.org under “short-sided games”.

Because we are decreasing the number of children on the field we are also changing the field sizes to avoid covering more ground with less players. This change will allow each player more “ball time” during a game. The rule of no child shall play 3 quarters before every child plays 2 quarters, and no one plays 4 quarters until everyone plays 3 still stands. Below is the new player ratio:

SUMMARY OF CHANGES
U6/ Kindergarten                                4 V 4 no goalies, no change
U7/ First Grade                                   5 V 5 no goalies
U8/ Second Grade                              6 V 6 with goalies from here older
U9/ Third Grade                                 7 V 7
U10/ Fourth Grade                             8 V 8 this is a newly created division
U12/ Fifth and Sixth Grade                9 V 9 this division will not be co-ed
U14/Seventh and Eighth Graders       11 V 11 no changes, this division is co-ed
U5/ Pre-School and U19/ High School are not changing although U19 is adding at least one extra team

NO GOALIES IN U7
Another change is that the U7 (first grade) division will play without goalies. This is also part of the National AYSO program, but has solid reasons in developing future soccer stars. After consulting 3 local traveling clubs and a local high school coach, it was found that most of the local traveling clubs lack players willing to shoot and ”finish” the ball into the net. Obviously, this can be taught, but what if the players already had this ability? National AYSO recommends removing goalies at younger ages to help players learn to drive the ball into the net. This skill is exemplified when watching a kindergartner score: the kindergartner always ends up in the net with their face sticking out the other side. Most young children will naturally stop when approaching a goalie, instead of “finishing” the ball through the net. We are trying to encourage the kids to develop skills that will pay dividends later as they continue to play soccer.

CHANGES TO U10, U12 (FOURTH THROUGH SIXTH GRADE) DIVISIONS
Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade players will see the biggest changes. In the past, the fourth and fifth graders played in a combined U10/11 division split by gender and sixth graders played in a co-ed division.

Due to the number of returning players, the fourth graders will now have their own division, U10, and fifth and sixth graders will be combined into a U12 division. The new U12 division will no longer be co-ed. By popular demand, the U14 and U19 divisions will remain co-ed.

WE NEED YOUR HELP
There are several ways this change affects you as a parent. First, we are desperately in need of coaches at most levels, but especially in the second grade girls and the new fifth/sixth grade/U12 boys divisions. Second, we need a Division Commissioner to help organize and coordinate the U12 boys. This job entails forming teams, finding coaches, and passing out uniforms with the bulk of the work being finished before school starts. Tom Isaac has already performed most of the work, but we still need to fill the position. The Division Commissioner job also requires one 1 hour meeting per month. For questions regarding the role please contact Will Johns at johns.family@comcast.net.

CHICAGO FIRE OUTING
The most exciting addition to the program is our Region’s attendance at a Chicago Fire game at Toyota Park in Bridgeview on Saturday, September 15 at 7:30pm. We have reserved a large block of tickets at $15/seat so friends, family, and neighbors are encouraged to participate. Please reserve early so we can request additional seats if necessary. Have your player wear their AYSO uniform because every player will be parading around the field before the game. Transportation will not be provided, we will meet at the game and sit in the same section, please arrive by 6:45 pm to ensure your child’s participation in the parade. If you have not been to a Chicago Fire game, I highly recommend it. The game is fast, 90 minutes, close, about 20 minutes from Ogden and 294, and the whole outing will be significantly cheaper than going to any other professional sporting event in Chicago. An informational brochure has been attached. If you have specific questions regarding the Chicago Fire outing please contact Jeff Gross at jeff.gross@ctt.com.

Thank you for your child’s participation in AYSO soccer, if you have any questions or comments please contact me at wilotto@comcast.net.

Sincerely,

William M. Otto         
Regional Commissioner                                 
AYSO Region 210

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