FAQ - AYSO Region 405

1. When do they practice and when do they play their games? Practices are arranged with your child's coach. Since the volunteer coach will be devoting a significant amount of time to the program, the players and their parents need to work around their coach's availability. Practices are generally held 1-2 times a week. Games are played on Saturdays. Games for U15 and above are played on Sundays.

2. My child can't make it to practices on the days the coach has chosen. What can I do? If the problem is transportation, just speak to the coach or team parents. There is always someone who will be available and willing to give your child a ride. If there are other activities (such as lessons of some kind), maybe it would be possible to adjust the schedule. Please try to make it to practice. Your child is involved in a team sport. The team cannot learn to work together if there are players who consistently miss practices.

3. When does the season start and when does it end? The season is divided into two sessions - FALL and SPRING. For the FALL session, games are played in September and October. For the SPRING session, games are played April-June. A minimum of seven (7) games are scheduled for each session.

4. Where are the games played? For U12 and below, all practices and games are played in the local area - either Lee Town Park and Stokes Elementary School. For U15 and above, games are played in the greater Rome-Utica-Oneida-Camden area with half the games at home (Lee Town Park) and half away.

5. What will AYSO Region 405 provide and what do I have to provide? Each player will receive a uniform consisting of jersey, shorts, and socks. These are yours to keep. Wear them only for games and picture day. Each player must provide their own shoes, shin guards, and a soccer ball of the correct size (see table below).

6. What Division does my child belong to? The assignment of your child to a Division depends on their age as of July 31 of this year. The age divisions are Under 5, Under 6, Under 8, Under 10, Under 12, Under 15, and Under 19. The age chart will help in determining which division your child belongs to. The U5, U6, and U12 are coed divisions.

7. My child is a very good player, can he play in the next higher division? A player can play "up" one division with the approval of the Regional Commissioner, this practice is however strongly discouraged and children develop better with other children their own age.

8. My child is very, very small. Can he/she play on a team with younger players? No. A player can never "play-down" into a younger age group. Most players in this situation do quite well. Soccer is one game in which size is generally not a hindrance.

9. My child is not a strong player, can he/she play in the next lower division? No. Players are not allowed to play "down." Again, players develop better with children of their own age.

10. How are the teams formed? I would like my child to car pool with his friend, can they be on the same team? The Balanced Teams philosophy of AYSO requires every region at the start of each season to set up teams as evenly as possible. It's more fun when teams are of equal ability.

11. When will I find out what team my child is on? The teams are formed in early August. Team roster and contact information are then provided to the coaches. Each coach will contact the players. If you did not receive a call from the coach by the end of August, please contact the hotline (315) 337-6421 and leave a message.

12. Nick's coach has never coached a team. Can we ask for a new coach? AYSO coaches are parents and members of our community who enjoy working with kids. If you have knowledge of the game or coaching techniques, this is great time to offer your help, or better yet, call the Coach Coordinator before the season starts and take a team yourself.

13. Katie doesn't get along with her coach. Can she change teams? Discuss the problem with your child and the coach and try to resolve the problem between yourselves. It is impossible to move teams around after they're assembled.

14. Can I put my child's name on his uniform? NO. AYSO national guidelines do not allow names, patches, or any other markings on the uniform unless authorized by the Region.

15. My child has baseball shoes, can they be used for soccer? Baseball shoes are usually considered dangerous and are not allowed in a soccer game. Any shoe with a toe cleat or stud also is not allowed.

16. Is it true that my child will not be allowed to practice or play with any jewelry on? What about casts or splints? That is correct. Regardless of what you see in the MLS, all jewelry must be removed prior to practices and games. Medical and ID bracelets that cannot be removed must be taped down. If your child intends to get their ears pierced, plan ahead and have it done early so that the earrings can be removed for practices and games. Also, watches, rings, and metal hair clips should be removed before practices and games. As for casts and splints, they are not allowed at practices or games. The doctor prescribed them for a reason and that reason is not so that they can continue to play a contact sport. After the cast or splint has been removed, your coach will require a release from the doctor authorizing your child's return to normal activities.

17. Does my child have to wear shin guards at practices? All players must wear shin guards during practices and games. The shin guards must be completely covered by their socks. Wearing the shin guards over the socks and then folding the socks down on top of the shin guards is not acceptable.

18. What are Region, Area, and Section, and which of these do I belong to? Region, Area, and Section refer to the organizational structure of AYSO. A Region belongs to an Area and an Area belongs to a Section. We are in Region 405. In turn, Region 405 belongs to Area E, and Area E belongs to Section 3. Area E comprises all the Regions in Upstate NY from Utica to Syracuse. Section 3 covers the NE section of the United States - CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, VT.

19. How much do the Board Members, Coaches, and Referees get paid? Board members receive the lowest pay, $0. Coaches and referees are more important so they get paid double, $00. We are an all volunteer organization. We do not receive any monetary incentives for being a board member, a coach, or a referee. Working with children and seeing them develop is our reward.

20. My child was on a losing team last year. How can I get him on a better team? Before you seek out a better team, reflect on who places more importance on winning and losing. Is it you, your child, or the coach? In general, the player will mirror their views on winning and losing based on the role models around them, namely, their parents and coaches. A good coach will place the need to win a game far below the need to develop the players and letting them have fun. So instead of trying to put your child on a better team, make sure the coach is working toward developing the players and not just searching for the right formula for a winning season. At the end of the season, ignore the win/lost records and do a selfish analysis and ask yourself, "Did the coach help my child to be a better player?" The answer to this question is the true determination of whether your child won or lost this season.

21. What is this PIE I hear about and what does it mean? PIE stands for Positive, Instructional, and Encouraging. It is a philosophy that we want all to abide by when dealing with players. This means no negative comments towards a player when they make a mistake or fail to perform to your standards. Referees do have the authority to eject parents, coaches, or spectators who verbally abuse a player. So please keep all comments PIE.

22. I see some real bad referees out there. What can we do? Contact the Regional Referee Administrator and find out when the next referee class is. Then, come to class and become a certified referee. We need people that know the game and can make the calls as they see them. What you cannot do is harass the referee no matter how poorly you think he is performing. His poor performance may be the result of the lack of understanding of the laws on your part. Volunteers willing to referee games are difficult to come by.

23. I have never played soccer and I don't know anything about soccer. Can I still become a coach or a referee? You sure can. AYSO will provide you with all the training for free. The only thing we ask for are your time and commitment. Contact the Regional Coach Administrator or the Regional Referee Administrator to learn more. If coaching or refereeing is not for you, there are others way you can help. Talk to the Commissioner or a board member and ask how you can take part in bringing this quality soccer program to our community. You'll be glad you did.

24. I don't know anything about the volunteer who will be coaching my child. How do I know my child will be safe? That question should be on every parent's mind. AYSO has instituted a program requiring all volunteers to submit a volunteer application form, which authorizes AYSO to conduct a background check. It is important that all parents be attentive to their child's safety. Help your coach by making sure another adult is present at all practices and team functions.