If it feels like it a weird spot you're in, that's because it is logically unsupportable and contrary to the mountains of lived experiences of youth organizations across the country for decades. Luckily, AYSO and other organizations have the expertise and experience to know better than you. Sounds a lot like a bunch of newbies rushing to help Sigma out of a pickle, and getting exposed themselves. Or maybe just Sigma's other sock puppet accounts.
The state of ayso
- Thread starter Grace T.
- Start date
toepunchh8r
BRONZE
I think AYSO missed their calling, to be honest. Their job was and should still be to get young kids off the couch (and social media) and playing soccer. They were not meant to be the holders of soccer super talent. I can only speak for my experiences but AYSO spent a lot of time poisoning parents' minds about club soccer. Many kids that should have moved on to club stayed in AYSO so they could score 10 goals a game. Never made any sense to me. I believe that discouraged new kids and kids that are not so talented to quit soccer altogether. Lots of circumventing the rules happening within the upper levels of the AYSO structure as well. Coaches stacking their teams, sandbagging players evals, etc.
My pal the doctor is set to retire. He told me 25 years ago his office was filled with little kids everyday with broken arms, cuts and typical injuries of kids playing and climbing trees. Now its about once a week. He said todays kids go to the doctor for mental issues, take jabs and get prescriptions filled. AYSO and Clubs need to put their egos aside and work together.
Completely agreed...AYSO is meant to be an entry point..not the end point. I feel like LL is having the same problem...they want to compete with Pony and travel clubs but it leaves out kids who want to play at a low level. I want my son to play baseball as a 9 year but they want him to practice 3 times a week plus batting practice and plays game weekly. I cannot commit to that as a secondary sport.
AYSO definitely has its place in the soccer world and is a great introduction to the sport without the time commitment that clubs require. My daughter started playing in AYSO at 6 years-old. I recommend for all kids to play multiple sports and/or whatever sport is in season locally. I honestly thought I was raising a softball player, until she told me at 11 years old she only wanted to play soccer. We lucked out because she was able to get a D1 scholarship in soccer.
Disgruntled
BRONZE
Missing those days of AYSO…games were local. I have three players in two different leagues. three cars driving over 300 miles today from 9 am to 930 pm.