General Information
Fall is the primary season for AYSO with open registration for any players that wish to participate. Please see the Registration page
for information on how to register. The formats for each division (age group) are shown below including end-of-season tournament formats. Coaches that wish to enter the end-of-season tournament must submit an application provided by their division manager.
Birth Year
| MY2022
| MY2023
| MY2024
| MY2025
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| 2021 | x | x | x | 05U
| |
2020
| x
| x | 05U | 06U | |
| 2019 | x
| 05U | 06U | 07U | |
| 2018 | 05U | 06U | 07U | 08U | |
| 2017 | 06U | 07U | 08U | 09U | |
| 2016 | 07U | 08U | 09U | 10U | |
| 2015 | 08U | 09U | 10U | 11U | |
| 2014 | 09U | 10U | 11U | 12U | |
| 2013 | 10U | 11U | 12U | 13U | |
| 2012 | 11U | 12U | 13U | 14U | |
2011
| 12U | 13U | 14U | 15U | |
| 2010 | 13U | 14U | 15U | 16U | |
| 2009 | 14U | 15U | 16U | 17U | |
| 2008 | 15U | 16U | 17U | 18U | |
| 2007 | 16U | 17U | 18U | 19U
| |
| 2006 | 17U | 18U | 19U
| x
| |
| 2005 | 18U | 19U | x | x | |
| 2004 | 19U | x
| x | x
| |
5U/6U (K-League)
| Games | Most Saturdays in September, October, & November |
| Playing Field: | Fred Lang Park |
| Ball Size: | Size 3 |
| Duration: | 6U: two or three 10 minute games + teaching games at the discretion of the coaches (practice optional – 1 per week maximum at discretion of the coach)
5U: two 10 minute games + teaching games at the discretion of the coaches (5U players do not practice during the week) |
| Field Dimensions: | 100 ft x 60 ft, goals: 4 ft x 3 ft or portable PUG type goals – two field are available for simultaneous games |
| No. of Players: | 6U– 5 v 5 with a maximum 12 player roster
5U– 3 v 3 with up to a 20 player roster
Two to four games played simultaneously on adjacent fields |
| Special Rules: | Substitutions half way through each half and at half time; no goalkeepers; no offside; no indirect free kicks; no penalty kicks – only kick-offs, throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks and direct free kicks – goal kicks and corner kicks may be substituted with throw-ins or vice-verse at the discretion of the coaches. The object is to keep the game moving. Teams may mix and match players to reform teams each Saturday (Jamboree style). U5 teams do not hold practices. |
| Playoff Format: | None – scores are not recorded; no standings are kept |
| Awards: | All players receive participation pictures and trophies, distributed at the K-League Coach meeting when player rating forms are turned in. |
| Referees: | No referees are assigned. Two coaches act as referees, each responsible for his/her team’s side of the field. |
8 & Under - 8U
| Games: | Most Saturdays in September, October, & November |
| Playing Field: | Alta Laguna Park & Thurston Middle School (other fields if necessary) |
| Ball Size | Size 3 |
| Duration: | 20 minute halves, 40 minute games , 10 min half maximum |
| Field Dimensions: | 50 yrds x 25 yrds minimum, goals: 6 yrds x 6.5 ft high |
| No. of Players: | Generally play 7v7; with goalkeepers; ten (10) maximum on team roster. If possible, may play 5v5 with no goalkeepers; eight (8) maximum on team roster. Format to be decided at the beginning of the season based on number of teams. |
| Special Rules: | Substitutions half way through each half and at half time; no offside; no indirect free kicks; no penalty kicks, no heading – only kick-offs, throw-ins, goal kicks, corner kicks and direct free kicks. The object is to keep the game moving and be an instructional league. A line at 15-20 yards (approximately) is drawn in place of a penalty area (build-out line). The ball from goal kicks, goal keeper distributions, and defensive free kicks must leave this area before being played by any attacking player. |
| Tournament Format: | Friendship tournament (pool play) in November for teams that qualify with referees and referee points. |
| Awards: | All players receive participation pictures and trophies, distributed at the 8U Coach meeting when player rating forms are turned in. |
| Referees: | One referee. No assistant referees are used. If no referee is specifically assigned to a game, the coaches from each team take the field on their team’s side (defensive side). The coach of that team is then responsible for making the calls when the ball is on their team’s side. When the ball transitions to the other side of the field, the opposite coach then makes the calls. |
10 & Under - 10U
| Games: | Every Saturday in September (after Labor Day) and October with optional tournament in November.
Game scores are reported and regular season standings are kept. |
| Playing Field: | Thurston Middle School or Alta Laguna Park (other fields if necessary)
|
| Ball Size: | size 4 |
| Duration: | 25 minute halves, 50 minute games |
| Field Dimensions: | 80 yards long, 40 yards wide (max). |
| No. of Players: | There will be seven per team on field; one of which is a goalkeeper; ten maximum on roster; as long as there are enough coaches. Substitutions are between periods, at halftime and for injuries. There will be a minimum of two periods per game and no player should play four periods until everyone has played three, although the minimum requirement is half the game. The players will be separated by girls and boys teams at all levels of play. |
| Special Rules: | Standard FIFA except substitutions half way through each half and at half time; field dimensions and ball size as above. A line at 15-20 yards (approximately) is drawn - the build-out line. The ball from goal kicks, goal keeper distributions, and defensive free kicks must leave this area before being played by any attacking player. No heading. Goal keepers must distribute the ball by throwing it or placing it on the ground and kicking it. No punting.
|
| Tournament Format: | Format: Pool Play – see Tournament Format below. Entry into the tournament is based on referee service points and a submitted application received by the prescribed due date. |
| Awards: | All players receive participation pictures, distributed at October 10U Coach meeting where player rating forms are turned in. Trophies and/or medals are awarded to winners (1st – 4th place) of the Regional Tournament only. |
| Referee: | One referee and two assistant referees (ARs) are assigned to each game. |
12 & Under - 12U
| Games: | Every Saturday in September (after Labor Day) and October with optional tournament in November. Game scores are reported and regular season standings are kept. |
| Playing Field: | Top of the World Elementary, El Morro Elementry, or Thurston Middle School (other fields if necessary - may have away games)
|
| Ball Size | Size 4 |
| Duration: | 30 minute halves, 60 minute games, 10 min half maximum |
| Field Dimensions: | 100-110 yrds x 50-70 yrds, goals: regulation |
| No. of Players: | Generally play 9v9; with goalkeepers; twelve (12) maximum on team roster; may play 11v11 with fourteen (14) or fifteen (15) maximum on team roster; dependent on number of teams formed. Format to be decided at the beginning of the season based on number of teams and the gaming circuit. |
| Special Rules: | Standard FIFA with substitutions half way through each half and at half time. No heading.
|
| Tournament Format: | Pool Play – see Tournament Format below. Entry into the tournament is based on referee service points and a submitted application received by the prescribed due date. |
| Awards: | All players receive participation pictures, distributed at October 12U Coach meeting where player rating forms are turned in. Trophies and/or medals are awarded to winners (1st – 4th place) of the Regional Tournament only. |
| Referees: | One referee and two assistant referees (ARs) are assigned to each game. |
14 & Under - 14U
| Games: | Every Saturday in September (after Labor Day) and October with optional tournament in November. Game scores are reported and regular season standings are kept. |
| Playing Field: | El Morro Elementary or Moulton Meadows Park plus away games, may use LBHS on occasion.
|
| Ball Size | Size 5 |
| Duration: | 35 minute halves, 70 minute games, 10 minute half maximum |
| Field Dimensions: | 105-110 yrds x 60-70 yrds, goals: regulation |
| No. of Players: | 11 v 11 with a 15 player roster (4 substitutes maximum) |
| Special Rules: | Standard FIFA with substitutions half way through each half and at half time |
| Playoff Format: | Pool Play – see Tournament Format below. Entry into the tournament is based on referee service points and a submitted application received by the prescribed due date. |
| Awards: | All players receive participation pictures, distributed at October 14U Coach meeting where player rating forms are turned in. Trophies and/or medals are awarded to winners (1st – 4th place) of the Regional Tournament only. |
| Referees: | One referee and two assistant referees (ARs) are assigned to each game. |
16 or 18 & Under - 16U/18U
| Games: | Every Saturday in SUeptember (after Labor Day) and October with optional tournament in November. Game scores are reported and regular season standings are kept. |
| Playing Field: | El Morro Elementary or Moulton Meadows Park plus away games - may use LBHS on occasion.
|
| Ball Size | Size 5 |
| Duration: | 40/45 minute halves, 80/90 minute games, respectively – 10 min half maximum |
| Field Dimensions: | 105-110 yrds x 60-70 yrds, goals: regulation |
| No. of Players: | 11 v 11 with a 20 player roster (9 substitutes maximum) |
| Special Rules: | Standard FIFA with free substitutions allowed |
| Playoff Format: | Playoffs follow Area 11L format for Inter Regional play. |
| Awards: | All players receive participation pictures, distributed at October 12U/14U/16U Coach meeting where player rating forms are turned in. Trophies and/or medals are awarded to winners (1st – 4th place) of the Area Tournament only. |
| Referees: | One referee and two assistant referees (ARs) are assigned to each game. |
Tournament Format (8U - 14U)
| Format: | Pool Play with Semi-finals and Finals depending on number of pools per division, plus a possible separate single-elimination Shoot-out competition. Divisions with 5 or less teams play a single-elimination tournament. If referee coverage is not sufficient, pool play games may be converted into single-elimination pools per the 1 Pool Division format below. |
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| Seeding: | Seeding based on regular season standing (average points per game during regular season): 3 pts for a win, 1 pt for a draw, 0 pts for a loss. Area 11L tie breaker rules used in case of ties to determine seeding. |
| 1 Pool Divisions | 2, 3, 4, or 5 teams – single-elimination
Seeding irrelevant except to schedule games as noted below
Game length and format subject to change based on available referee coverage
2 teams: one Championship game
3 teams: Seed 2 plays Seed 3 in a Semi-final game. Winner plays Seed 1 in Championship game
4 teams: Seeds 1 & 4 and Seeds 2 & 3 play Semi-final games. Winners play in Championship game
5 teams: Seeds 4 & 5 play in wild-card game. Seed 1 plays winner of wild-card game and Seeds 2 & 3 play in Semi-final games. Winners play in Championship game.
Each game must have a winner with a possible California style shoot-out for 10U and 12U, or shots from the penalty mark for 14U in accordance with Area 11L rules & regs will determine winner, if games end in a tie. |
| 2 Pool Divisions: | 3, 4, or 5 teams per pool – each team plays same number of games – an odd number of teams will result in one pool having more teams than the other. Cross-pool play games possible.
Pool A will consist of seeds 1, 3, 5, and possibly 7 and 9
Pool B will consist of seeds 2, 4, 6, and possibly 8 and 10
Pool play games may end in a tie
Winner of each pool plays in Championship game except in the case of cross-pool play where the top two teams, regardless of pool placement, play in Championship game.
If scheduling and referee coverage permit, the top 4 teams will be taken and Semi-final games used to determine who plays in the Championship game. If Semi-final games occur, pools A & B winners play runner-ups in opposite pools or, in the case of cross-pool play, team with highest point total plays team with 4th highest point total and the other two teams with 2nd and 3rd highest point totals play regardless of pool placement.
In case of tie in pool play, Area 11L tie breaker rules will be used to determine winner (head-to-head play includes regular season games)
In case of tie in a Semi-final or Championship game, a California style shoot-out for 10U and 12U, or shots from the penalty mark for 14U in accordance with Area 11L rules & regs will determine winner
Game length and format subject to change based on available referee coverage |
| 3 Pool Divisions | 3 or 4 teams per pool – each team plays same number of games – an odd number of teams will result in one pool of 3 and two of 4 or two of 3 and one of . Cross-pool play games possible.
Pool A will consist of seeds 1, 4, 7, and possibly 10
Pool B will consist of seeds 2, 5, 8, and possibly 11
Pool C will consist of seeds 3, 6, 9, and possibly 12
Pool play games may end in a tie
Winner of each pool plus one wild card play in Semi-final and Championship games (A vs wild card & B vs C)
Same rules apply as 2 Pool Divisions if odd number of teams exist for determining Semi-finalists.
In case of tie, same rules as 2 Pool Division used to determine winner
Game length and format subject to change based on referee coverage |
Shoot-Out Competition (10U - 12U)
| Format: | During Regional Tournament pool play games a single-elimination shoot-out tournament also may take place. |
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| Procedure: | Each team takes shots from the penalty mark, alternating. All players on the team take shots and may not take a 2nd shot until all other players have taken a shot. This is based on a minimum number of player per roster size (7 for a 10 player roster, 9 for a 12 player roster, 11 for a 14/15 player roster). Teams that do not have the minimum number of players present, up to the minimum are counted as misses. Shots are taken in order of jersey number. |
| Example: | Two teams with 12 player roster. Team A has 8 players and Team B has 12 players present. Shots are taken by the first 8 players on each team starting with the players with the lowest jersey number, alternating. The 9th player for team B takes his/her shot and the 9th player for Team A is counted as a miss, since that player is missing. Shots continue with players 10, 11, and 12 for Team A and Team B is allowed to begin cycling through their players again in the same order. After all players have taken a shot, the winner is determined. If it is still tied, shots continue in the same order (with the 9th player from Team A always counting as a miss if it goes that far) until one team scores and the other misses. Note that all players take a shot even though it may become apparent that one team will win without having to complete all shots. |
California Style Shoot-Out Rules:
| After regulation play, teams given 5 minutes rest |
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| Winner of coin toss decides which goal to attack in overtime period |
| All players return except goal keepers (10 player return if originally playing 11v11, 8 players return if playing 9v9, 6 players return if playing 7v7) |
| Players play for 5 minutes without goal keepers |
| Play continues until one team has scored more goals than the other after each 5 minute period – each 5 minute period is always played to completion allowing the other team to even the score |
| After 5 minutes, 2 players from each team are removed (1 if originally playing 7v7) |
| Play resumes for 5 more minutes after which 2 more players are removed (1 if originally playing 7v7) |
| This continues until only 4 players from each team remain at which time the offside law is no longer applicable – no more players are removed – if after 5 minutes no one has scored play continues until the first team to score wins (golden goal) |
| In the case of a penalty kick, one of the players may act as goal keeper and use his/her hands for the duration of the penalty kick until the ball is clearly controlled and/or distributed by the goal keeper (in the case the shot is saved) – determination of this will be solely up to the judgement of the referee and may include, but is not limited to, rebounds off the post, crossbar, or the goal keeper him/herself and any subsequent shot on goal because of such rebounds |
How are Teams Formed (U6-U14):
U5 teams are formed randomly and not based on player ratings as all players are new to the sport. Other divisions form teams based on player ratings in one of two manners. Either by a draft or by team formation by an impartial Division Manager.
Formation by Division Manager:
1. Each season players are ranked by coaches relative to team mates on their own teams (1-5).
2. Division Managers assign ratings to players based on ranking and adjust them based on team win/loss record.
3. Returning player ratings are reassigned 6-10 based on their 1-5 rating, respectively. This is to differentiate between new players to a division and returning players to a division for the next season. (1-5 new players, 6-10 returning players)
4. Division Managers create teams based on distributing players by rating evenly across all teams to balance the teams. Balance means that the teams are formed based on the ratings only. Each team gets an even number of the best to least skilled players based on those ratings, including an even number of new and returning players for those divisions spanning two birth years.
5. At the coach meeting for a particular division, teams are handed out to coach is a random manner - drawing from a hat.
6. The Coach and Asst. Coach's players are traded from whatever team they are originally assigned to to the Coach's team based on trading equivalently ranked players. This is done by the Division Manger or someone that has no vested interest in the division before the Coaches see their team rosters. This is done to minimize and hopefully completely eliminate the possibility of tampering or team stacking.
NOTE: Unranked players are either ranked by the Division Manger reaching out to the player/parents to find out the skill level before team formation, or unranked players are ranked 0 and distributed in an even manner amongst all teams, as best as possible.
Draft:
The process is the same as above as far a rating players is concerned. The difference is that the team formation is done at a meeting where all coaches attend and pick players from each rating pool. In other words, all players rated fives (5) are distributed to the coaches in the first round. Then 4s, then 3s, etc. The order in which the coaches get to pick players is drawn from a hat during each round. This method is generally discouraged, but sometimes necessary and usually dependent on the number of teams/players in a division and the participation level of those coaches for a draft procedure.