The Evanston Chapter of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is an award-winning volunteer community organization, affiliated with the City of Evanston Division of Recreation. The five guiding philosophies of AYSO are: Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Everyone Plays, Positive Coaching and Good Sportsmanship. Our aim is for all boys and girls to enjoy a positive recreational experience in a safe, fair, and fun environment. All children are able to participate, without regard to special abilities, financial constraints, or other needs. We are pleased to offer a VIP program for children with special needs.
We are proud to be a chapter of AYSO, a national organization with more than 650,000 players throughout the United States. As a member of AYSO, we get the benefit of all of their experience, wisdom and guidance in coaching, reffing, and league administration. In all of these areas, AYSO is an international leader among youth sports organizations.
Who Participates in Evanston AYSO?
Evanston AYSO serves boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 1/2 and 19 who live or attend school in Evanston, Illinois. We have more than 1500 registered players playing on 165 teams, almost evenly divided between boys and girls. We are also proud of the more than 400 volunteers who make the league possible, including approximately 300 coaches/assistant coaches and 50 refereees/assistant referees, along with all of the folks who do the behind the scenes work such as registering players, organizing teams, ordering the uniforms, recruiting coaches and refs, organizing and providing training for coaches and referees, and much, much more. We offer Training to all coaches and referees. No advance knowledge of soccer is required, and many of our coaches and referees enjoy growing in their knowledge and appreciation of soccer along with their children.
Who Manages the AYSO?
The Evanston AYSO is managed by an all-volunteer Regional Board of Directors. The board of directors operates pursuant a Regional Guideline, which complies with AYSO National rules and guidelines. The Regional Board includes a Regional Commissioner, Registrar, Treasurer, Coach Administrator, Referee Administrator, Risk and Safety Director, and Child & Volunteer Protection Advocate, plus assorted other positions, such as Secretary, Fields Coordinator, Equipment Coordinator, Division Coach Coordinators, and Webmaster.
We can always use more volunteers on the Board as well as to help with discrete events, such as registration and soccerfest. For a complete list and description of Regional Board positions, click here.
What are the Five Core AYSO Principles and Why are they important?
AYSO's five core philosophies, which have been in place since AYSO was first formed in [date], separate us from the pack.
Everyone Plays
Our program's goal is for kids to play soccer-so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least half of every game, and no player can play an entire game unless every other player has played at least three quarters
Balanced Teams
Each year we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible-because it is fair and more fun when teams of equal ability play.
Open Registration
Our program is open to all children between 4 and 19 years of age who want to register and play soccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the only criteria for playing.
Positive Coaching
Encouragement of player effort provides for greater enjoyment by the players and ultimately leads to better-skilled and better-motivated players.
Good Sportsmanship
We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO.
