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Burlingame Region 63 |
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Membership
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Frequently Asked Questions
AYSO Parent Orientation Video
General AYSO questionsRegistration and financial questions:
Team-building questions:
Division and Season Questions:
Player based questions:
Referee, Coach and Volunteer questions:
General AYSO questions:What is AYSO anyway?The AYSO mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on our 5 philosophies:
PIE= Positive, Instructional and Encouraging. It is the AYSO coaching philosophy that we want all to abide by when dealing with players. This means no negative comments toward a player when they make a mistake or fail to perform to your standards. Referees have the authority to eject parents, coaches, or spectators who verbally abuse a player. So please keep all comments PIE.
Registration and financial questions:How do I register my child?Families must first pre-register their child through the national website, www.eAYSO.org After printing and signing three copies of the completed registration form, a parent or guardian must bring the 3 copies of the form to a registration location on the given date and time. Information on registration dates and locations can be found on our website, www.burlingameayso.org , or on the AYSO telephone line, 344-AYSO. Please note that filling out the pre-registration form online does not complete the registration progress. The forms MUST BE dropped off in person, and payment made, to successfully register your child. Late registrants for divisions which have not reached their capacity are placed on teams soon after receipt of the registration form. If you do not promptly hear back, the division is probably full and your child has been placed on a waiting list. Every attempt is made to allow all players to play. The total number of teams in each division is determined based on the number of trained coaches available and the number of players registered during the open registration period. Except for children of coaches and referees who complete their training in time, and field volunteers who line and set up our fields weekly, all players are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. If we have enough trained coaches, referees and field space, however, your child will be placed on a team. Not all parents un-register their children when their family moves from the area or when their child decides not to play. Generally the region does not officially know who is not going to play until the initial contact is made between coach and player. If your wait-listed child can be placed on a team, you are most likely to receive a call before the second week in August. If mid-August comes and you haven’t heard any news, you can call the Burlingame AYSO phone line (344-AYSO) and leave a message asking for an update. I cannot afford to pay the registration fees. What do I do? Burlingame AYSO endeavors to provide a quality soccer experience for all eligible players. Burlingame families who are unable to afford the registration fees must fill out a request for scholarship form and have it signed by the Regional Commissioner. My child doesn’t want to play anymore. Are refunds available?
Yes. Please let us know as soon as possible, since there may be a player on a waiting list that can be accommodated.
Our refund policy is as follows:
Anyone requesting a refund prior to July 1st will receive a full refund less a $20.00 processing fee. AYSO Region 63All requests must include player’s name, division and team # (if known), parents name and address, and reason for the refund request. I have moved. How do I transfer my child to the new region? Every region in AYSO conducts its own registration for the upcoming season. Transfers are not possible, however refunds are. See the refund guidelines for more information. What other soccer expenses can I anticipate this year? The registration covers all players’ expenses, including uniforms, the basic picture package, and supplemental accident insurance for AYSO-sponsored activities. Not included are the required shin guards, appropriate shoes, and a strongly recommended practice ball. Typically, the team parents will request a small amount to cover the expenses of a team banner, and possibly a gift for the coach. Additionally, parents are often requested to bring snacks for the team to one game during the season.
Team-building questions:Will I be on the same team as my brother/sister?Requests for brothers and sisters to be on the same team will be honored whenever possible. Often, however, a parent may decide that it is not a good idea for their children to play together, which will also be honored whenever possible. These requests must be noted on each player’s registration form. Practices can be any day of the week, Monday through Friday, depending on a coach’s schedule. There is no way to assign players to coaches based on practice day preferences. Attach a note to your registration form describing your needs and circumstances. The regional registrar, when developing the teams, may be able to accommodate your request. Please note that the registrar considers many factors in the development of a team and may not be able to honor your request. (If the player is in the Under 10 and older divisions, balancing of the teams is important and special requests may be more difficult to honor.) 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 parent. 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 that schedule during soccer season. 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. No. There are no co-ed teams in any division. Is there a program for children with special needs? Yes! The VIP program is designed to meet the needs of physically and mentally challenged children. This program is an Area program handled by the San Mateo AYSO region. Please leave a message at 650-341-4112 for additional information.
Division and Season Questions:What division does my child play in? What does U6 or U8 mean?There are nine division designations in AYSO: U19, U16, U14, U12, U10, U8, U7, U6 and U5. The division designation U19 literally means that the player was “Under 19” on the July 31st preceding the start of the season. For example, if a child turns 8 on July 31st, then he/she would play in the U10 division. If a child turns 8 on August 1, then he/she would play in the U8 division because they were still under 8 on July 31st. What is a Team Banner and how do we get one?
Team banners give your team an identity and add to your team spirit. On artificial turf fields, such as at BHS, Burlingame Intermediate & Franklin Elementary, you cannot use stakes to hold up the banners. Stands that do not penetrate the field may be used or you may lean your banner against the nearest fence. Team banners are most enjoyed when they are made by the team itself. However, commercial banners are also available from:
Most soccer equipment (balls, shinguards, cleats) can be purchased at any local sporting goods store. Be sure to get soccer cleats as baseball cleats are not acceptable.
www.aysostore.comThe AYSO Store is an official supplier to AYSO Regions, players, coaches, and referees. Part of the proceeds go back into AYSO for our programs.
Another very comprehensive online store for all kinds of soccer equipment is Eurosport, which you can find at www.soccer.com. Referee equipment is available from Refwear.com.
YSP carries a large selection of products for the soccer volunteer. How long is the season, how long are the games and how many games will my child play? It is easiest to answer this question by division: U5 and U6: (4 and 5 year olds): Practices in this division occur 15 minutes prior to the scheduled game. Coaches will ask that you have your child on the field 15 minutes prior to game time for a scheduled practice of the “soccer drill of the day”. The kids simply play games every Saturday beginning on Opening Day. (Opening Day is always the first Saturday following Labor Day.) Each game consists of two 10 minute halves with a 5 minute half time. All U5 & U6 children will play eight consecutive games with the final game being played the last Saturday in October. Games are generally played between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. All games are played at Village Park. U7 & U8 (6 & 7 year olds): Practices are held once a week in these divisions and begin in mid-August. There are four practices prior to the first game. The first game occurs on Opening Day, which is always the first Saturday following Labor Day. The second game of the season is played on the immediate following Sunday of Opening weekend. All games are 40 minutes in length, with a brief halftime period. All U8 children will play nine consecutive games, with the final game being played the last Saturday in October. Please note that win/loss records are not kept in this division. Games are generally played between the hours of 8 am & 2 pm. All games are played in the outfield of Washington Park’s baseball field. U10 (8 & 9 year olds): Practices are held once a week in this division and begin in mid-August. There are four practices prior to the first game. The first game occurs on Opening Day, which is always the first Saturday following Labor Day. The second game of the season is played on the immediate following Sunday of Opening weekend. All games are 50 minutes in length, with a 10 minute halftime period. All U10 children will play nine consecutive regular season games where the win/loss record is not kept. All regular season games are generally played between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Both boys & girls games are split between the artificial turf field, Osberg, at Burlingame Intermediate, and the grass field at Cuernavaca Park. Following the regular season game, a Burlingame Cup tournament will occur. The two teams that make it to the finals of the tournament could play as late as the second Saturday in November. The winning team of the Burlingame Cup in this division will advance to the Area tournament, the first weekend in December. U12 (10 & 11 year olds): Practices are held once a week in this division and begin in mid-August. There are four practices prior to the first game. The first game occurs on Opening Day, which is always the first Saturday following Labor Day. The second game of the season is played on the immediate following Sunday of Opening weekend. All games are 60 minutes in length, with a 10 minute halftime period. All U12 children will play nine consecutive regular season games where the win/loss record is kept. Both boys & girls games are split between the artificial turf field behind the tennis courts at BHS and Bayside Soccer Field. The hours of the games vary by field: Bayside games occur between 8 am and 2 pm while BHS games occur between 12 pm and 6 pm. Following the regular season game, a Burlingame Cup tournament will occur. The two teams that make it to the finals of the tournament could play as late as the second Saturday in November. The winning team of the Burlingame Cup in this division will advance to the Area tournament, the first weekend in December. U14 (12 & 13 year olds): Practices are held once a week in this division and begin in mid-August. There are four practices prior to the first game. The first game occurs on Opening Day, which is always the first Saturday following Labor Day. The second game of the season is played on the immediate following Sunday of Opening weekend. All games are 70 minutes in length, with a 10 minute halftime period. All U14 children will play nine consecutive regular season games where the win/loss record is kept. All regular season games may be played anywhere between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:30pm. Both boys and girls games will be played on the artificial turf field at Franklin elementary. Following the regular season game, a Burlingame Cup tournament will occur. The two teams that make it to the finals of the tournament could play as late as the second Saturday in November. The winning team of the Burlingame Cup in this division will advance to the Area tournament, the first weekend in December. U16 (14 & 15 year olds) and U19 (16,17 & 18 year olds): This division participates in Area play and is a traveling team. Although there will be games in Burlingame, half of the schedule may require your player to travel to a neighboring city anywhere from Brisbane to Redwood City to Half Moon Bay. Practices begin the first week in August with the first games being played by the third week in August. Teams may practice two times per week. Games can occur anytime Monday through Sunday. Usually there is one game a week, but occasionally there can be two. The regular season may run eight to ten games with an Area tournament following regular season. The winner of the Area will advance to sectional and perhaps state play. Games for U16 players are 80 minutes in length, while those for U19 players are the full 90 minutes in length. What do I do if it’s raining on game day? Just because it is wet outside, don’t assume that the games will be canceled. Kids are waterproof and have been known to play soccer in the rain. On rainy days, the fields will be checked for playability. If it is determined that we should stay off the field, you should receive a call from your team parent or coach. We ask that you, as a parent, do not call the AYSO phone line as it is reserved for coaches, on days such as these. If every parent tried calling the phone line, no one could get though. If you don’t hear from your coach or team parent, go to the field at game time. You can also check the website at http://www.burlingameayso.org/. Alternately, if you are a coach, you may try to get through to the Burlingame AYSO line (344-AYSO). If the message says nothing about games being called off, go to the field where your game is scheduled. If it is determined that the fields are OK to play on, the morning of the game, then it becomes the individual game referee’s decision to call off the game if conditions worsen.
Player based questions:Why can’t my daughter keep her earrings on? She just got her ears pierced and she is can’t take them out or the holes will close.Safety on the field is the first responsibility of every coach, referee, and all other AYSO officials. Players may not wear any earrings, bracelets, watches, barrettes, or any other object that could possibly cause injury to him/herself or another player. Pierced earrings will not be allowed, and covering them with tape is not an acceptable solution. NO EXCEPTIONS! If your child is considering a new ear piercing, please encourage them to defer the piercing until after the soccer season. (Also, please note that experience has proven that a freshly pierced ear will not close during the length of a game.) What sort of hair clips can my child wear? Metal and plastic hair clips are not allowed on the field for practice or during games. Players with long hair may wish to wear soft hair ties such as “scrunchies”. The referee shall decide if an article of clothing is unsafe. How are injuries handled during a match? The referee shall decide when to stop play to take care of an injury. At the younger ages (U6 and U8) the referees are encouraged to stop play immediately. Older players may attempt to feign an injury as a tactical move, or may “bounce back” from a minor fall. As a courtesy, a team is encouraged to kick the ball out of play, as the referee can most easily deal with the injury at that time. If a serious injury occurs, the referee will stop play as soon as he/she is aware of the injury. A player that is bleeding shall not participate in the match until the bleeding has stopped and any blood on his/her clothing is covered or removed. (New parents please note that this seldom occurs.) The doctor said that my son can play with his arm splint. Why can’t he play? While the doctor may be representing your son’s interest appropriately, the risk to other players mandates that the splinted player limit his participation to that of moral support on the sidelines. Players may not wear casts or splints that could possibly cause injury to him/herself or another player. NO EXCEPTIONS! This rule applies to practices as well as games. What about eyeglasses and hearing aids? Prescription glasses, hearing aids and medical alerts bracelets may be worn to practices and games. The use of a strap to hold your eyeglasses and/or specialized eyeglasses for sport are recommended. The referee may request the medical alerts be taped down but NOT completely covered Players do not have to wear cleats to play. Athletic shoes are fine, especially for younger players. Cleats can, however, help the more aggressive older players with their footing on the sometimes slippery grass. If you buy cleats for your child, be sure to purchase soccer cleats. (Soccer cleats do not have a toe cleat.) If your child already owns cleats designed for another sport, that you wish them to utilize for soccer, please note that the toe cleat must be cut off to permit the shoe’s use on the soccer field.
Referee, Coach and Volunteer questions:How much do the board members, coaches and referees get paid?Board members get 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. What should I do if I’m having problems with the coach? If a serious problem should arise concerning the coach, the parents should:
My daughter 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. I have some comments about the refereeing of my child’s game. The referee administrators are your point of contact regarding referee issues, and are available to discuss any of your concerns. Please remember that the referees, like all other officials in AYSO, are volunteers who have dedicated a large amount of time and energy in training and refereeing every week. Your child’s game may be the referee’s third or fourth game of the day. What do the referee badges mean? Soccer referees in every league come to the game with differing degrees of training and experience. The badges represent the level of training the referee has accomplished. Ask a referee what his/her badge represents. What should I do if a referee makes a terrible call? As upsetting as it may be, the best course is to try to forget about the mistake and get back into the game. The referees are human, so they will make mistakes just like everyone else. Put yourself in their shoes and think how you would like people to respond if you made a mistake. Also, please keep in mind that the referee is on the field and is seeing the game from a completely different location than you, and that his interpretations and application of the laws may differ from yours. I see some real bad referees out there. What can I do? Contact the Regional Referee Administrator and find out when the next referee class is. Then come to the 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/she is performing. Their poor performance may be the result of a lack of understanding of the laws of the sport on your part. Volunteers willing to referee games are difficult to come by. You sure can. AYSO will provide you with all the training for free. The only thing we ask for is 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 other ways you can help. Talk to the Regional Commissioner or another board member about how you can help bring this quality soccer program to your community. You’ll be glad you did.
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