Frequently Asked 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 6 philosophies:

• Everyone Plays
• Balanced Teams
• Open Registration
• Positive Coaching
• Good Sportsmanship
• Player Development

Information regarding the AYSO program, in general, can be found at www.ayso.org. The Burlingame AYSO organization is the largest youth sports program in the city.

What is PIE?

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.

How do I register my child?

Families must first pre-register their child here at www.burlingameayso.org. AYSO National requires use of a registration system called “SportsConnect”. If you have not registered previously with Burlingame AYSO, you will need to create a new account. Players new to Burlingame and new volunteers will need to be able to provide a copy of the new player’s birth certificate or a copy of the new volunteer’s photo ID, as applicable.

Please note that the current registration process due to COVID-19 is a waitlist-only registration until we have more information about what the Fall Season will look like.

We encourage you to register for the waitlist as soon as possible to enable us to best gauge interest and support our volunteer recruitment efforts. Burlingame AYSO is a 100% Volunteer-run Organization. Please submit your interest in volunteering here!

When will we be notified if my child that registered late, has been accepted on a team?

We are currently only registering players for the waitlist while we determine whether a Fall Season is feasible in light of COVID-19. We will determine by July 1 whether we will proceed with a season, at which time you will need to return to your account and complete registration and pay the season registration fee ($170 for Burlingame residents, $255 for non-residents).

Every attempt is made to allow all players to play. 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.

What is the Fall 2020 Season Registration Fee?

We are hopeful that we can support a Fall Season while we globally also navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. We also understand that a number of families in our community may be experiencing economic hardship at this time and we have determined to keep 2020 season rates as low as possible, at our 2019 early bird registration rate of $170 (residents) and $255 (nonresidents). Scholarships are also available. Please email us to learn more.

What happens if the Season is cancelled?

The safety of our players and community are our first priority. If it becomes unsafe to continue with the Season, we will cancel. It is our intention to support as robust a refund as possible on any amounts should the season be cancelled. Please note that depending upon the date of cancellation, certain non-refundable costs may have been incurred, including player fees paid to AYSO National, uniforms costs, volunteer background check fees, and other non-refundable expenses.

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.

What if I have other registration questions?

If you have other questions, email us at [email protected].

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.

Can I request that my daughter/son be on the same team with friends?

We don't process friend requests for teams for logistical reasons; there are too many teams, players, and coaches to make this practicable. However, one of the perks of coaching in AYSO at the U5/U6 level is making player requests. Your best bet is for you or one of your friends to sign up to coach, and then make player requests. Teams at U7 level and above are built using a player rating system to help ensure the teams are balanced. So it's only at the U5/U6 level that we process coach player requests. While we can't guarantee we can fulfill coach player requests, we definitely do our best to make them happen and they usually do.

How can I request to be placed on a team which will not practice on a certain day due to a potential conflict with another activity?

Practices can be any day of the week, Monday through Friday, depending on a coach’s schedule and field availability. There is no way to assign players to coaches based on practice day preferences.

I need my child to be on their friend’s team so that that other parent can take my child to practice. What can I do?

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. In the Under 10 and older divisions, balancing teams is our primary concern, and with more than 1000 players in our program, special requests are harder to honor without a significant demonstrated need that goes well beyond convenience.

My child can’t make it to practices on the days the coach has chosen. What can I do?

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.

Are there coed teams?

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.

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. Please note that the below is for a typical season, and due to COVID-19, adjustments may be made.

U4 (Playground) (3 year olds):  This program is not about playing soccer games, but developing the skills needed to play any sport. We use soccer themed group activities and parent participation to develop the fundamental motor skills that prepare kids for all sports. Sessions last about 1 hour and will be 7 consecutive sessions. Sessions will be on Village Park or Ray Park in Burlingame.

U5 and U6 (4 & 5 year olds): There are no practices in these divisions. The kids simply play games every Saturday beginning on Opening Day. (Opening Day is typically the first Saturday following Labor Day.) From year to year, we make adjustments to try and track the latest policies, guidelines and best practices set by the national AYSO organization. For the upcoming season, we anticipate that each game will last 20 minutes, split into two ten minute halves with a 5 minute halftime. All U5 and 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 9:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. All games are played on the Village or Ray Park field in Burlingame.

U7 and U8 (6 & 7 year olds): Practices are held once a week in this division and begin in mid-August. There are two to four practices prior to the first game. The first game occurs on Opening Day, which is typically the first Saturday following Labor Day. All games are 40 minutes in length, with a brief halftime period. All U7/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 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. 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 two to four practices prior to the first game. The first game occurs on Opening Day, which is typically the first Saturday following Labor Day. All games are 50 minutes in length, with a 5-10 minute halftime period. All U10 children will play eight consecutive regular season games where the win/loss record is kept. All regular season games are generally played between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Following the regular season game, a Burlingame Cup tournament will occur in which all qualified teams will play four more games in a round-robin format to determine the top four teams that advance to knock-out roundsThe teams that make it to the knock-out rounds of the tournament could play as late as the second Saturday in November.

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 typically the first Saturday following Labor Day. All games are 60 minutes in length, with a 10 minute halftime period. All U12 children will play eight consecutive regular season games where the win/loss record is kept. All regular season games are generally played between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Following the regular season game, a Burlingame Cup tournament will occur in which the teams will play games in a round-robin format to determine the top four teams that advance to knock-out rounds. The teams that make it to the knock-out rounds of the tournament could play as late as the second Saturday in November. The winning team of the Regular Season 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 typically the first Saturday following Labor Day. All games are 70 minutes in length, with a 10 minute halftime period. All U14 children will play eight 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 6:30 p.m. depending on the field. Following the regular season game, a Burlingame Cup tournament will occur. All teams qualify for the round-robin tournament, and the number of games in the round-robin tournament and the number of teams to advance to knock-out rounds will be determined by the number of teams in each division, but will not be more than four. The teams that make it to the knock-out rounds of the tournament could play as late as the second Saturday in November. The winning team of the Regular Season 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 generally practice once a 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 the 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?

On rainy days, the fields will be checked for playability. If it is determined that we should stay off the field, you should receive an email from your team parent or coach. You can also check this website for field closures.

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.

Is their a specific shoe requirement to play soccer? In other words, do our children have to wear cleats?

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.

How much do the board members, coaches and referees get paid?

We are an all-volunteer organization. Board members, coaches, referees, fields administrators and liners alike receive no monetary incentives for their service. Working with children and seeing them develop is our reward. Please volunteer today!

I have never played soccer and I don’t know anything about soccer. Can I still become a coach or a referee?

AYSO will provide you with all the coach and referee 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.