Registration for the spring 2012 season opens on February 1 at https://www.brooklynayso.net/inleague and will close on March 1.

Early registration is recommended, as over the past few seasons many divisions have been reaching capacity before the deadline. Once a division reaches its full capacity, children will be put on a waiting list. If space becomes available, they will be placed on teams in the order in which they appear on the list.

Please keep in mind that players are assigned to teams by the Division Coordinators prior to the start of the season. At that time, as much information as is available on player skills is used to provide evenly balanced teams for the season.

Players may not request to be placed on a particular team. Except for the following, AYSO Region 473 will not guarantee placement:

Coaches will be placed on the same team as their children unless otherwise requested;Siblings within the same Division may be placed on the same team;

Placement for good cause shown

Although these guidelines may surprise many parents, especially in the older divisions, where the pattern of being on the same team with the same coach season after season has been established for some time, they are not new. The reality is that honoring these requests inevitably leads to imbalance within the divisions, which makes the playing experience a negative one for all involved. Please understand that the division coordinators are doing their best to ensure balanced teams and a positive experience for everyone.

When registering your child, keep in mind that AYSO is an all-volunteer organization, and consider volunteering as a referee  or coach for your child's team.  With over 2,800 players in our region, referees and coaches are always welcome!

Players must wear shin guards and sneakers. No food or drink are permitted in the gyms. We are guests. Leave the gym spotless. All games must start and end on time.

1. Check your team assignment at https://www.brooklynayso.net/inleague. If you have difficulty doing this you may contact us at Support@BrooklynAYSO.org for assistance, and a volunteer will get back to you shortly.

2. If you want to contact your Division Coordinator you may contact him or her on the site "Contacts" icon, which lists phone and email info at: http://www.brooklynayso.org/contacts.php.

3. If you want to check the schedule, click on the following link and look for your division at the top of the page: http://www.brooklynayso.org/schedule.php. Remember - ALL Games must start and end on time.

4. If you need directions to the gyms, click on the fields link (U-6 play at BFS/U-8 play at BFS, PS 38 / U-10, U-12 AND U-14-U19 play at Packer: http://www.brooklynayso.org/fields.php.

5. Rules for each division are on the corresponding link in blue text at the top of the rules page: http://www.brooklynayso.org/gameRules.php. Print and bring these with you.

6. COACHES: Please print medical release forms for each player and have these signed by the parents at the January 7 game. Always bring these to the games with you in the event that emergency medical treatment is needed.

GYM SET UP

7. Pop Up Goal Instructions for all U-6 and U-8 coaches (only) at BFS and PS 38. We use PUGG pop-up goals. To fold the goals, please refer to the instructions on the inside corners of the goals; you'll see an arrow showing how you should twist it for the fold. Please note that there will be a black, flat nylon bag with AYSO painted on one side. The goals and ball should be placed in this bag at the and of each game date and stored in the corner of the gym at BFS. At PS 38, the goals and balls must be removed from the gym and taken away at the end of the last game. The school's goals are already set up at Packer (U-10 and up).

8. All gyms (U-8 thru U-19) should have a goal box marked on the floors in blue masking tape (provided to each division's gym early the first Saturday morning), which must be removed at the end of each game date. Blue tape must be passed on to the first coach of the following week's game or left in the goal bags for U-8), unless directed to do otherwise by your Div. Coord.

9. We want all of the kids to have fun. Keep your comments POSITIVE and constructive. Please thank the coaches and refs at the end of each game. They are all volunteers. Enjoy the season.

Intermediate Referee Course
Sunday, January 29, 2012, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Trevor Day Middle School, 1 West 88th Street (5th Floor), New York, NY

Prerequisites: AYSO Basic Referee certification and game experience at the U10 and U12 level.

Roster Number: 201106772

TO REGISTER, FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS:
1) Browse to http://eayso.org
2) Login with your e-mail address and password
3) Under "Those who have already volunteered" click "Enroll to take a class"
4) Fill in State: NY, and click "Search"
5) Click the button next to "Intermediate Referee Course...01/29/12"
6) Click "Course signup" and complete the signup form

Click on the Facebook "Like" Button at the bottom of the tab menu on the lower left of our homepage.

Or visit us on our Facebook page.

It's a great way to keep up-to-date on all things Brooklyn AYSO!

Players are assigned to teams by the Division Coordinators prior to the start of the season. At that time, as much information as is available on player skills is used to provide evenly balanced teams for the season.

Players may not request to be placed on a particular team. Except for the following, AYSO Region 473 will not guarantee placement:

Coaches will be placed on the same team as their children unless otherwise requested;

Siblings within the same Division may be placed on the same team;

Placement for good cause shown

Although these guidelines may surprise many parents, especially in the older divisions, where the pattern of being on the same team with the same coach season after season has been established for some time, they are not new. The reality is that honoring these requests inevitably leads to imbalance within the divisions, which makes the playing experience a negative one for all involved. Please understand that the division coordinators are doing their best to ensure balanced teams and a positive experience for everyone.

Welcome to the Fall 2011 Season

In addition to our trained and certified volunteers – our neighbors, friends and parents or guardians just like you – I am asking you to please review this transmittal as well as the links to ensure that when our Players and Youth Referees step on to our fields they are playing in a Safe Haven Environment.

Whether you are a new or returning family, understanding these components of our Safe Haven environment – Kids Zone – Parent Pledge  - Youth Referee Policy – Goal Safety – Concussions - will give you and your children a safe and positive experience.

Kids Zone – can be found here in both English and Spanish. Please download and review it with your family, sign it and bring it with you on game day. Every coach will review Kid Zone with you before the first game.

AYSO Parent Code of Conduct

As a parent, you play a special role in contributing to the needs and development of youngsters.

Through your encouragement and good example, you can help all the boys and girls learn good sportsmanship and self-discipline. In AYSO, young people learn to work together, to sacrifice for the good of the team, to enjoy winning and deal appropriately with defeat - all while becoming physically fit and healthy. Best of all, they have fun.

Support Your Child
Supporting your child by giving encouragement and showing interest in their team is very important.

Help your child work toward skill improvement and good sportsmanship in every game. Teach your child that hard work and an honest effort are often more important than victory - that way your child will always be a winner despite the outcome of the game!

Always Be Positive
Parents serve as role models for their children. Be aware of this fact and work to be a positive role model. Applaud good plays by your child's team as well as good plays by the opposing team.

Support all efforts to remove verbal and physical abuse from youth sports.

Remember: Your Child Wants To Have Fun
Remember that your child is the one playing soccer, not you. It's very important to let children establish their own goals - to play the game for themselves. Take care not to impose your own standards and goals on your children.  

Don't put too heavy a burden on your child to win games. Surveys reveal that 72% of children would rather play for a losing team than ride the bench for a winning team.

Children play for the fun of playing.

Reinforce Positive Behavior
Positive reinforcement is the best way to help your child achieve their goals and overcome their natural fear of failure. Nobody likes to make mistakes. If your child does make one, remember it's all part of learning, so encourage your child's efforts and point out the good things your child accomplished.

Don't Be A Sideline Coach Or Referee
AYSO coaches and referees are usually parents just like you. They volunteer their time to help make your child's soccer experience a positive one. They need your support, too.

That means refrain from coaching or refereeing from the sidelines. In a volunteer organization like AYSO there's always an opportunity to take your interest in coaching or refereeing to the next level and become one yourself!

Our Youth Referee Policy – reminds all of us that Youth referees are also children under the supervision of our AYSO Volunteers. Referee Mentors, Assistant Referees, Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Team Parents are required to ensure that players and youth referees are free from verbal, physical or emotional abuse, among other concerns, and there is zero tolerance for any abuse of the youth referees as they enter the field, officiate the game and leave the field.

In the event that an adult chooses to engage in abusive behavior, e.g., taunting, yelling at, charging the field, or in any manner intimidating a Youth referee, in addition to ejection from the game, the adult is subject to a 2- year suspension from all AYSO activities. Their children are welcome to continue participation, but the abusing adult may not attend. Upon completing the suspension, the abusing adult may return after completing the Safe Haven course, but without Volunteer privileges, and with the understanding that a second infraction will result in an additional 3-year suspension.

Concussions –(AYSO Concussion Action Plan) traumatic head injury often occurs when a blow to the body or head causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull.

• Coaches are required to report all head injuries to the Safety Director and encourage parents to seek medical care for their child.
• Any player with a suspected head injury may not return without Medical Clearance.

Here is a link to the CDC on Concussions & Head/Brain Injuries to give you a better understanding of the very serious issues. http://www.cdc.gov/concussion/headsup/

Goal and Goal Cart Safety – a few very simple rules will keep our players, younger siblings and spectators safe:

• Securely anchor or counter-weight portable goals at all times. Every goal should have at least two sandbags counter-balancing the rear corners of every goal.
• Never climb on the net or goal framework.
• Check all connecting hardware during morning set up. Replace damaged or missing fasteners immediately or if damaged return to cart.
• If a goal becomes damaged during Game Days, tip unsecured or damaged goals onto their goal face and move them away from the field. Use cones or bags for the goal until a replacement goal is available.
• Never climb on the Goal Cart – Parents are responsible for the safety of their children.

Have a fun, fair and safe season.