It’s Not Just for Kids Anymore!NAASA

AYSO’s Adult Soccer Program

Workshop #105

Workshop ObjectivesWorkshop Objectives

• Provide a history and current state of AYSO’s adult soccer program• Offer ideas of program structure

o Playing format and league administrative needso Refereeing programo Team management – rosters • team fees •

player fees

• Discuss benefits to your youth programs• Provide the tools for league startup• Roundtable discussions Q & A

Who is?Who is?

The Adult Division of AYSO for players

aged out of U19 with no current

age limit

NAASA is one of the largest

National Affiliates of USASA with 4300+ players

NAASA – Past and PresentNAASA – Past and Present

• In1999 Sandi Volkert, an avid adult soccer player and AYSO staff member, along with other staff and volunteers developed an adult soccer program which the NBOD approved as a pilot.

• In November of 2001 the first adult league (then called AAL – AYSO Adult League) was formed in Miami, FL followed by Weston, FL, Arizona and West Virginia in 2002.

NAASA – Past and PresentNAASA – Past and Present• The adult division was then affiliated through USASA

(known as the United States Adult Soccer Association)

• In 2009 the adult program was separately incorporated and NAASA was now the new name and face of AYSO’s adult division. A separate Board of Directors was also formed as the program’s administrative and development team at the national level.

NAASA – Past and PresentNAASA – Past and Present

• In late 2012 the NAASA corporation was officially dissolved along with their Board of Directors, and the adult division was again back under AYSO’s corporate umbrella.

• NAASA is one of the largest, or may even be the largest National Affiliate within USASA, and carries several votes representing AYSO adult players with USASA and US Soccer at their annual meetings.

NAASA – Past and PresentNAASA – Past and Present

• NAASA has a presence in 18 states with over 4350 players.

• At this time all NAASA leagues must be associated with an AYSO youth program.

• Not all NAASA leagues look alike, operate alike, or are structured alike.

• Depending upon the need of the league how they play, when they play, and where they play can be considerably different.

• 3 v 3 short sided play• Weekly pick-up games• 11 v 11 outdoor• Indoor Futsal soccer• Men’s league only• Women’s league only• Co-recreational• Co-competitive• Indoor field

League FormatLeague Format

League FormatLeague Format• 3 v 3 format —

perfect for small registrations small field space requirements only one referee needed no referees needed…players call their own fouls great tournament format social soccer benefits

• Weekly pick-up games format — no structured rosters needed teams are mixed up each week social soccer benefits great tournament format only one referee may be needed no referees needed…players call their own fouls

League FormatLeague Format

• 11 v 11 format — formalized rosters by team regulation size fields are needed age bracketing may be used social soccer benefits traditional diagonal or dual referee system used larger registrations needed to support

• Indoor Futsal or Indoor Field format — team size varies – normally short sided indoor facilities needed different set of playing rules different refereeing system needed good for weather challenged communities age bracketing may be used social soccer benefits

League FormatLeague Format

• Men’s or Women’s league format — gender specific recreational or competitive (or both) age bracketing may be used competitive will need higher level officiating teams can participate in other USASA / US Soccer tournaments social soccer benefits

• Co-Rec or Co-Competitive format — team size varies – can be short sided or 11 v 11 customized league rules may be implemented age bracketing may be used social soccer benefits can be run side-by-side within the league spouses, friends and co-workers can play together

Administrative NeedsAdministrative Needs

• There are three (3) main positions that must be filled for each league to be accepted into NAASA.

director treasurer registrar

• Other positions may be needed to support the league field support referee assigner (USSF and or AYSO) media support (website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

• The league should have a set of rules and regulations that best support their program. Depending upon the format of the league special rules and regulations other than FIFA Laws of the Game may be needed.

Administrative NeedsAdministrative Needs

• Support from the AYSO youth program should be in place, but those members of the youth board should not be tasked to actively support the NAASA league due to their specific job descriptions and time constraints for the youth in their Region.

• Field needs and other equipment needs can be shared with the youth program such as: field setup – nets, corner flags, field marking player vests can be shared for those programs offering “pick-up formats” volunteers can share the time needed to maintain fields and other needs

Referee ProgramReferee Program

• Systems of Control: who can referee in NAASA? is there an official NAASA referee training program? what league formats call for what type of officiating?

• Who can referee in NAASA Any qualified AYSO or USSF trained referee

o AYSO — current volunteer and capable of controlling the adult level of playo USSF — current year certified and capable of controlling the adult level of playo can you PAY them for their service…YES you can pay either type of referee

Having a referee administrator will be helpfulo assigning your refereeso reviewing disputes brought by players and team managerso liaison between NAASA and USSF referees and their programs

Referee ProgramReferee Program

• Is there an official NAASA referee training program?

No…however each referee should have the following:o current year volunteer form on file with the National Office (AYSO)

o current year registered with USSF

o capable of controlling the level of play for your adult program

o Senior referees offering support and mentoring for lesser experienced referees

• Types of referee systems of control

Are all matches refereed the same? Noo most 11 v 11 or short sided matches should use the 3 referee system

o 3 v 3 formats and other small sided formats may choose the dual system

o small sided formats may also choose to only use one official or no officials

Team ManagementTeam Management

• Registration / Rosters — Player Fees — Team Fees:

Current methods for player registrationo paper forms supplied by AYSO National Officeo player information entered into a traditional spreadsheet such as Excelo 3rd party registration programs such as “LeagueApps”o internal registration programs developed for your leagueo rosters will vary depending upon the type of league format

Player Feeso AYSO — $11 internal management and insurance for NAASA at the national levelo USASA — $3 membership and $9 insurance (PAI and liability)o US Soccer — $2 (paid through USASA)

Team Feeso determined by the individual leagueo will vary depending upon the type of league format o usually paid each playing season (Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter)

Overall BenefitsOverall Benefits

• Benefits to the adult program as well as AYSO youth:

Adult program benefitso social gathering of friends and family memberso healthy activity for all ageso reinforces good sportsmanship within the adultso provides examples to their childreno provides a place for our adult youth program volunteers to playo a place to continue playing the game in a fair, fun and family atmosphere

AYSO youth program benefitso develops more volunteers for the youth programo can be a financial benefit through funding youth scholarship fundso youth coaches and referees can now play on the same field togethero good sportsmanship is developed and passed down to the youth (hopefully)o AYSO family night out at the adult fieldso AYSO youth can make new friends while their parents playo continued support for the game, team support, leadership, etc. with the youth

Steps to starting a leagueSteps to starting a league

• First and foremost!!! — you need to get the approval and support from your Regional Commissioner and Area Director.

• Second — the minimum three administrators to start the league need to be identified:

o directoro treasurero registrar

• Third — go online to AYSO’s website and navigate to NAASA to download the application form as well as other

documents: http://adultsoccer.org/about/forms/

How do I start a league?How do I start a league?

How do I start a league?How do I start a league?

• Fourth — determine league format (should have been done prior to the first step) and acquire your fields, equipment, indoor playing facility, etc.

• Fifth — calendar out your playing seasons and prepare for registration (calendaring and season planning should have been done prior to the first step)

• Sixth — advertise within the Region/Area/Section that your league will be starting up and hold your registration(s). This includes contacting other soccer organizations to see if their adult parents and volunteers wish to join NAASA.

Start an adult league today!Start an adult league today!

Q & AQ & A

Workshop #105