Alliance Players & Teams

PLAYER REGISTRATION

Each ALLIANCE program shall utilize the AYSO registration system of record and the ALLIANCE program(s) for their ALLIANCE players. Players can both dual register at the Regional level and the ALLIANCE level.

  • The player will be responsible for paying all associated fees for the ALLIANCE program.
  • AYSO Region or Area ALLIANCE Director or ALLIANCE Registrar (if applicable) is responsible for assigning the players to the correct teams through the registration system.

After the player is verified to have an AYSO registration, the player must become dual registered with the appropriate State Association or playing circuit by working with the AYSO ALLIANCE Director or State Association registrar.

  • Player Cards will be produced from the State Association registration.
  • The State Association registration form will be the players Medical Release form.
  • Concussion Awareness and/or any additional forms required by AYSO or State Assn.

TEAM LIMITS

In alignment with US Soccer standards and AYSO Philosophies, AYSO ALLIANCE teams are limited to a maximum roster on game day of:

  • 12 players for 10U (Playing 7v7)
  • 16 players for 11U (Playing 9v9)
  • 16 players for 12U (Playing 9v9)
  • 18 players for 12U-14U (Playing 11v11)
  • 18 players for 15U-19U (Playing 11v11)

ALLIANCE may NOT create too many teams in a single division, where that would negatively impact the Region’s Core program. The standard for compliance is roughly 25% of the players in a two-year age group.

AYSO ALLIANCE Teams MUST have one head coach and one assistant coach (a team manager is also highly recommended). Two additional assistant coaches may be added to the coaching staff at the discretion of the head coach. All coaching staff must be AYSO registered volunteers with proper certifications.

Rosters may be further limited by small-sided game rules. Roster size should take into consideration the requirement to achieve the one-half game play per player per game (Everyone Plays).

Notes for high school players:

  • Teams at the 14U division may add additional player(s) if they have a player(s) who will also be playing for their high school.
  • 15U-19U teams may have up to 22 players on the roster if they have a player(s) who will also be playing for their high school. However, they will only be able to “suit” up to 18 players in a game and will have to abide by all playing circuits, tournament restrictions and or any High School association requirements.

TEAM OPERATIONS

Training Sessions:

  • Training fields/times will be coordinated through host Regions’ Field Scheduler. Pending level of  play and in conjunction with AYSO ALLIANCE player development guidelines, each team will be allowed 3 to 6 hours of training per week not to exceed 120 minutes in length per session.
  • Scrimmages (especially with other AYSO entities) are recommended and encouraged (however, these should be considered in the team’s allocated training time).
  • Other voluntary soccer related activities – such as additional soccer training, free-play or summer camps – do not count as practice time. However, an adequate off season and recovery period for all age groups is strongly recommended.

Tournaments:

  • At the beginning of the soccer year (or each season), the coach should map out which tournaments  the team wishes to participate in based on parent input, available funds and team objectives. The number and timing of tournaments should be considered by the coach in overall team planning (periodization) to ensure adequate rest and recovery.
  • The coach or team manager should get the application for the tournament in PRIOR to the due date and consider if needed, block hotels, etc.
  • For consistency, when signing up for a tournament, please use: AYSO ALLIANCE, Gender, Age Group and Coach last name, i.e., AYSO ALLIANCE, 05G, Barrett.

Guest players are permitted to play on the AYSO ALLIANCE team:

  • For “ALLIANCE” players – the AYSO ALLIANCE Coach must get the player ID and applicable paperwork from the coach of the guest player’s team. Then, the coach must fill out and print the Guest form on the state association website.
  • If the guest player is on an AYSO Primary Program team, the AYSO ALLIANCE coach must notify the AYSO ALLIANCE Director, and must register the player with the State Association. The AYSO ALLIANCE Registrar along with the registration form and then fill out and print the GUEST form on the state association website.
  • The Team or parent will be responsible for any state league registration fees.

As long as a State association permits, an AYSO ALLIANCE player can play as a Guest player for another team (AYSO ALLIANCE team or another ALLIANCE). The player’s ALLIANCE Coach must supply the coach of the other team with his player’s player card. Nothing else is required. The coach of the team wanting the player should come to the AYSO ALLIANCE Coach. Exception: If the ALLIANCE team is playing in that tournament, most tournaments do not allow a guest (ALLIANCE) player to play for another team in the tournament.

NOTE: AYSO ALLIANCE guest players (of the same age group) are only allowed for regular season and tournament play if playing circuit permits.

TEAM DISCIPLINE

Each ALLIANCE team (players, coaches, volunteers, parents) participating in any external gaming circuit should adhere to the highest behavioral standards and accept the responsibility of representing the entire Organization.

Coaches should go over expectations of the players and parents/guardians and share their expectations of themselves in the first team meeting after the team has been chosen, including the AYSO Vision, Mission, and Philosophies.

Going over that information PRIOR to the start of the season will help avoid the need of having to invoke any of the following Team Discipline.

Parents will also sign the player parent agreement provided by the local ALLIANCE program. A player may be suspended from playing in a game OR removed from an AYSO ALLIANCE team if:

  • The player’s behavior presents a significant conduct and discipline problem and is disruptive to the team.
  • The player fails to show a good faith effort to attend scheduled team practices, games, or otherwise participate in soccer related activities.
  • The action of any player’s parent who attempts to undermine the discipline of the team and/or the coach’s control of the team.
  • The action of any player’s parent(s) whose sideline behavior disrupts play, is considered abusive or unacceptable to the officials.

Suspension

The Head Coach must document, in writing, and submit to the AYSO ALLIANCE Director the rationale for taking the disciplinary action. It must be demonstrated how the player’s behavior is presenting a significant conduct and discipline problem. Or, in the case of missing team training sessions, must have documented proof that the player has missed OVER half of the scheduled training sessions (minimally – three weeks of normally scheduled training sessions must have passed).

After reviewing the documentation provided, the Head Coach must meet with the AYSO ALLIANCE Director to verify all possible remedies have been exhausted. If, after the meeting, the AYSO ALLIANCE Director and the team’s Head Coach agree, the player may be suspended from the team for a game.

Removal from Team

The Head Coach must document, in writing, and submit to the AYSO ALLIANCE Director the rationale for taking disciplinary action. All AYSO policies and procedures for Dispute Resolution and Due Process shall apply.

If there is a consensus, the parents (and player) will then be invited in to hear the concerns and be allowed to respond. If the AYSO ALLIANCE Director agrees, the player may be removed from the AYSO ALLIANCE team. If the commitment is simply too much for a player/family and there have been no other disciplinary issues, the player should be offered placement on a regular Primary season team (if available).

Obviously, ALL efforts should be made in order to work out the issue involved, and this is, and should always be, a last resort.

Player Misconduct Reporting and Sanctions

  • It is expected that players in the AYSO ALLIANCE program will hold Good Sportsmanship in high regard.
  • Unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated by AYSO ALLIANCE players.
  • AYSO ALLIANCE Director retain the right to discipline a player or coach above those sanctions set by the local State Association or gaming circuit.
  • AYSO ALLIANCE Director retain the right to remove any approved coach from any AYSO ALLIANCE Team.

 

POACHING

  • The State Association or playing circuit rules on player recruitment or “poaching” will be in effect.
  • There will be no signing players from the primary program until all the games are completed in regular season and the primary season is complete.

 

AYSO NOTES

  • There must be a coach, assistant coach or team chaperone of the same sex as the players at ALL team activities.
  • The chaperone ratio should be 1 to 8 on any out-of-town tournaments or events.
  • Safe Haven/CVPA guidelines apply to AYSO ALLIANCE teams at all times.
  • All AYSO policies and procedure for Dispute Resolution and Due Process shall apply to all coaches and volunteers within the AYSO Alliance program.

 

STATE ASSOCIATION NOTES (Subject to local authority)

  • AYSO cannot control or direct external gaming circuit decision-making or operational guidelines or standards.
  • Team schedules (for regular season games) will be on the State Association website or league of play website.
  • Games times and locations sometimes CHANGE… please review the schedule weekly.
  • All teams will be required to abide by all State Association rules and guidelines, i.e., free substitutions.
  • PLEASE direct all questions/comments/etc., related to the State Association or applicable gaming circuit through the Region or Area ALLIANCE Director.