What's new

NEXT continues this Sunday, with age-specific scrimmages on Sunday, all day, at McKinley. If you want to play with a friend who was assigned to a different team, this is your chance! If you want to play with your older brother, you can do that, too. See ayso13.org/next for the schedule.

Next week, Oct 27, will be tryouts for All-Stars and tournament teams. Sign up now at ayso13.org/all-stars. How does one evaluate a 7-year-old soccer player? Find the guidelines at ayso13.org/coach.

Final picture day is Nov 2 -- if your team missed their previous appointment, or you want an individual makeup picture, check the schedule at ayso13.org/pictures and come during any opening. Have your team number, coach name, and coach email ready on a piece of paper they can photograph.

Reminders

Coaches and spectators should be behind the touch line, between the penalty areas. To be fair to both teams, this reduces visual distractions both for the players and the referees.

Dogs stay home. Squirrels, rabbits, birds, and lizards may come out to watch the game. Just not dogs.

Teams opening at Victory Park are asked to appoint a parent to come at 7am and help set up the park. At the end of the day, the 12U teams are responsible for packing away the admin tent. Please sign up at https://www.wejoinin.com/AYSORegion13.

Upcoming

See more by subscribing to the Region 13 calendar. The board meeting is usually the first Thursday of each month.

Coaches

Here's a suggestion: Introduce deception. Can the kids name all the restarts? Does the team have a choreographed play, or three, for each of them? Soccer is a thinking game, so sneaky and surprising restarts are part of the fun.

Here are some favorite deceptions you can do on your own, anytime

• The Messi Feint: drop your shoulder and turn your head to act like you're going one way, and use the outside of your foot to push it the other way. The trick is to compress the other, "anchor" leg so it can push off the ground explosively.
• The Ronaldo Chop: act like you're going forward, but step over the ball with your anchor leg, with your toe pointed slightly out, and tap the ball to the side. The trick is to compress the anchor leg so you can do a 90º turn after the ball.
• The Cruyff Turn: why shoot on goal when you can just dribble around the goalkeeper? With your anchor foot planted slightly forward, act like you're going to take a shot, but instead tap the ball so it rolls behind your anchor leg, and then chase after it.

Notice a pattern? A) theatrics, and B) all three of these involve sleight of ... foot. While everyone is watching the foot near the ball, the real action is in your anchor leg, which you compress, storing energy in your Achilles tendon, so you can get to the ball first, after you've pushed it into open space in an unexpected direction.

As players gain comfort with the ball itself, direct their attention to posture, balance, and the empty space between people.

If you have any trouble at the field, call or text 626-702-AYSO. The opposing teams were notified, and they and the referees retired for a cool and refreshing beverage. If your team lacks the minimum number of players to play, it's polite to cancel ahead of time.

Referees

Expect Good Sporting Behavior, from the players, the coaches, and especially the spectators. It's ok for you to avoid a confrontation on Saturday, when everyone is hot and cranky. Report it at ayso13.org/feedback for later followup. On the bright side, it's wonderful that 6-year-old soccer game can be just as thrilling and engaging to watch as a Premier League match!

Managers

This is the point in the season when some spectators start to get carried away by the excitement. Some of the kids will be playing their 6th ever soccer match this week! Some of the referees you will be officiating their 6th ever match this week! Managing expectations starts with building personal relationships among the team parents. Does everyone know everyone else's name? Do they have a topic to talk about other than the game in front of them? Help make introductions, and if anyone is drifting off toward the corner flags, invite them to join the rest of the parents in the center.

Nominate the next Region Commissioner

Terry Takahashi's 2-year term as Commissioner of Region 13 ends on February 28, 2025, at which time the Region 13 Board of Directors will elect a new commissioner for a two-year term. If you would like to nominate someone for the position, please email Taj Chiu at taj@ayso13.org before Nov 15. She will present viable candidates for a vote at the December 2024 Region 13 Board of Directors meeting. 

For further information on the role itself, click here.

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