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Welcome to AYSO Region 208! 
If you are a returning player, we're glad to see you again. And if you are new to Region 208, welcome aboard. No matter your age, experience or level of play...we welcome you and we hope your soccer season with us is an enjoyable one! I'd like to offer a few points to help make all of our Saturdays a pleasant experience:
We are a Kids Zone organization. Please be aware of the pledge you signed. Please allow the coaches to coach, the referees to ref, the players to play and the parents to cheer. We are here to provide every family with a fun, safe environment to enjoy the game of soccer.
We need your help! We hope you notice the beauty of our complex at Region 208. Please know that many individuals work diligently each and every week to maintain it. Won't you help us keep it looking good by disposing of trash when you see it (even if it's not yours)?
Do the fundraiser! It's an integral part of what makes Region 208 such a great soccer complex. It's really, really important. No kidding.
Thank you for choosing AYSO for your children's soccer league. We are here to make it a great experience for the whole family. Please thank your coach, your referee and your child for letting you "enjoy their joy"!Barry Wilson
Regional Commissioner
AYSO Region 208 |
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They're Good for a Reason 
The reason our cookie dough (and our new line of delicious Mexican food products) are so good is because they're satisfying to both the stomach and the soul. Of course the cookies tastes good. They're supposed to. The Mexican food does to. But there's just something really good about being filled with the knowledge that you've also contributed to a team- a really big team. Like the entire 208 Region. Your help with every AYSO fundraiser helps to maintain our fields at the level they are and also allows us to make improvements for the safety of your child and the other players.
Last year, only about 20% of the players participated in the fundraiser and we had to reduce our budget for the year and postpone needed field improvements and equipment purchases. We hope 100% of the children enjoy playing on the fields and we would like to have 100% participation in the fundraiser. Won't you please do your part? It tastes so good!
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Soccer fields are the toughest of all turf areas to manage. Season-long traffic in all types of weather can destroy a field, and the playing schedule rarely allows for the aggressive turf management practices that are absolutely essential to keep grass alive. Soccer fields must be constructed and managed properly to provide adequate turf, while minimizing the chance of injury to players. |
Know Thy Game
Why I Can't Be a Referee
To save you the trouble of having to create an excuse of your own, I have listed most of the common excuses for non-participation in one of the most critical functions in the AYSO program.
I Don't Know Anything (Enough) About the Game.
Most of us (including me) knew little, or less than you, about soccer when we became referees. Not to worry... for the investment of a day (seven hours) we will train you with more knowledge of the Laws of the Game than most Americans (and most coaches) ever possess.
I Don't Have Time.
Becoming a referee is the perfect job for those AYSO parents who have crowded schedules. Referees are free to choose the games they can do, which can be scheduled at your convenience; possibly just before or after the game your child is playing. You may do as many or as few games as you choose.
I'm Not the Right Kind of Person.
Yes you are. You obviously care about your children. AYSO is a youth development program run by volunteers. Would you want children trained by an uncertified coach? Who would be better to be a referee than a concerned person like you?
I'd Look Silly in That Uniform.
Good heavens... you obviously haven't seen me and my ghostly white legs!
I'd Be Embarrassed.
Everyone makes mistakes (even those of us who have been officiating for years). The import thing is to approach the job with enthusiasm and enjoyment, because that will be passed on to the players and coaches (and we can team you up with an experienced referee to help you through the initial learning process).
I'm a Woman - I Never See Them Referee.
Wrong! About one third of our referees are female - and they are great! We could use many more. What other time in your life will you ever...with just one breath (or whistle)...be able to make 22 kids stop what they are doing, actually listen to you, and then do what they are told? More than half of our matches are girls and they love having women referees. They are comfortable with them and look up to them as role models. If you are a mom, you already are used to making quick decisions and multi-tasking. (If you are the mother of two or more children, you already know what it means to be a referee!) Don't worry, we will teach you and support you and start you off refereeing younger children. We will be there to mentor you until you feel comfortable and confident.
I can't afford the equipment.
Don't worry about expense, because the Region will provide you with the necessary equipment to get you started.
I don't think I could keep up with the players. Some of them are pretty fast!
Don't worry, most of us can't keep up with them either. We give the older age division games, with the faster players, to our fitter (Aaron and Tom) and more experienced (me) referees. We still have plenty of younger division games on smaller fields where you would be able to keep up. You know, refereeing is also a good way to get a little exercise and to have fun at the same time.
I can't wait to see you at referee training. Our next course is this Sunday (27 September) at the shed. We need you badly. And in return, we promise you:
- Enjoyment
- Exercise
- A sense of belonging to AYSO
- A free uniform
A fan club of kids who think you're great and are thrilled to see you
- A great time - Like many before you, it may turn out to be the most fun you have had in a long time (I'm still doing it 14 years later!)
Take care, and I'll see you out on the fields.
Randy Kaul
Referee Administrator
AYSO Region 208 |
