How to Make 2008 the Best Season Ever for Region 22

Please supply comments, ideas and suggestions to make next season our best season ever. Please make sure the comments are constructive, reasonable and well thought out. This is a chance to tell us your ideas to make our soccer program the best it can be. Please make sure your ideas are ones that present solutions whenever possible, and don't just point out problems. However, if your not sure what the solution is, don't let that stop you from pointing out the problem and asking for further input. Thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!

Oh no! Not Rain Again!

Pray the rain stops! I'm afraid if it doesn't and fields are closed, that we'll have to cancel the games since we have no more days to reschedule them. Why does it only rain in La Mirada on FRI/SAT???

We're Going to Need Volunteers for 2008 Board

Please volunteer to help in 2008. We need volunteers for the Board of Directors and for many staff positions associated with the operation of the region. Send an email with your name, address, telephone # and area of interest/expertise to applications@ayso22.org. They will be voted on by the outgoing Board of Directors at our Annual Meeting on Jan 11, 2008.

AYSO Takes Unprecedented Step Saves 35 Year Old Youth Soccer Program in La Mirada

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) demonstrates its on-going commitment to recreational youth soccer with an unprecedented decision to allow its local region in La Mirada to incorporate, yet still receive its supportive resources. In August of this year, the City of La Mirada gave notice to the local AYSO Regional leadership that it was not in compliance with the City’s Athletic Facility Usage Agreement and that after 35 years, the relationship would be terminated on January 8, 2008. Specifically, the agreement contains a provision, now several years in writing, requiring that all organizations using City facilities have their non-profit tax ID form show a La Mirada mailing address. According to the City's Director of Community Services, Tom Robinson, this address ensures local control of the organization. However, AYSO is a national non-profit corporation based in Hawthorne, CA serving over 1,000 other regions, 250,000 registered volunteers supporting over 650,000 players aged 4 to 19 in all 50 states, and has operated as such since 1964.

On October 29, 2007, the Chairman of the National Board of Directors of AYSO notified Region 22 (La Mirada) that the NBOD had authorized the region to establish and operate under a non-profit corporation in La Mirada. Further, the Chairman, Burton Haimes, wrote, “AYSO will continue to provide you, your volunteers and your participants with AYSO insurance, indemnification and the vast array of other services provided to our Regions.” This unprecedented move by AYSO National encapsulates its commitment to provide its regions with the resources and assistance necessary to provide a world-class soccer program for youth and young adults.

AYSO Region 22 is currently serving over 1100 youth and young adults, and their families in La Mirada. AYSO is based on the five philosophies of balanced teams, open registration, good sportsmanship, positive coaching, and everyone plays. Further, AYSO’s Region 22 is proud to serve a large number of special needs players through its VIP Soccer program and received the Volunteers in Action award in 2006, and was recognized by the City Council, the County, the State and the United States House of Representatives and Senate last year for its achievements and service to the City of La Mirada and surrounding communities.

AYSO Region 22 is also the first youth sports organization in La Mirada to implement a safety program requiring every volunteer who comes in contact with the program’s youth to be screened via fingerprinting and a Department of Justice clearance at no cost to the City or the volunteer.

The President of La Mirada’s Athletic Council has expressed that the AYSO National Board’s gesture is “great news.” AYSO Region 22’s leadership is now working to finalizing local non-profit corporate plans and expects to present the City with its Tax-ID with a La Mirada address before the City’s deadline. This final item will allow the 35-year-old region to comply with all of the City’s requirements, thus clearing the way for a quality soccer program for the City’s residents to endure for many years to come and continue making a significant contribution to America’s fastest growing sport.

AYSO 22 Contact:

Regional Commissioner John Schneider

rc@ayso22.org - EMAIL
www.ayso22.org - WEBSITE

866-714-7733 – FAX

The results are in.

Thanks for the votes, the results of which were:

U8: 5:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.	57 (30%)
U8: 5:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.	46 (24%)
U8: 6:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.	32 (16%)
U10-U12: 5:00 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.	30 (15%)
U10-U12: 5:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.	64 (33%)
U10-U12: 6:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.	53 (28%)
U10-U12: 6:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.	8 (4%)

As you can see the results were close. So unfortunately that means that many people will prefer a different schedule no matter which way we schedule things. But, we're going to schedule the night games according to the majority vote from the poll from this week forward.

I realize the poll is not perfect. But, it was the best method we had to quickly gather public opinion on this matter. Thank you to all that participated.