Sunday, September 15, 2019 marked 55 years since AYSO's inception!
Thank you to everyone who helped celebrate by wearing your AYSO gear, snapping’ a pic & posting it to social media using #WearYourAYSO! It was awesome to see pictures from all parts of AYSO, whether it was a team photo, siblings smiling together, a long time volunteer or even some youth referees! We look forward to more celebrations this year in honor of 55 years of AYSO soccer!
AYSO programs that grow, are strong in their community. And AYSO is committed to supporting Regions who have ideas on growing and strengthening themselves, including in non-traditional ways that support the AYSO mission, vision, and values.
As a way of demonstrating this commitment, 2019 NAGM attendees were invited to submit player growth ideas for their Region, in a new “Shark Tank” style contest, with the winner receiving $5,000 to help implement their new idea.
More than 20 entries were received covering a wide range of entrepreneurial ideas to encourage new player registrations and grow their community brand. After a difficult process of evaluating a lot of great ideas, the winner is RC Alan Dagen, 14/I/644, Weston Florida. Alan articulated a detailed plan to begin an after-school rec/training program to generate more AYSO awareness and ultimately leverage the experience to attract more players to his Region’s core program.
While there was only one prize awarded, all the entrants are truly winners. They will receive direct outreach from the AYSO development staff professionals to offer assistance in shaping and implementing their ideas.
If you have an entrepreneurial, creative idea to grow your program, don’t keep it to yourself and don’t assume you have to figure it out on your own. We’re actively looking for new and creative ideas that offer more AYSO soccer to more kids; your idea might be the next “big thing” that other Regions can emulate, so we want to hear about it. Contact your Area Director or Section Director for support, and reach out to
Scott Snyder at the AYSO Office to help direct you to the resources you need.
The more you grow, the stronger your program becomes. And remember…new players come with parents - bringing you a source for new volunteers, too.
We look forward to your ideas!