It’s Not Just for Kids Anymore!
NAASA
AYSO’s Adult Soccer Program
Workshop #105
Workshop Objectives
• Provide a history and current state of
AYSO’s adult soccer program
• Offer ideas of program structure
o Playing format and league administrative needs
o Refereeing program
o Team management – rosters • team fees • player fees
• Discuss benefits to your youth programs
• Provide the tools for league startup
• Roundtable discussions Q & A
Who is?
The Adult Division of
AYSO for players
aged out of U19 with
no current age limit
NAASA is one of the
largest National
Affiliates of USASA
with 4300+ players
NAASA – Past and Present
• In1999 Sandi Volkert, an avid adult soccer player and AYSO staff
member, along with other staff and volunteers developed an adult
soccer program which the NBOD approved as a pilot.
• In November of 2001 the first adult league (then called AAL –
AYSO Adult League) was formed in Miami, FL followed by Weston,
FL, Arizona and West Virginia in 2002.
NAASA – Past and Present
• The adult division was then affiliated through USASA (known as
the United States Adult Soccer Association)
• In 2009 the adult program was separately incorporated and
NAASA was now the new name and face of AYSO’s adult division.
A separate Board of Directors was also formed as the program’s
administrative and development team at the national level.
NAASA – Past and Present
• In late 2012 the NAASA corporation was officially dissolved
along with their Board of Directors, and the adult division was
again back under AYSO’s corporate umbrella.
• NAASA is one of the largest, or may even be the largest National
Affiliate within USASA, and carries several votes representing
AYSO adult players with USASA and US Soccer at their annual
meetings.
NAASA – Past and Present
• NAASA has a presence in 18 states with over 4350 players.
• At this time all NAASA leagues must be associated with an AYSO
youth program.
League Format
• Not all NAASA leagues look alike, operate alike, or are structured
alike.
• Depending upon the need of the league how they play, when they
play, and where they play can be considerably different.
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3 v 3 short sided play
Weekly pick-up games
11 v 11 outdoor
Indoor Futsal soccer
Men’s league only
Women’s league only
Co-recreational
Co-competitive
Indoor field
League Format
• 3 v 3 format —
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perfect for small registrations
small field space requirements
only one referee needed
no referees needed…players call their own fouls
great tournament format
social soccer benefits
• Weekly pick-up games format —
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no structured rosters needed
teams are mixed up each week
social soccer benefits
great tournament format
only one referee may be needed
no referees needed…players call their own fouls
League Format
• 11 v 11 format —
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formalized rosters by team
regulation size fields are needed
age bracketing may be used
social soccer benefits
traditional diagonal or dual referee system used
larger registrations needed to support
• Indoor Futsal or Indoor Field format —
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team size varies – normally short sided
indoor facilities needed
different set of playing rules
different refereeing system needed
good for weather challenged communities
age bracketing may be used
social soccer benefits
League Format
• Men’s or Women’s league format —
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gender specific
recreational or competitive (or both)
age bracketing may be used
competitive will need higher level officiating
teams can participate in other USASA / US Soccer tournaments
social soccer benefits
• Co-Rec or Co-Competitive format —
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team size varies – can be short sided or 11 v 11
customized league rules may be implemented
age bracketing may be used
social soccer benefits
can be run side-by-side within the league
spouses, friends and co-workers can play together
Administrative Needs
• There are three (3) main positions that must be filled for each
league to be accepted into NAASA.
 director
 treasurer
 registrar
• Other positions may be needed to support the league
 field support
 referee assigner (USSF and or AYSO)
 media support (website, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• The league should have a set of rules and regulations that best
support their program. Depending upon the format of the league
special rules and regulations other than FIFA Laws of the Game
may be needed.
Administrative Needs
• Support from the AYSO youth program should be in place, but
those members of the youth board should not be tasked to
actively support the NAASA league due to their specific job
descriptions and time constraints for the youth in their Region.
• Field needs and other equipment needs can be shared with the
youth program such as:
 field setup – nets, corner flags, field marking
 player vests can be shared for those programs offering “pick-up formats”
 volunteers can share the time needed to maintain fields and other needs
Referee Program
• Systems of Control:
 who can referee in NAASA?
 is there an official NAASA referee training program?
 what league formats call for what type of officiating?
• Who can referee in NAASA
 Any qualified AYSO or USSF trained referee
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AYSO — current volunteer and capable of controlling the adult level of play
USSF — current year certified and capable of controlling the adult level of play
can you PAY them for their service…YES you can pay either type of referee
 Having a referee administrator will be helpful
o
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assigning your referees
reviewing disputes brought by players and team managers
liaison between NAASA and USSF referees and their programs
Referee Program
• Is there an official NAASA referee training program?
 No…however each referee should have the following:
o
current year volunteer form on file with the National Office (AYSO)
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current year registered with USSF
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capable of controlling the level of play for your adult program
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Senior referees offering support and mentoring for lesser experienced referees
• Types of referee systems of control
 Are all matches refereed the same? No
o
most 11 v 11 or short sided matches should use the 3 referee system
o
3 v 3 formats and other small sided formats may choose the dual system
o
small sided formats may also choose to only use one official or no officials
Team Management
• Registration / Rosters — Player Fees — Team Fees:
 Current methods for player registration
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paper forms supplied by AYSO National Office
player information entered into a traditional spreadsheet such as Excel
3rd party registration programs such as “LeagueApps”
internal registration programs developed for your league
rosters will vary depending upon the type of league format
 Player Fees
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AYSO — $11 internal management and insurance for NAASA at the national level
USASA — $3 membership and $9 insurance (PAI and liability)
US Soccer — $2 (paid through USASA)
 Team Fees
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determined by the individual league
will vary depending upon the type of league format
usually paid each playing season (Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter)
Overall Benefits
• Benefits to the adult program as well as AYSO youth:
 Adult program benefits
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social gathering of friends and family members
healthy activity for all ages
reinforces good sportsmanship within the adults
provides examples to their children
provides a place for our adult youth program volunteers to play
a place to continue playing the game in a fair, fun and family atmosphere
 AYSO youth program benefits
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develops more volunteers for the youth program
can be a financial benefit through funding youth scholarship funds
youth coaches and referees can now play on the same field together
good sportsmanship is developed and passed down to the youth (hopefully)
AYSO family night out at the adult fields
AYSO youth can make new friends while their parents play
continued support for the game, team support, leadership, etc. with the youth
Steps to starting a league
• First and foremost!!! — you need to get the approval and
support from your Regional Commissioner and Area Director.
• Second — the minimum three administrators to start the league
need to be identified:
o director
o treasurer
o registrar
• Third — go online to AYSO’s website and navigate to NAASA to
download the application form as well as other documents:
http://adultsoccer.org/about/forms/
How do I start a league?
How do I start a league?
• Fourth — determine league format (should have been done prior
to the first step) and acquire your fields, equipment, indoor playing
facility, etc.
• Fifth — calendar out your playing seasons and prepare for
registration (calendaring and season planning should have been
done prior to the first step)
• Sixth — advertise within the Region/Area/Section that your
league will be starting up and hold your registration(s). This
includes contacting other soccer organizations to see if their adult
parents and volunteers wish to join NAASA.
Start an adult league today!
Q &A
Workshop #105