Frequently Asked Questions

• Parents
  • How can I register my child to play in AYSO?
  • What is the refund policy in case I need to withdraw my child?
  • When is the season?
  • Where are games normally played?
  • Can a player switch teams?
• Coaches
  • When do we get roster information?
  • When do we normally start practices?
  • When is the first game?
  • How many practices per week do you recommend?
  • How do we arrange for a practice field?
  • How do I get a login for the Coaches Section of the Region 44 AYSO Website?
  • Do you need to sign up for the coaching clinics?
  • What do I need to bring to the coaching clinics?
  • Can I coach two teams?
  • Do I need to get fingerprinted to coach in AYSO?
  • Do I pick my assistant coach or is someone who signed up assigned?
  • I signed up to be an assistant coach, not a head coach. Does this stuff still apply to me?
  • How many players will be on a team and how many do we field for a game?
  • Just planning my initial parents meeting and noted the online handbook is outdated. Will someone be updating this for the current year?
  • I was not able to attend our training sessions, but would like to get trained. Any possibility of attending a training with another region?
  • I'm an assistant coach, and as of yet, I haven't been contacted by the head coach. What should I do?
  • What fields can we practice on?
  • How do I get in to the goal tubes?
  • If two teams have similar colors, what team needs to change their shirts?
  • How do we do corner kicks for U8 ? Do they take them from the corner?

Please see the Registration page for instructions.

Requests received:

• Prior to August 1 for Fall, or February 1 for Spring: Full refund
• Prior to first game of the season: Partial refund (amount will vary, generally between 1/2 and 2/3 of fee)
• After the season begins: No refund

All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to the treasurer or registrar.

The season begins the first weekend after the Labor Day Weekend (September 7th this year) and ends two weekends prior to Thanksgiving Weekend (November 9th). For U12/U14, a regional tournament is played the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Normally team practices will begin two to three weeks prior to the first game (except for U5 and U6).

• U6 games are at the same time each Saturday at Ortega Park.
• U7-U10 play on Saturdays in Sunnyvale.
• U12 to U14 play on Saturdays in Sunnyvale and surrounding cities as they interlock with other regions.
• U16 and U19 play on Sunday afternoons in Sunnyvale and other cities between here and Portola Valley.

In most cases, the answer is no. However, for any player issues, please contact your division coordinator.

Team rosters will be available online to coaches the first or second week of August and to parents a week before the first game.

Normally, coaches start practice two to three weeks prior to the first game. Since many people are on vacation, you may have to be flexible on starting your practices. Also, if you are comfortable with your assistant coach, he or she could run the practices in your absence.

Typical AYSO Practice Schedule by Division

The season starts the first Saturday after Labor Day.

For the U6 division, you will hold a practice for a half hour before your Saturday game. U8 practice once during the week for an hour, and U10 practices once or twice per week for an hour. U12 and above will typically practice twice during the week. The practices are a little longer, probably closer to 1.5 hours.

During the fall, AYSO has permits for most fields in Sunnyvale. At the coaches meeting, you can verify the fields available for practice. As a coach, you decide the field to practice on.

You do not need a lined field to practice. For U10 and below, the focus should be on teaching proper technique vs. tactics. Therefore, a lined field is not required for practice. If there is more than one team using a lines-field, please use only half of the field for practice.

You would select the “Need a Username/Password?” link on this page page on the Region 44 Web Site. Just follow the instructions to obtain the password. If you have any issues with accessing the Member Section, please contact your Division Coordinator or the Regional Coach Administrator.

Yes. However, if you haven't signed up, we won't turn you away. By signing up for the clinic, we have a better idea on the number of instructors, teaching materials, and other materials required for the course.

The coaching clinics consist of lecture, demonstration, and participation. You will be both indoor and outdoors. To be safe, please bring sun care, water and exercise shoes. You should be prepared for some exercise (i.e. simulating drills).

If one of the teams in an U6 team, you can coach two teams. You may need a little help from your assistant coaches, but you should be able to survive the season.

No. We are no longer requiring fingerprinting.

During registration, we request volunteers for head coach, assistant coach, team parent, etc. When putting together the teams, we put head and assistant coaches together based upon the registration forms. If you would like to coach with a particular person, note that on your child's registration.

Yes. As an assistant coach, you will need to fill in for the head coach if he misses a practice or game. Also, in the higher age groups, the head coach relies more on the assistant to help with the drills during practice.

Roster size is usually dependent on the number of coaches and players available.
For the Fall 2012 season:

Although the current handbook is dated 1999, most of the information is still applicable (except for the calendar, board members, budget, and sponsors). Any of the time dependent information should be available on this web site.

Yes, you may attend any local AYSO Region which is providing training for coaches. You can check under Links » Neighbor Regions to view the web sites of local regions.

With the end of summer, some people have been on vacation. If you don't hear from your head coach by the 22nd of August, please notify your division coordinator.

The City of Sunnyvale sponsors AYSO and issues permits for our practices fields. Here's the list of the fields we are permitted to practice on: AYSO Practice Fields, Mon-Fri, 4pm-8pm

• Cumberland
• Hollenbeck/Challenger
• Las Palmas (No Tuesdays)
• Nimitz
• Ponderosa
• West Valley
• Panama
• Raynor

You can practice on other fields. However, if you practice at other locations, the organization that has permits to practice there may ask you to leave.

The combination lock code for this year is “2006”.

In most cases, this should not be an issue because no two teams should have similar colors. For the older age groups that may play in tournaments or against teams from other regions, the home team should change their uniforms. As a good practice, you should bring your pennies to the game at all times.

Yes, U8 players take corner kicks from the corner.