Getting Ready for the Season
As we get closer to the season, there are a few things that you can do to prepare for the upcoming season.
Get Connected!
Check your email (including spam folder) often as we get ready for the season. Important information about upcoming meetings, player evaluations, and other key information for the season is communicated primarily through email.
Check the website and calendar often to see new announcements and events.
Join us on social media and get ready to share the season of soccer!
Facebook : Hesperia AYSO Region 878 Facebook Group
YouTube: @aysor878
Instagram: aysoregion878
Check the Details!
Has your kiddo gone through a growth spurt? Did you accidentally select the wrong size? Use this Uniform Size Update link to update your player’s uniform size.
Change in Plans?
Not joining us on the field after all? Complete the Player Withdrawal Request form. Check out the Withdrawal and Refund Policy for additional information.
Get Your Player's Gear Ready!
Time to start getting your player geared up for the season. If they are a new player, they will most likely need some equipment. If they are a returning player, now is the time to start checking the fit and readiness of existing gear! The required gear includes:
Shin guards (required when players may have contact)
Long athletic socks or leggings that completely cover shin guards (softens hard plastic edges)
Closed-toed shoes, preferably cleats
Water bottle
Soccer ball (every player needs their own; no sharing gear)
Size 3 for 6U/8U
Size 4 for 10U/12U
Size 5 for 14U+
The Season is Starting…
Patience is needed as the season gets started… teams may begin practicing at varied times due to the onboarding status of the coach, the coach’s personal schedule, and a number of other factors. There is usually a two-week timeframe within which teams will begin practicing.
After rosters are issued, we will release the rosters for viewing. You will be able to view your team assignment, practice schedule, and game schedule by logging into hesperiaayso.org and clicking the Team Central tab. Note, this will not be available until the start of the season.
Your coach will contact you with practice information, this typically occurs by the end of the first week of practices. If you have not yet received a phone call, text message, or email by March 4th, you may complete the Coach Contact Request form. Requests for status of player assignment submitted via email, text, or messages will not be addressed.
Head to the Fields...Practices
Now that you have heard from your player's coach, it is time to head to the field. The season starts off with practices based the schedule established by your coach. Depending on your division and the coach's schedule, you may have 1-2 practices per week.
Practice time is important to help your player not only develop soccer skills but also team skills that will help the kids develop and grow. These skills will be reflected during games and is really identifiable when you consider the kiddos first game of the season and then consider how much growth they have gone through by the time they reach game eight. At the younger divisions especially (6U/8U/10U/12U), watching the practices from the sideline and paying attention to the skills, drills, and other areas the coach is focusing on will help you support the players to continue to practice certain skills and concepts at home.
If you are unable to attend a practice session, please inform your coach as soon as possible. This will help the coach determine how many kiddos may be at practice so that they can plan accordingly.
GamesGames will be played on Friday night, Saturday, and Sundays. The game schedule will be published as soon as it is completed. We hope to have it completed the first week of March but that is partially dependent on securing the volunteers for the teams to identify team count and conflicts as many of our volunteers coach multiple teams. Watch for more information in early March.
Referees are Essential!Games in the 10U/12U/14U/16U/19U divisions must have a trained referee on the field. For the best experience, two assistant referees are needed as well. If assistant referees are not available, a club linesman from each team will be assigned and they may only indicate the ball has gone out of bounds. This experience will imapct the player's development in the game if this occurs frequently as there will be less opportunity for modifying behavior through calls, education, and experience with offside.
Without Referees, the kids cannot play! If referees are not signed up for a particular game by Thursday prior to games, the game will be rescheduled. A notification will be issued to the coach.
Please be KIND to our VOLUNTEERS! Refereeing is a SKILL honed over many games; thus ALL of us are STILL LEARNING! The referee’s top priority is to ensure the games is FUN, FAIR, and SAFE, not call every infraction! We are not perfect, we all make mistakes, and that MUST BE OKAY! Complaining only makes it worse - Complaining is bullying!
YOUTH REFEREES are only approx. 40% of our referees but typically cover 66% of matches! Every Player (12 years old or older) who became a referee has improved as a player!
Hesperia AYSO has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for abusing a Youth Referee (complaining is abuse!) Once reported, we will ask you to leave the field space.