KickStart Soccer - Fall 2026
Laughter, movement, child-centered, and nonstop action. Welcome to Kickstart!
AYSO’s new program for players ages 3-6 replaces Playground and Schoolyard with a simpler, more flexible experience built around what young children love most: movement, imagination, exploration, and play.
Parents are part of the experience too, helping on the field, sharing in the fun, and creating the kind of welcoming, energetic environment that makes AYSO special.
Why
Kickstart looks and feels different from traditional youth soccer, and that is intentional.
Today’s youth sports are often over-structured and adult-driven, which does not always match the needs of the child. Kickstart adapts the environment so the game belongs to the kids again.
The streets, parks, and backyards have produced some of the world’s most creative players. When children are given the freedom to play, they become healthier, happier, and more confident.
Benefits include:
- Physical health
- Unleashed creativity
- Social and emotional growth
- Confidence and independence
- Accessible and inclusive play environments
What
AYSO Kickstart is AYSO’s entry-level soccer experience designed to reimagine early play environments, spark joy, boost development, and help kids fall in love with the game from day one.
Grounded in years of sport and early-childhood research, Kickstart transforms traditional practice into child-centered play. Sessions feature fun, fast-moving activities and modified small-sided games that create a lively, sandlot-style jamboree experience.
Kickstart is typically offered for the youngest and first-time players and serves as the first step in the AYSO player pathway.
What does a session include?
Each Kickstart session is simple, fast-moving, and designed to keep players active.
Every session includes:
- A Fundamental Motor Skill activity (such as skipping or balancing)
- A game-like soccer activity to build skill and understanding
- The Big Match – a modified small-sided game (2v2 or 3v3)
Each session also includes a social and emotional learning theme, such as helping others, sharing, or teamwork.
Program Structure and Information
AYSO KickStart is a child development program. The objective of this program is to help develop, in collaboration with parents or guardians, the child's Fundamental Motor Skills using soccer as a common thread. AYSO volunteer coaches lead sessions that create a fun, parent participatory atmosphere utilizing age-appropriate activities. Parent participation is required!
Fall Season 2026 registration includes the following:
- 6 Parent-and-Me sessions led by a coach
- Uniform jersey, shorts, and socks
- Basic picture package
- Player insurance
Playground Soccer is scheduled to start September at Maple Park. The day and time will be determined closer to the start date. There will be an orientation held in August/September to provide additional information about how the program will run and the fun that can be expected! After you register, please check your email as August approaches so you can stay informed of vital information for this program. We also need some assistant coaches to help with the program! If you're interested in helping all the kiddos, please submit your volunteer application online!
PLEASE NOTE: this program is often large and operated by a small team of volunteers; we cannot call everyone. Thus, ALL COMMUNICATION IS BY EMAIL and sent to your account email address. Please ensure your account has the correct email address and that your spam blocker has the domains @hesperiaayso.org and @bluesombrero.com as APPROVED. Check your email often.
Cost $100.00
Available Discounts
Sibling Discount: $5 off for each player after the first. This discount is applied during the check-out process.