AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) Region 1161 is an outdoor, coed, developmental and competitive youth soccer league that has been in the Northland since 1997.  We accept kids from ages 3-14 (Grades Pre-School - 8th Grade) for spring or fall season play.  Competitive players will want to check out our Select Team Button for more details about Region 1161's competitive program. 

A game for kids and a game for life. AYSO is child-first and child focused. We are a soccer organization with happy, healthy kids as our passion.

Benefits of Playing AYSO in Region 1161

• Child First - Child Focused
• Emphasis On Development Of The Child As A Person And Soccer Player
• Local Northland Fields (U4 - U14) Played at AYSO Fields at Tiffany Hills Soccer Complex or Mark McHenry Park. No traveling required to play
  
• All Coaches Are Age Specific Trained & Certified either through US Soccer or AYSO - No Cost For Training 
• Coaches are Allowed to select their assistants
• No Referee Fees For The Games
• All Referees Are Trained & Certified - No Cost For Training
• Spring and Fall Seasons
  
• Emphasis On AYSO's Six Philosophies
• General Liability Insurance For Volunteers
• Accident Insurance For Players & Volunteers
• Established Organization (Established In 1964)
• Established Infrastructure already in place

Every decision, every rule and every program has "what's good for kids" as its basis. Every girl and boy stepping on a soccer field for the first time can have fun. AYSO's child-first approach also makes it one of the finest player development programs. Everybody likes to win, but developing successful players and people is what's fundamental in AYSO.

You can set a soccer ball down on any corner in the world and have friends. It is a global sport that Americans have embraced in record numbers... because it's fun even with a beginner's skill. It's also a game you can play and enjoy for the rest of your life (U-5 soccer is one of the fastest growing levels in the U.S.!)

With children's natural joy in running and kicking, soccer builds on these two skills and adds in techniques to control the ball and work as a team. It also encourages creative decision making and strategic thinking. And it's a fast game that keeps each player moving the entire time. In AYSO there's no spending the game on the bench!

AYSO has age appropriate small-sided games. A full size soccer team has 11 players on the field. But smaller-sided teams for younger children allow more touches on the ball and a more successful soccer learning environment.

AYSO small-sided games emulate classic "street soccer" where children of many skill levels choose up teams and play together for a fun neighborhood game. This is a similar environment to where many of the greatest soccer players in the world developed their skills. Small-sided games continue as excellent development.

AYSO's Mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on

AYSO's Six Philosophies:
Everyone Plays
Balanced Teams
Open Registration
Positive Coaching
Good Sportsmanship
Player Development

Our league holds practices and games on the grounds of Mark McHenry Park and Tiffany Hills Park.

Practice times and locations are determined by the coach of the team.  Teams practice at Mark McHenry Park  and schools in the Park Hill School District.  Fields and times are allotted at the coaches meeting. 

KCAYSO plays games on the weekends.  Saturday game times run between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.  Sunday game times runs between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM.  We don't start before 1:00 so families can attend church together.  

Our soccer year runs from July 1st - June 30th of the current calendar year.  If your child plays in fall, they will return to the same team in the spring and keep the same uniform. When the next soccer year comes around in fall, new teams are formed and new uniforms are ordered. Players may join the league in the spring and they will either be added to an existing team or new team depending on available player space. Every player can request a buddy on their team.  We will make every effort to place them together, but it is NOT guaranteed. Our divisions are listed below.

Division	Format	Maximum Per Team
Kindergarten and Below	3 v 3	6
1st Grade	4 v 4	8
2nd Grade	5 v 5	10
3rd/4th Grade	7 v 7	13
5th/6th Grade	9 v 9	16
7th/8th Grade	11 v 11	18

In AYSO, we want all players, coaches, families, and volunteers to have fun. That’s where Kids Zone comes in. Kids Zone is a program that encourages fans on the sidelines, and anyone else near the play, to use positive language, show sportsmanship in their attitude and behavior, and create a great experience for every player. It’s a reminder that the soccer fields are a kid’s zone – a friendly, happy, wholesome place for children to play. 

We hope you join us to PLAY SOCCER!