Soccer starts soon in AYSO Region 13! Upper Division (16U and 19U) games are scheduled to start Sunday, August 28. For other divisions, practices start Tuesday, September 6 with games kicking off Saturday, September 10. Team coaches will be reaching out to parents in the coming weeks as team assignments are released.
More volunteer coaches are needed to finalize team assignments and move players off the waitlist. You can help ensure every child gets the opportunity to play soccer this year. There is still time to volunteer!
New and returning families are invited to Region 13’s Open House on Monday, August 29 from 6-7 pm at the Region 13 Clubhouse in Altadena (711 W. Woodbury Rd, Suite E, Altadena, CA 91001). This is an opportunity to meet the leadership of Region 13, ask questions, and meet other parents.
There will be a used cleat and ball exchange during the Open House on August 29. Drop your old shoes in the bin at the clubhouse, or bring them with you to the open house. Additional exchanges will be on Saturday, September 10 and Saturday, September 17 at Victory Park in Pasadena. Let’s reuse, recycle, and help our friends!
There will be a Parent Orientation August 29 from 7-8:30 pm, at the clubhouse or online. Zoom info will appear on ayso13.org immediately before it starts.
Save the date for the Volunteer Kickoff Dinner on August 23, 6:30 pm at Memorial Park in La Canada. You will learn more about AYSO's unique philosophy for player development, AYSO's vision and program objectives. You'll hear first-hand from experienced coaches on how to approach coaching kids, plus many other important tips to positive coaching and good sportsmanship.
As a friendly reminder to parents, players will need a soccer ball, shin guards, and a water bottle. Although, please note that cleats are optional! Unsure what size soccer ball your child will need? See the age chart.
Thank you to all of our wonderful coaches who have volunteered this season! Coaching is a lot of work and everyone is a volunteer. Please remember to thank your coach for making it possible for our kids to play soccer. Each Division is overseen by volunteer Division Coach Administrators (DCAs) who are the main contact for each division. If you have a question or need assistance, please find their contact info here.
Head coaches should have received or will receive their rosters soon. Head coaches, please remember to submit your practice field requests here by August 12th. Otherwise, your practice assignment will be whatever remaining spot and field we have left. Please be as flexible as possible with your requests; field space is extremely limited! Practice field assignments will be available before the end of August.
Equipment and Uniform Pickup
Head coaches will receive an equipment bag and both coaches receive a coach shirt during uniform pickup. Teams must have all necessary volunteers, who all must be fully certified/trained in order to pick these up.
Coach Training
We are holding Coach Training in Region 13 on Saturday, August 27 and Saturday, September 3 for 6U-12U coaches. There are many other training opportunities in close by regions.Please visit the Region 13 Calendar for details and to sign up.
Thank you to those new and returning referees who have volunteered this season! For those thinking about joining, we encourage you to give it a try. Each team in 6U to 14U will need two referee volunteers – your time and on field presence is crucial to our ability to provide safe, fair, and fun games to our players. What better way to watch the game than on the pitch? Region 13 will provide all the training and equipment you will need for this exciting adventure!
Please remember that Region 13 has a strong PRO Referee (youth ref) program as well. Children 10 and older can referee games in a younger division. Being a youth ref looks great on resumes and earns volunteer hours. Please email proref@ayso13.org if you or someone you know is interested.
There are many training opportunities for Referees and there are weeknight and weekend options. Please visit the Region 13 Calendar for details and to sign up.
Region 13 offers an on-field Ref Refresher class at the start of the season for returning refs. Region 13 also offers on-field ref mentors to any referees who are interested, and tips to help improve both new and returning referees. Please reach out to your Division Referee Administrator if you’re interested!
Kristy Orzewalla is leading this important department this season. We will need your help in assembling coach bags, along with distributing bags and team uniforms ahead of this month's Open House. For those available and interested, please sign up HERE!
Whether you are new or returning, register for training as soon as possible through eTrainU. Once you register, the platform will show you Region 13's classes by default. eTrainU allows you to register for any AYSO class anywhere!
LiveScan events are scheduled Aug. 13 (Arcadia), Aug. 18 (Temple City), Aug. 30 (Arcadia), Sep. 3 (Pasadena). More instructions are in the Region 13 calendar.
Subscribe to the Region 13 Calendar to stay updated on the latest calendar of events! For now, see below for important events happening later this month and next.
| Today | Register for Fall Soccer |
| Aug. 23 | Volunteer kickoff dinner |
| Aug. 27 | 16U - 19U games begin, Coach and Referee training in Region 13 |
| Aug. 29 | Region 13 Open House (6-7pm) and Parent Orientation (7-8:30pm) |
| Sept. 3 | LiveScan at Region 13, Coach and Referee training in Region 13 |
| Sept. 6 | Fall soccer practice begins, 6U-14U |
| Sept. 10 | Cleat exchange at Victory Park in Pasadena |
| Sept. 10 | 6U - 14U games begins |
I started coaching in Region 13 many years before I had children. I loved it. I coached girls. I wanted them to have had a female soccer coach - and at that time it felt unusual. Not so much anymore! I see many more girls and women coaching and refereeing and it brings an extra special smile to my face when I see them out on the field.
Now I coach boys. I have two sons and one plays soccer. He is in B16U this season. It was hard to imagine him in B16U when I started coaching him many years ago. How did he become one of the "big" kids? I am the only female coach in B16U, but that feels like it is changing as well. Title IX has changed women's sports in the US, particularly soccer and I am happy to be a part of that change.
If you are coaching or refereeing for the first time this season, enjoy it. Before you know it, your children and the other children on the field will be big like mine. Your memories from your time on the field together will stay with you for your entire lives. Some of my fondest soccer memories are with other people's children - the ones that needed a little extra help to get out on the field. When they did, our collective triumph was awesome, and awe-inspiring and pure happiness!
The joy!
See you on the field,
Taj Chiu
Regional Commissioner (Volunteer) and Soccer Mom
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