Age Determination

Chicago Public Schools Partnership With AYSO

July 10, 2024

2024 PLAYSOCCER Denver & AYSO PLAY! Community Clinic Series comes to the Colorado Rockies

June 18, 2024

AYSO NAGM 2024 Recap – Important decisions were made; read the news about our 2024 Honorees.

June 14, 2024

AYSO Unveils AYSO PLAY! Initiative: Leveraging the power of community to introduce the game to more new players

January 9, 2024

Our Sponsors

Powered by WP – Designed with the Customizr theme


Penney Wakefield
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
pwakefield@nbod.ayso.org

AYSO Experience:

Honors, Accomplishments:

Gary Van Otten


Gary Van Otten
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
gvanotten@nbod.ayso.org

AYSO Experience:

Section Coach Administrator – 5 years
Area Referee Administrator – 3 years
RCA – 3 years; Division Coordinator – 4 years; VIP Coordinator – 3 years;
Team Balancing Coordinator – 6 years; Coach – 16 years; Referee – 18 years
Chairman, National Coach Council – 3 years
Coach Instructor
National Expo Task Force 2016

Accomplishments / Achievements:

National Coach; National Referee; 2022 Coach Spirit Award; Co-writer of 5 Expo
workshops (referee track and coach track); initiated Kerlan-Jobe/AYSO relationship;
initiated the continuing education units, CEU, program; coached 400+ AYSO
games; refereed 400+ AYSO games

Rich Pagaliarli


Rich Pagaliarli
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
rpagliarli@nbod.ayso.org

AYSO Experience:

Section: Section 10 10 year
Area: Area E 24 YEARS
Regional: RC for Region 42 8 years
National Programs: I have always worked to follow all National programs and also have my Region, Areas and Section do the same
Instructor: I am a Advanced Management Instructor
Tournament: I have started new Tournament and help run tournaments

Accomplishments / Achievements:

As the RC for Region 42 our player count grew to over 2200 players As AD for Area E I have 6 Regions and worked to have all my Regions be in compliance and to work on player growth We grew our Area League and All Star teams from 6 team per division to 16 teams to give more players the opportunity to play more games and ran the tournament over a three weekend As SD I have worked very hard to get all my Area in compliance and to use all the programs that National put out. We were not 100% but we were very close.

Michael Karon
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
mkaron@nbod.ayso.org

Personal Information:

AYSO Experience:

Honors, Accomplishments and Certifications:

Commissions and/or Task Forces:

Other Volunteer Work:

Professional Experience:


Ruben Gonzalez
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
rgonzalez@nbod.ayso.org

AYSO Experience:

Honors, Accomplishments:

As Regional Commissioner of R68 in Camarillo, 2003 to 2006 I was able increase player registration from 2000 to where we were flirting with the 2500 mark when my term was completed. I developed the Regions Tournament Team program, promoting ‘More Soccer For More Kids’. Region 68 grew from less than 5 tournament teams to 22 tournament teams when my term ended. I made it affordable, easy, held tournament information meetings for the coaches and families. Developed a fair and affordable scholarship program for families who were unable to afford the regular costs associated with AYSO registration. Worked
with the school districts to ensure adequate practice facilities (prior to Pleasant Valley Fields). Worked with the Pleasant Valley Recreation and Parks District to maintain an established working relationship with the usage of Freedom Park. I Reached out to the local Eagles Soccer Club, to eliminate ‘Poaching’ of AYSO players. AYSO and the Eagles Soccer Club developed a working relationship between the two organizations. Awarded the 2009 Volunteer of the year from Pleasant Valley Recreation and Parks District for my work with AYSO in Camarillo. Awarded the 2009 California Parks and Recreation Society Champion of the
Community Award for my work with AYSO in Camarillo. Awarded the AYSO Presidential Award 2017 as Area Director. During the 2019 season, Area 10W increased in players by 29.79% (2207 players)


Margie Close
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
mclose@nbod.ayso.org

Personal Information:

AYSO Experience:

Honors, Accomplishments and Certifications:

Commissions and Task Forces:

Professional Experience:


Rick Buiteweg
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
rbuiteweg@nbod.ayso.org

AYSO Experience:

Honors, Accomplishments:

Oher Volunteer and Sports Related Experience:

Professional Experience:


Christina Bentley
NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER
cbentley@nbod.ayso.org


AYSO Experience:

Honors, Accomplishments:

Professional Experience:

Professional Roles & Skill Sets:

Kris Graff


Kris Graff
TREASURER
kgraff@nbod.ayso.org

AYSO Experience:

Accomplishments / Achievements:

National Management Volunteer of the Year,
Section 9 Management Volunteer of the Year 2 times,
Area 9B Management Volunteer of the Year,
100% Participation RAP Participation by Regions in Area 4 years as AD.
AAP Gold Area 2 yrs,
AAP Silver Area 1 yr,
RAP Bronze Region 2yrs,
RAP Silver Region 1 yr;

Michael Cassidy


Michael Cassidy
SECRETARY
mcassidy@nbod.ayso.org

AYSO Experience:

Honors, Accomplishments:


Doug Ryan
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
dryan@nbod.ayso.org

Personal Information:

AYSO Experience:

AYSO volunteer since 1999 for Section 12, Area D, Region 310 starting as a Referee.
Various Regional and Section positions to include:

Professional Experience:

Carlos Bocanegra

AYSO FAMOUS ALUMNI

U.S. Men’s National Team captain, Carlos Bocanegra, played AYSO while growing up in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. His first team was coached by his mom and named the California Kickers.

U.S. Captain Had Mom As First Coach

The two-time World Cup veteran has been the captain of the U.S. National team since 2007, and most recently lead the team to its first ever group win in World Cup history in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He’s had 107 appearances for the team, scoring 13 goals and plays can play both at center back and left back. In 2009, Bocanegra captained the team that defeated No. 1 ranked Spain in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Bocanegra has won the CONCACAF Gold Cup twice with the National team (2002, 2007). He played his first game with the senior National team on Dec. 9, 2001, against South Korea.

Currently playing in Spain, Bocanegra plays for Racing Santander. Prior to the 2012 season, Bocanegra captained Scottish side, the Rangers. In the 2010-2011 season, Bocanegra was playing for French first division team Saint-Etienne, scoring his first goal on Dec. 15, 2010. Prior to the 2010 season, Bocanegra played fellow French team, Stade Rennais. In his first season with the team, he played in all 38 league matches, scoring his first goal on March 8, 2009. He also scored at the Coupe de France final. Bocanegra started his European career in the English Premier League (EPL), playing for Fulham FC. During the 2006-07 season, Bocanegra was the team’s second leading scorer, with five goals. Before making the leap overseas, Bocanegra played for the Chicago Fire from 2000-03. During his time with the Fire, Bocanegra won an U.S. Open Cup (2000), MLS Rookie of the Year (2000), MLS Defender of the Year (2002, 2003) and MLS Cup runner-up (2000, 2003).

Shannon Boxx

AYSO FAMOUS ALUMNI

Shannon Boxx, who has won both an Olympic Gold Medal and NCAA Division 1 College Cup for Notre Dame, started playing AYSO when she was four-years-old in Torrance, CA.

“I remember the oranges and halftime, parents lining up on the sideline to make a tunnel after the game and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ blasting on the boom box,” Boxx remembers of her AYSO days. “I learned that real ball skills were more important than tricks to win the ball in AYSO. I also learned that it was ok to get knocked around and fall down while playing soccer. You just got to get back up again!”

This past summer, Boxx was part of the Olympic gold medal team in London. Boxx played in the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany, where the U.S. finished second. As of September 2012, Boxx has played for the U.S. Women’s National Team 172 times, scoring 24 goals. Boxx played every minute of all five U.S. games during the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and helped the women reach the semifinals in the 2007 World Cup. Missing most of the 2006 season due to injury, Boxx was named a finalist for the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year, coming in third. Boxx won a Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympics. Boxx made her first appearance with the U.S. Women’s National team after being named to the 2003 World Cup squad. Boxx became the first American woman to score three goals in her first three games with the national team. She started all five World Cup games, and was voted player of the game against Canada by the FIFA Technical Study Group.

The midfielder was allocated to the Los Angeles Sol in the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) season in 2009, where she also captained the team, scoring three goals and three assists. After the Sol dispersed, Boxx was selected by St. Louis Athletica. Prior to joining the WPS, Boxx played in the now defunct WUSA for San Diego Spirit and New York Power. During her time in the league, Boxx scored six goals and 15 assists. Boxx also helped the University of Notre Dame win their first NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship her freshman year in 1995.

Questions & Answers

Age started playing soccer: 4

Favorite AYSO memory: Oranges at halftime, parents lined up on the sidelines to make a tunnel after the game, and Prince’s “Purple Rain” blasting on the boombox.

Favorite AYSO coach and why: I don’t remember his name, but I do remember he taught us that real ball skills were more important than tricks to win the ball. I also learned that it was ok to get knocked around and fall down while playing soccer. You just get back up again!

What advice would you give a first-time AYSO coach? Make soccer fun for the kids and get them to enjoy it first, then teach them skills. The most important thing is to have fun on the soccer field; winning is not so important. If you teach the value of teamwork and you instill that early, that’s what’s important.

Julie Foudy

WORLD CUP / OLYMPICS / HALL OF FAME

When Julie Foudy won two World Cups and two Olympics medals, she wore the number 11 – the same number that she wore when she started playing AYSO at age 7 while living in Mission Viejo, CA.

Hall of Famer Started Her Career in AYSO

“I begged my mom to sign me up for soccer and joined a team called the Strikers,” said Foudy. “When it came to pass out the shirts, I knew what I wanted. I was this feisty little 7-year-old who thought I was the best, so I should have the No. 1. They told me the goalie has to take that number, so I went with the double No. 1. That’s how I became No. 11 for the rest of my life. Thanks to the Strikers.”

Foudy has many fond memories of her AYSO experience that led to one of the most illustrious careers in women’s sports history. She believes that being allowed to enjoy the game and explore it on her own terms was the key to her success.”AYSO emphasizes all the positives of soccer: the enjoyment that kids get from the sport, understanding how to play on a team and be a good teammate, and developing skills in a fun environment. I watched my nieces and nephews go through AYSO and I look forward to watching my own kids enjoy soccer through AYSO!”

Foudy retired in 2004 after captaining the U.S. Women’s National Team 13 of the 18 years she played on it. She played in three Olympics and four World Cups. And, only two players in the world, former teammates Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly top Foudy’s 271 U.S. National Team appearances.

Foudy’s U.S. National Team soccer career is a storied one. She’s won two World Cups (in 1991 and 1999), two Gold Medals (in 1996 and 2004) and a Silver Medal (in 2000). In her 271 appearances for the U.S. National Team, Foudy scored 45 goals. Foudy played pro soccer with the San Diego Spirit of the now defunct WUSA, where she captained all three years. Foudy was inducted to the AYSO Hall of Fame in 2006 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007.

Foudy’s had a profound impact off the field as well. She was the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation from 2000-2002, served on the Women’s Sports Foundation Board of Directors for seven years and was a WSF advocacy consultant for two years, with a focus on Title IX, childhood obesity, and athletes’ rights issues. Foudy currently sits on the board of Athletes for Hope (AFH), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization created by successful athletes who have a deep commitment to charitable and community causes. Foudy is the global spokeswoman for Global Girl Media, a new non-profit helping young women around the world find their voice through journalism. She is also an ambassador for Beyond Sport, a global organization that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. Foudy has been instrumental in a number of women’s rights and child labor issues around the world. FIFA, the international governing body of soccer, awarded her the FIFA Fair Play Award for her work against child labor in the stitching of soccer balls. She was the first woman and first American to receive the award.

She is currently an analyst for ABC/ESPN and the NBC Olympics, director of her Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academies, a motivational speaker, and proud mother of two children, Isabel and Declan.

Questions & Answers

Age started playing soccer: 7

Why she loves AYSO: AYSO emphasizes all the positives of soccer: the enjoyment that kids get from the sport, understanding how to play on a team and be a good teammate, and developing skills in a fun environment. I watched my nieces and nephews go through AYSO and I look forward to watching my own kids enjoy soccer through AYSO!

Favorite AYSO memory: My AYSO coach gave us fun prizes for juggling, so I spent hours juggling and trying to reach those goals. We got something for 25 juggles, something else for 50, and on up. What that really taught me was the importance of time on the ball. When you love the ball, the skills and confidence follow.

What advice would you give a first-time AYSO coach? First of all, I’d tell them they’re not going to be an expert right away! They can read all the books in the world about the technical skills, but the most important thing is to create an environment where the kids feel comfortable and it’s fun to learn. You don’t have to turn them into an Abby Wambach or Landon Donovan…just let them have fun and love playing soccer!