AYSO takes great care in creating balanced teams to ensure that the competition is fun. Registration is open to everyone regardless of experience (no tryouts).

LAHAINA – West Maui American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is now registering players and volunteers for fall 2017. League officials will be collecting application forms in the Lahaina Intermediate School cafeteria on June 10 from 9 to 11 a.m.

AYSO will have limited computers onsite; pre-register at www.westmauiayso.com/region892.

The league will have many changes this year, with the USSF now mandating rules that are actually in line with many AYSO standards, such as positive coaching, smaller fields and goal sizes, smaller team sizes and short-sided games.

West Maui AYSO still needs to align its program with new rules and regulations, which do impact age determination. This has changed to a January-December calendar year; some keiki may skip a division, but they will all be playing with kids their own age.

The league now accepts program fees on its secure website by debit and credit card only; checks or cash are no longer accepted.

The West Maui AYSO Region has many new board members: Anastasia Colt, registrar; Ashlan Austin, safety director; Katya Newton, treasurer; and Eileen Pasigna-Perchard, secretary; with returning members Holly Pendergast, child volunteer protection advocate; Annie Hayes, regional commissioner; James Hayes, coach administrator; and Tony Griffith, referee administrator.

There are many vacant seats to fill in order to run the program effectively.

The league urgently needs help with a social media/newsletter administrator, VIP (very important player) administrator, and weekly field set-up crews.

American Youth Soccer Organization has been an outlet for young soccer players to learn how to play soccer. As many parents know, there is more to AYSO than soccer. As a national nonprofit organization that has been around for 53 years, AYSO is highly recognized as a leader in youth sports. Its vision is: “To provide world-class youth soccer programs that enrich children’s lives.”

AYSO’s mission statement includes six philosophies that are truly child-centered. In a nutshell, any child that wants to play is allowed to play.

AYSO takes great care in creating balanced teams so that the competition is fun. Registration is open to everyone regardless of experience (no tryouts). Good sportsmanship and player development are valued highly. Players are not just learning to play soccer; they are learning how to be better team players, neighbors and citizens.