North Tahoe is part of Section 2 of the national
organization, AYSO, which supports youth soccer development. For more information about what AYSO is about,
visit http://www.ayso.org. The umbrella
organization of AYSO provides a great deal of support to our local organization
in terms of complete rules and guidelines, coach training, post season
tournament access, insurance, league management computer systems and more. Each player is required to pay an annual
membership fee to AYSO to secure their affiliation with the national
organization.
North Tahoe AYSO is an ALL volunteer program which relies on
parent volunteer coaches and referees. There are more than 10 board
members who meet all year long to make our program happen. Each year there are over 300 players and over
35 teams in our league. We are always
looking for more help, particularly with regards to coaching. Please consider signing up to coach when you
register your child! It is a great way to get exercise, engage with the
kids, get to know other families, and to make your own child very proud of you.
We are expanding our coaches training program to make more training available
locally
North Tahoe AYSO is a fall sport. It is a recreational soccer league for boys
and girls ages 4-14 years old. All players will get significant playing time –
AYSO’s rule is that no player plays the 4th quarter until all
players have played 3 quarters. Players
are assigned to divisions based on birth year.
Exceptions to play UP or DOWN an age group are not allowed. Players are assigned to teams by an automated
tool provided by our league management system.
We ensure that each team has a coach and a team sponsor but with over
300 players, we do not have the capacity to ensure friends or carpools are
placed on teams together. Each team
experience will vary based on the coach’s preferences. In our younger age groups, teams will
generally practice a couple times before the games start and then once the
season is in full swing, practice may happen before the games or not at all
depending on schedules and interest. As
the players get older, team structure increases, practices will happen more
often, travel within the area for games will increase etc.
Here is a guide of the divisions offered in North Tahoe
Soccer and what you can expect in terms of schedule and game location. Please note that each year, official
schedules will be posted to our website once available and this will not be
until the very end of the summer. To see what division your child will be in this year, click on the next article about this year's divisions!
-
U5 – U5 is for our youngest girls and boys at 4 years
of age. They play a very small game with 3 or 4 players per team.
There are small goals and no keepers. These youngest players are being
introduced to team sports, and they look adorable in their little uniforms. Games are played at Fenly Field (upper field
at Tahoe Lake School), however, due to construction games will be played in a
different location to be announced.
-
U6 – U6 is for 5 year old players. It is a
coed division with small teams of 4 or 5 players, small fields, and small
goals. In this division the players begin to learn the concept of team
sports. Games are played at Fenly Field (upper field at Tahoe Lake
School), however, due to construction, games will be played at a different
field to be announced.
-
U8 Girls & U8Boys – The U8 age group is the
first year that girls and boys are separated into different divisions. These divisions are for 6 and 7 year old
players. The fields and goals sizes are
still small but it is a step up from U6.
The ideal roster size is 8 playing 5 on 5 games. Goalkeepers are not
recommended. In this division the players begin to learn soccer skills
and teamwork. Games are played at Conners Field (lower field at Tahoe Lake
School), however, due to construction, games will be played at a different
field to be announced.
-
U10 Girls & U10Boys – The U10 divisions are
for 8 and 9 year old players. The field is still not full-sized but it’s
yet another step up from U8. The ideal
roster size is 10 playing 7 on 7 games. Goalkeepers and the offside rule are
introduced. Coaching emphasis at this level is skills development and
team play. Home field is the turf field at Tahoe Vista Regional Park.
Games are played against North Tahoe and Incline teams.
-
U12 Girls & U12Boys – The U12 divisions are
for 10 and 11 year old players. These divisions have larger teams,
fields, and goals. Ideal roster size is 12 playing 9 on 9 games.
Goalkeepers and the offside rule are used. Coaching emphasis at this
level is refining skills and team play. This is the level where the game
really comes together and is fun to watch, coach, and play. Home field is Pomin field (Lake Forest at the
boat ramp). Games are played against North Tahoe, Truckee, and Incline
teams.
-
U14 Girls & U14Boys – The U14 divisions are
for 12 and 13 year old players with full sized teams, fields, and goals.
Ideal roster size is 15 playing 11 on 11 games. Coaching emphasis at this
level is technical skills, playing off the ball, and combination play.
This is the full sized game and is fun to watch, coach, and play. Home
filed is the beautiful turf field at Squaw Valley and teams play all over the
area.