As part of our Player Pathway, our core AYSO program works closely with our AYSO United program to offer opportunities to players who may be ready for "club-level" soccer and wish to advance within the AYSO family.
What is AYSO United?
Being part of the official AYSO United program means you are a member of "The World's Largest Soccer Club". Our AYSO United West Michigan region has also grown to over 25 teams locally. As a member of AYSO United, you are part of a program that is committed to player development, coaching education and is an affiliate member of U.S. Soccer. Our club allows players to enjoy more advanced play, participate in intense competition and receive cutting-edge training -- while still enjoying the benefits of AYSO and its core philosophies of positive coaching and exemplary sportsmanship. In addition,
every AYSO United player will play at least one-half of every game, which is crucial for development and not necessarily a priority within "for profit" soccer clubs.
Where do we practice and play?
AYSO United teams will play other West Michigan club teams within the Grand Valley Soccer Association (GVSA), involving some light travel for away games (typically less than one hour drive time). There are 8 games (4 home, 4 away) within BOTH Fall and Spring seasons, plus at least one tournament per year. Our home game fields are currently located at Cascade Park and Grand Rapids Township Park. Each team's practice field will be determined by the head coach prior to each season, but it will be local to the Ada/Cascade community. You can expect two training sessions per week of about 90 minutes each, and other special training events are offered throughout the year. We also provide winter indoor soccer at MSA Sports Spot, which is largely subsidized by our AYSO Region 571 (this is optional but a lot of fun).
Who will coach my AYSO United team?
Your AYSO United head coach will be a U.S. Soccer licensed coach that is SafeSport trained and has passed all state and national background check requirements. The GVSA specifically requires that all head coaches complete the U.S. Soccer Grassroots certification at a minimum. Typically we fill this position with an experienced, passionate coach within our program with a strong history of employing our player development philosophies.
Can my child still play other sports?
Absolutely! AYSO United encourages participation in other sports and activities as part of a well-rounded developmental experience. There is no expectation or need to specialize exclusively in soccer at younger ages, a position that is now officially supported by U.S. Soccer. Multi-sport athletes also benefit from increased physical literacy and are able to link skills and ideas they have learned from other sports. We regularly have AYSO United players that balance their practice and game commitments between multiple sports.
What is the cost?There are additional costs associated with the club experience (GVSA league, tournament, referees, coaching, fields, uniform fees); however, as a national organization our goal is to make the club experience cost-effective for our families. AYSO United strives to be the absolute best value in any soccer club experience. For a FULL year (Fall & Spring 2021-2022) including one tournament, the cost will be approximately $575 per player plus uniform fees of $235, which includes 3 kits -- home, away and training uniforms including shorts and socks. Although these costs are notably higher than our core AYSO program, you will find they are quite affordable relative to most local soccer clubs.
Are there tryouts?
Yes we are targeting a local tryout event on June 14th or 15th, and more details on this will be available in the coming weeks. This tryout event allows us to evaluate all the interested players and determine whether they appear ready to progress in the player pathway to AYSO United. We may recommend that some players remain in our core AYSO program to continue developing in the coming year.