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Counting Down in Week 7 We’re past the halfway point and into the final month of the regular season. Teams in competitive divisions are jockeying for position and looking ahead to tournament play. It’s hard to believe that the end is in view, but there are lots of ways to keep playing past the Fall:
This 8-week program offers skills training and small-sided games for players ages 6 and up on Sundays during the winter months. Designed to be casual and low-commitment, players are grouped by age and experience for small-sided scrimmage games. There are no permanent teams, and this program welcomes players of all skill levels.
Grad Series is for players transitioning from 8U to 10U. This program focuses on preparing for the changes that come in our competitive divisions, including larger fields, goalkeepers, and offside rules.
And finally, for advanced players in 10U, 12U, and 14U… All-Star Tryouts are This Sunday at Rose Bowl Area H The second All-Star tryouts will be held on November 1. Interested players are encouraged to attend both tryouts so coaches can best assess.
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Sunday NEXT is On Pause
The NEXT program is taking a break over the next two weeks so players can attend All-Star tryouts. Pickup soccer will resume on Sunday, November 8. Want to join the games? Check ayso13.org for more info. |
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The Lab is OPEN ⚽🔥 Does your kiddo practically sleep in their cleats? Powered by BPU Academy, our brand-new Sunday Soccer Lab gives young players the extra ball touches, footwork magic, and game-day confidence they’re craving. Designed to fit right alongside their regular team practices and games, it’s packed with the extra technical reps they want in a fast, fun, high-energy atmosphere.
Sunday Soccer Lab is for ALL AGES—our littlest players in 6U all the way up to 14U are welcome!
Every Sunday, 9–10:30am |
Let’s Play with ACFC
Calling all 8U and 10U players! Join us for an exhilarating soccer clinic led by coaches from the esteemed Angel City FC Coaching Network! Whether you're a seasoned player or just stepping onto the field for the first time, this clinic is designed to elevate your skills, enhance your confidence, and reignite your love for the beautiful game.
Sunday, November 8 | 9:30–11am
Octavia Butler Middle School 1505 N Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103 |
Celebración con Angel City FC
ACFC is offering AYSO Region 13 families another amazing deal! Angel City hosts Boston Legacy FC for the first time and closes the regular season just down the 110 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The annual celebration honors the communities that make Los Angeles. This year it falls on Día de los Muertos weekend, with programming across the grounds in Carson. Gather up your soccer friends to go cheer on our hometown team!
November 1st | 2pm
Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson
Use the code ACFC |
Beyond the Ball Coaching Corner Who Haven't You Heard From?
As the season winds down, you probably know which players are quick to answer questions, volunteer for demonstrations, or share their opinions. But what about the quieter players? Some children need more time, a different invitation, or a little less attention on them before they're ready to contribute.
At Your Next Practice:
NOTICE: Who regularly takes the lead? Who tends to hang back? Adjust: Create opportunities for different players to make decisions during play. Try: During a small-sided game, invite different players to suggest a new rule, demonstrate a skill, or identify an opportunity they see on the field. Rotate these opportunities so everyone has a chance to contribute.
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Sensory Sideline: Flip the Script! Same players. Same field. Different game! With a few games left, surprise your team with five minutes of soccer handball. Players move the ball by throwing and catching instead of kicking. Keep everyone moving, encourage teamwork, and let the laughter happen!
Throwing and catching provide muscle-and-joint feedback (proprioception), helping players practice body awareness and control. Notice: Who comes alive when the activity changes? Does a different kind of game bring out participation you haven't seen lately? Sometimes flipping the script opens another door to learning.
Save the Date: November 2
Beyond the Ball Coach’s Workshop: Come ready to talk soccer, share ideas, and add a few new tools to your coaching bag. Dinner will be provided; an RSVP form will be sent out soon.
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Letter from the Commissioner
Hello everyone,
Soccer is impressive in its simplicity. All it really requires is a ball and something to mark a couple of goals. This probably explains its worldwide popularity. Of course, we add a few things in AYSO: equipment to make it safe (shin guards), volunteer coaches and referees to encourage fair play and the development of technique and sportsmanship, and painted fields that make it easier to conduct games.
You may not be aware, but soccer fields are possibly the most difficult aspect of our program, especially for our big fall season. Many, many sports vie for the same fields at the same time, and environmental issues put additional pressure on the fields. Those gophers at Victory Park are cute, but wow, they make a mess of the field. Protecting those limited fields is also the reason that we do not play in rainy conditions, which might damage the grass.
We owe a big thanks to the cities of Pasadena and La Cañada, as well as to the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD). Without these entities granting us use of their fields, our soccer program would simply not exist. If you attend a school in one of our towns, please let your principal know how much we appreciate this support!
See you out on those fields this weekend.
Patrick Shopbell Your volunteer Regional Commissioner |
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AYSO Region 13
