AYSO Region 300 celebrating 30th year

Several high-quality youth soccer organizations that offer the game at just about every level can be found in and around the La Grange area.

But the dean of organized youth soccer arguably is the all-volunteer American Youth Soccer Organization, better known by its familiar acronym, AYSO. (Or you may have seen bumper stickers with the words PLAYSOCCER running together and the letters AYSO highlighted in red.)

AYSO is open to youths ages 4-19 regardless of skill level—there are no tryouts and no one gets cut—emphasizes balanced teams within each region. Each player must play at least 50 percent of every game.

It was started in the 1960s out in the Los Angeles area with nine teams and has since grown to more than 50,000 teams and over 650,000 players across the country.

Locally, AYSO’s Region 300—a region that encompasses La Grange, LaGrange Park, LaGrange Highlands, Western Springs, Brookfield, Countryside, Indian Head Park and Hodgkins—is beginning its spring season on Saturday and celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Region 300’s growth over the years has reflected AYSO’s growth nationally. La Grange resident Harold Horton and a group of parents started Region 300 back in 1981 with 179 boys. Horton (who still officiates games in older age groups) and the region have witnessed the number of participants increase to just under 2,600 for the spring season.

These players practice once a week and see action every Saturday in 12 different leagues ranging from U05 Coed to U19 Coed on fields throughout the region. There also are separate boys and girls leagues for ages U06 to U12, as well as a U14 boys and U14 girls extra programs—more competitive teams that have an additional practice and game each week.

Although the extra program’s teams are more competitive, there’s plenty of competition league-wide, according to Bill Reilly, Region 300 commissioner.

“The games are very competitive because they’re balanced,” said Reilly, who has served in various roles with Region 300 over the past several years. “The focus is not on wins and losses, but fun for the players. We want the kids to learn and love soccer.”

Numbers are stable

Despite a soft economy and a wide range of sports available to youths nowadays, Reilly says the number of players taking part in leagues this spring is in line with what Region 300 has averaged over the past five to six years.

“It’s largely driven by good participation in our younger age groups, and we have a lot more soccer alternatives in different age groups,” he said.

For example, Region 300 has 40 teams in its U05 Coed league, and 60 teams in its U06 Coed league (typically there’s eight players per team).

Nationwide, the number of youth soccer players has doubled since 1990 to just over four million, according to the United States Soccer Federation. Statistics compiled by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association state that the number of high school soccer players also has doubled during that span to around 730,000.

“There’s been greater exposure to the sport, first and foremost,” Reilly said. “Secondly, soccer is a very easy game to learn and it doesn’t require much equipment or expense. It can be started at a relatively young age and that drives participation.'

“I think that we’ve also reached a generation of parents who, as a larger percentage, have played soccer as children, so they’re more inclined to get their kids more involved.”

Region 300 encourages parents who have children participating in its leagues to volunteer in some capacity—for instance, either as officials, coaches or board members. Even though Reilly notes that the region has around 1,200 volunteers and is in good shape from a volunteer standpoint this spring, the need for volunteers is “always our biggest challenge.”

“We have a very successful region, one of the largest in the country,” he said, “but it wouldn’t be possible without all the parents who give so much time and effort to the program. We ask every family in the program to volunteer in some capacity.”

Soccer’s popularity among youths over the years is beginning to translate into increased ticket sales at the professional level. Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire, which plays its home games at nearby Toyota Park in Bridgeview, has a season ticket base of around 4,500—its largest ever, says Bill Sixsmith, the team’s manager of business development.

Last season, the Fire averaged around 15,000 spectators per game (Toyota Park’s seating capacity is 20,000). Sixsmith expects average attendance during the 2011 season to meet or exceed 2010 levels.

“It’s a generational thing,” Sixsmith said. “Kids who played soccer are now becoming fans.”

Working together

Over the past few years, the Fire has made discounted tickets available to Region 300 players and parents in order to encourage them to attend games. This season, the Fire and Region 300 are formulating plans to further increase interaction between the organizations.

A date has not yet been set, but the Fire will be hosting a special family day for Region 300 during one of its home games this season. The day will include tailgating, along with an opportunity for kids to meet Fire players before the game.

“We want to make it a community style outing,” Sixsmith said.

The Fire also is planning to work with Region 300 to get training and licensing for officials and coaches in the region. Participating coaches and officials would receive a licensing certificate after completing a training seminar at Toyota Park.

Additionally, the Fire will take part in Region 300’s 30th anniversary picnic, which will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 11 at Spring Rock Park in Western Springs. And the Fire will be holding a week-long youth soccer camp (sponsored by Region 300) July 18-22 at Sedgwick Park in La Grange.

Another important event that takes place Friday, May 7, involves Region 300 and Lyons Township High School’s girls soccer team. On this day, girls ages 5-13 from throughout the community are invited to participate in the second annual Pink Out Soccer Clinic from 3-5 p.m. at Bennett Field, located on LT’s South Campus.

The cost is $15, which includes a Pink Out T-shirt. Participants also will be admitted to the Pink Out varsity soccer game between LT and Glenbard East at the North Campus’ West Field beginning at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, May 12.

All proceeds from these events will go to the Karen Dove Cabral Foundation, which works with patients from the North Shore University Health System Kellogg Cancer Care Centers.