EXTRA is AYSO's competitive year-long soccer program designed to challenge advanced players while remaining affordable and maintaining AYSO’s core values: player development, community engagement, guaranteed playing time, good sportsmanship, teamwork, and fun! 

EXTRA FAQs

Q: What’s different about Extra?

A: Extra teams represent regional AYSO programs and play against other Extra teams from nearby AYSO regions.  

Q: How will Extra teams be formed?

A: Extra teams will be formed by selecting players through open tryouts, with players rated by independent trainers and certified coach volunteers. Players are selected once each season for fall and spring competition and no spots are reserved from year to year. 

Q: What is the time commitment for Extra players?

A: Extra is a significant commitment for players.  Players commit to their Extra teams for the whole year, from August to the following July. It's a hardship for teams to lose a player in the middle of the season, as it's often not possible to replace them. As a result, Extra players are not permitted to participate in AYSO's primary programs and are not permitted to participate in club soccer. We expect their teams to be Extra players' primary sports activity.

Extra players are expected to participate in two practices per week of approximately 1.5 hours. Extra teams typically play a league game each Saturday starting in late August or early September and continuing to early December. Extra teams also play in Winter and Spring leagues and tournaments. The coaches and parents on individual teams decide where and how much soccer to play once the Fall Extra League is over.

Q:What’s required for Extra coach volunteers?

A: Extra coaches must complete the coaching certification appropriate for their team's division, concussion training, and AYSO Safe Haven certification. Extra coaches are chosen from approved AYSO volunteers and are expected to be among the most qualified AYSO coaches. They are also committed to AYSO's 6 Philosophies - Everyone Plays, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship, and Player Development.

Q: How is Extra different than the primary AYSO program?

A: Extra is an extension of the primary AYSO program, intended to provide additional developmental opportunities for players interested in greater competition and more focused skill development and training. Participants should expect a competitive level of play in the Extra league, where all Extra teams represent the “All Star” players from each region. Extra teams also play in very competitive tournaments, representing La Verne/San Dimas against teams from all over Southern California.  

Q: How is Extra different from club programs?

A:  Like AYSO's primary program, all players play at least half of every game. Players don't compete for playing time and don't ride the bench in the interest of winning. When AYSO says Everyone Plays, we mean what we say! And though we take our soccer seriously, we place a strong emphasis on having fun and player development.  

Also important, AYSO Extra is significantly less expensive than club teams.

Q: What age groups will have Extra teams?

A: In 2023-2024, we expect to hold tryouts for U10, U11, U12, U13 and U14 teams for both girls and boys. We may expand or decrease our offerings based on the interest of coaches and players.

Player eligibility for 2023-2024 is as follows:

U10 = birth year 2014
U11 = birth year 2013
U12 = birth year 2012
U13 = birth year 2011
U14 = birth year 2010

Players can "play up" a year if La Verne doesn't offer a team in the player's normal division. For example, a player born in 2015 may try out for a U10 team if we won't field a U9 team or a player born in 2011 may try out for a U14 team if we don't field a U12 team. Playing up is not otherwise permitted. Team availability depends on coach and player interest in the program.

Q: How much will Extra cost?

A: We expect Extra registration cost $450 for the entire year. This fee includes two uniforms, team pictures, a tournament and regional expenses like field use fees, lighting fees, league fees, trainers, and AYSO National fees.

Teams may also collect team fees to pay for additional leagues and tournaments in the Winter and Spring. Typically, teams collect about $400-$500 per player to cover those costs, and then conduct fundraisers to reimburse families after the season. The amount of additional play, team fees, and fundraising is left to the discretion of the individual teams.

Like all AYSO programs, volunteer support is fun and expected with Extra. It is because AYSO is an all volunteer organization that we can offer such great value to our communities and spread the joy of soccer to so many. 

Please send any questions to [email protected]

Because some Regions in Area U are participating in this program, the program is under the jurisdiction of the Area Director.

Each participating Area Director in a Section is responsible for overseeing/verifying that the National and Section EXTRA program requirements are met as they pertain to player eligibility, coach eligibility, team formation, field support and Referee support by those Regions within their Area that elect to participate in the EXTRA program.

Once a Team has been selected for the EXTRA program, additional fee of $450 per player shall be assessed for the primary session  which includes participation in the Great Western Shootout Tournament (if held). Additional tournaments may be scheduled by the coach on a pay for play basis.  Teams are responsible for Tournament Fees and Referee Team Fees.

Each Regional Commissioner of a Region electing to participate in the EXTRA program is responsible for his/her Region’s compliance with established player eligibility requirements. Player eligibility, as pertains to age requirements to participate in a specific gender/age bracket, is defined in the AYSO National Rules & Regulations.

In order to tryout for an EXTRA team, players must either be registered with AYSO or complete the Non-AYSO Registered Participant Form. There is no requirement that EXTRA players have previously played or registered as AYSO players. Players shall be selected through an evaluation and selection process described below. The AYSO National Support & Training Center player database shall be the source of determining all players’ current registration status, the creation of team rosters and ID cards.
Gender/age bracket placement of players shall be based on their age as of January 1 of the current registration year. EXTRA permits placement based on single year age increments. Divisions may be formed in single-year age brackets should there be sufficient teams to do so within the playing circuit and with approval from the Section Director prior to forming said teams.
Placing/playing an ineligible player on a team may result in the expulsion of the player or coach from the EXTRA program, or such other disciplinary action as deemed appropriate by the Area/Section Director. The Area/Section Director shall also determine the extent of culpability with the possibility of additional sanctions being administered.