Providing world class youth soccer programs that enrich children's lives.

AYSO Region 1079 Red Mountain Serving Mesa and Surrounding Areas

The Kid Zone Sign

What is AYSO Kids Zone?

AYSO Kids Zone is an initiative designed to promote a positive, supportive environment for young athletes during soccer games. It emphasizes the importance of good sportsmanship and encourages parents, coaches, and spectators to focus on the enjoyment and development of the players rather than just the outcome of the game. Kids Zone guidelines ask everyone involved to respect the players, referees, and other spectators, ensuring that the soccer experience remains fun and stress-free for all children. This includes refraining from negative comments, offering encouragement, and maintaining a calm and supportive demeanor on the sidelines.

For parents and community members, AYSO Kids Zone represents a commitment to creating a safe and nurturing atmosphere where children can thrive, learn, and grow through the sport of soccer. It serves as a reminder that youth sports should be about building confidence, developing skills, and fostering a love for the game. By adhering to Kids Zone principles, the community helps reinforce these values, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to enjoy the sport in a positive and uplifting environment.

Tools for Parents

The following ideas may be helpful for being a supportive AYSO parent.

Conversations before the games
Tell your child you love him/her regardless of the outcome.
Tell him or her “Go for it, give it your best shot and have fun!”

During the game
Understand that kids are over-stimulated during games. The coach may be giving instructions, opponents and teammates are talking, the crowd is cheering, and the referee is blowing the whistle. To a youth sports participant, the atmosphere is much like that of a fighter pilot with enemy jets racing all around. Do not yell instructions to your child during the game because it only adds to the confusion. Sometimes the best thing you can do as a parent is to be quiet.
Cheer and acknowledge good plays by both teams.

After the game
Thank the officials for doing a difficult job.
Thank the coaches for their efforts.
After a difficult loss, recognize that it is not a good time to question a coach.
Thank your opponents for a good game.
Congratulate your child and his or her teammates for their efforts.
Compliment individual players on good plays they made in the game.

During the car ride home
Point out a good play your child made during the game.
Avoid criticizing or correcting mistakes.
Ask open-ended questions about how the game was played rather than how many points were scored.

Here are examples of open-ended questions that might apply:
Did you have fun?
Did you give it your best effort?
What did you learn from the game?
What was the best play you made and how did it feel?
Did you bounce back from your mistakes?

Kid Zone Pledge

Kids Zone® is a unique program that includes a parent pledge that moms, dads, and guardians sign to commit to positive, encouraging behavior when they're watching the games.

Click to download the Kid Zone Pledge.