AYSO Weekend at the Home Depot Center

Make plans now to join us for AYSO Weekend at the Home Dept Center. The fun begins Saturday, Sept. 24, with the McDonald’s SoccerFest, which includes an opportunity to see CD Chivas USA take on the Colorado Rapids. (E-mail here to ask about special AYSO events and ticket prices for those not attending the SoccerFest.) Then on Sunday, Sept. 25, it’s AYSO Day with the Galaxy, as Los Angeles takes on the Kansas City Wizards.

Kits ready for on-time delivery

Delivery is right on schedule for the free items donated by our sponsors. Delivery is underway for the Clorox Player Bags and will continue through the end of August. Delivery for the Hyundai Coach’s Kits will begin next week and last through early September.

You could be a Fox Soccer commentator

Attention MLS fans! You could be a commentator on Fox Soccer Channel! Two fans will be selected to call an entire MLS match on FSC. Visit the FanZone to learn more.

Games of the Week

Tune in to this weekend’s ESPN2 Soccer Saturday match, as the Columbus Crew play host to FC Dallas (4 p.m. ET). This is a must-win for Columbus to keep their fading MLS playoff hopes alive, while FC Dallas needs three points to stay close to West leaders San Jose.

The MLS Select Team (All-Stars) faces Spain's Real Madrid for the 27th Trofeo Santiago Bernabeu, live and exclusively in English on Fox Soccer Channel (Tuesday, 3:30 p.m. ET). Also, The UEFA Super Cup is live and exclusive, with the UEFA Champions League winner, Liverpool FC, returning to Monaco to battle UEFA Cup Champion, PFC CSKA Moscow, for the UEFA Super Cup title (Friday, 2:30 p.m. ET). To get Fox Soccer Channel, call your local cable or satellite provider.

GolTV steps-up once again to provide its audience with the best matches from Europe and Latin America. The championships begin in Italy and Spain on August 27-28, with matches that will be broadcast live. Find out more about bringing GolTV home.

In the News

Starting a new high school team…Former National Team player now coaching AYSO…Opening ceremonies planned for one region…AYSO helps local prep teams here and here…bringing soccer to this community…Field space continues to be an issue…An AYSO team feeds a local charity…and a sun safety reminder as the season draws near.

In case you missed it…

Clorox Liquid Bleach and AYSO are searching for the AYSO Volunteer of the Year to honor and recognize outstanding individuals for their commitment and dedication to fulfilling AYSO’s mission. The contest is open to anyone affiliated with AYSO, including coaches, team parents, or any other volunteer. The Volunteer of the Year winner will receive a new Hyundai Sonata. Listen for our call for entries on Radio Disney beginning August 29. Anyone who wants to participate can fill out an entry form in the Fall 2005 issue of plAYSOccer magazine, or online.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation, the major charitable arm of soccer in the United States, announced that the on-line application process for its 2006 Grants Program Cycle is officially open. The Foundation’s mandatory first step – the Letter of Inquiry – is open through September 30, 2005 (5 p.m. ET). The second step begins on September 15 when the on-line full grant application process becomes available for Letter of Inquiry applicants who have been invited to submit full grant applications.

Check out this month's installment of AYSO Shorts (now online) for the VERB and AYSO Game of the Month – "King of the Mountain". This game is just one of several that AYSO and VERB have created to get kids to play soccer: anytime, anywhere. You can have your kids check this out to find out more ways for play. VERB is a program designed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to get kids physically active.

Sponsor of the Week

The National Soccer Hall of Fame is an Affinity Partner of AYSO. The NSHOF includes a wing dedicated to AYSO. Take a virtual tour of the Hall, or plan your visit the state-of-the-art museum in New York.

Regional Spotlight

Each week, we pick a regional Web site to highlight, to give you a look at what’s going on with AYSO regions around the country. This week, we look at Region 14, where Greg Wintroub is the Regional Commissioner. Region 14 is located in Section One, Area F.

If you would like your region highlighted, make sure your Web site URL is up-to-date on eAYSO. Just send your URL information to Joan at the NSTC and she’ll do the rest.