Goal Differential
AYSO's mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs where everyone builds positive character through participation in a fun, family environment based on these six fundamental principals: Everyone Plays, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship, and Player Development.
Teams are put together by gender and age and are balanced in a way that makes playing soccer about the experience, not wins or losses. It’s not about blowing out another team with an unbelievable score; it’s about sportsmanship and learning to be the best possible teammate and opponent. Developing players is what we’re about because soccer skills and life skills go hand in hand. We want to get players on the field, provide them with good positive coaches, and teach them to play soccer.
Coaches - Please remember that these memories are not just yours. You are here to help make great memories for the kids and young adults. Running up the score is not beneficial to any child's self-esteem and should be prevented at all costs.
All attempts should be made to keep the Goal Differential no more than 6 goals, preferably less than that.
How to accomplish this?
- Put in your players that could use more game time to better develop their skills that may not be as strong as some of the other players.
- Have your goalies play on the field to increase their touches.
- Switch your defense with your offense.
- Play a player down.
DO NOT do the following:
- Yell "Only pass, no shooting", "Only use your left foot", "You must pass 5 times before shooting"
- These type of comments are demoralizing to the kids. Feel free to say those things directly to your players during the rest period.