About AYSA

                           President’s Message

Welcome to the AYSA Internet site! For those of you new to this site or new to the AYSA program, you’ll find a description of the program and information about registration, team formation, coaching and volunteering elsewhere on this site. Let us know if you find the information on this site useful and informative. Response forms and links to our Board of Directors are indicated throughout the site. 

Interest in soccer continues to grow and so do the skills and energies of our players. Coaches and other volunteers are getting ready to spend many dedicated and happy hours working with players (and parents) to make this soccer season enjoyable and productive. Thanks in advance to our coaches, assistant coaches, and parent team volunteers. And special thanks to our Board members Kate Floyd, Colby Smith, Mark Bixby, Greg Smith, Tracy Farnham, Mark Schleweiss and others who work hard to make sure that teams get put together as quickly and efficiently as possible, and to Diana Spurgin for distributing equipment to coaches. Again this season, we will welcome a corps of referees from the Amherst Regional Schools. Thanks in advance for their efforts also. 

We continually face the need for more field space as the program grows and as other recreational and competitive programs in town also expand. Another challenge before us is to keep perspective on the spirit and values of the program. A very few parents and coaches lose this perspective at times and resort to the kind of unfortunate behavior you sometimes see at professional matches. A coaches and parents code of conduct can be found elsewhere on this site Code of Conduct (and in the links to other soccer organizations). Please encourage your friends and coaches to stick with this code for the good of the program and players. Violations of these codes will be taken very seriously and can result in suspension from the program for those involved.

One final word about the Association. This is an all volunteer organization. We receive no town funding. We are very happy to see the explosion of interest in soccer in Amherst and the surrounding towns. More than 1000 players are involved in our programs in Amherst. We are constantly trying to improve the programs offered and to expand to meet the needs of our players. Our volunteer coaches and staff are highly committed and energetic. But, to meet these growing needs and demands, we need your help. Please volunteer to coach, assist, work with fund-raising, fields, publicity, equipment, or anything else you feel you can contribute. AYSA Board meetings are held every month (date and time runs on the banner at the front page of this site). You are welcome to attend and help out. Or, you can call any member of the Association’s Board to volunteer. You’ll find a complete listing of officers and Directors in the listing on our site. organizationalchart

The season is almost here. Thanks in advance for your support.

Joel Feinman, for the Board of Directors of AYSA

Program Description

The Amherst Youth Soccer Association (AYSA) sponsors a range of programs for all skill levels with the general aim of developing soccer skills, knowledge and appreciation of the game, team play, and good sportsmanship. Our goal is to have players (and parents) who learn the game and have fun. We also want players to be able to match their interest and abilities with the level of challenge and competition for their level of development.

The Recreational program, for grades K-9 is for players of all skill levels but emphasizes learning soccer skills and the rules of the game, working with a team, and building social, physical, and emotional readiness for the game. The program is organized by grade level with more challenging play available as the player grows and progresses.  recreationalprogram

At a higher level of intensity and commitment, the Travel Program allows players with advanced interest and abilities an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the game and to challenge themselves at a higher level of competition with players at the same level from surrounding towns. Travel teams also compete in regional tournaments with teams from Massachusetts and other states.

At all levels, our programs are built around a core set of values including teamwork, challenging one’s abilities and knowledge, and the enjoyment of participating in an active and demanding sport. Good sportsmanship is not only desirable, it is essential. Our coaches will challenge our players to accept these values and play by them and we ask your support as parents in maintaining this focus.