Having a Successful Season in Hilo AYSO

As was discussed in Division Meetings, Hilo AYSO is a group project, and every person working in Hilo AYSO is a volunteer with a full plate of family, work, and hobbies. Having a successful season means that every family is involved, helping this region, your division, or your team. Attendance at the division meeting is the best way to show appreciation for all of our volunteers.

Help In Your Region

Hilo AYSO is governed by a board of volunteers. These volunteers complete essential tasks for all players and families in Hilo AYSO. Some board positions have more difficult tasks, and therefore every division and every team is required to provide a support volunteer to these board members.

These board members will reach out to their support volunteers as they are ready to work with their teams, and some may choose to work independently. Essentially, when we need you, we will reach out!

Help In Your Division

Every division must have a coordinator, field liner, event organizer (support), equipment assistant, and communication assistant. These volunteers were identified in each of our division meetings. 5u alone is exempt from the field liner requirement.

Help On Your Team

Every team has a full slate of tasks and roles that your coach will review with you at the team meeting. This includes one position to support our board member, called the “Core Support” role. Division Coordinators and division volunteers all fill this role. If this is you, please use this form to connect with your board member.

When You’ll Be Assigned a Team

Your team will be assigned in the next few weeks, as rosters are created by Division Coordinators. Once rosters are made, our coaches are going to be the point of contact for most players. Coaches will be able to call their players once they have completed training and received a roster. This process can take a few weeks – roughly August 12 - 16.

Families may have requested to play with a friend; however, your Division Coordinator will not be able to honor all requests. They are responsible for balancing teams so we can all have a great season!

Coach volunteers may choose to coach together, and may choose a referee. This is a great way to keep your players together if they are good friends! Coaches will also get to set practice days. Please register to coach or referee with the information later in this email.

Coachless Teams

By email and in the division meetings, Hilo AYSO has made a good faith effort to identify coach and referee volunteers for all of our teams. In some divisions, we are still short of volunteers. We will have to conclude that there is no one more suited to coach your players than the families on your team.

Once team rosters are built on August 11.

You will not be able to request a refund after the first games, Aug 24.

Please make the decision now if you will choose to stay in the season or not. Many divisions have waitlists.

Some coachless teams will have the opportunity to meet in person and choose a coach from among themselves. Some players on coachless teams will need to check with their Division Coordinator as practices approach, and may have to volunteer to coach to get started. It is up to the Division Coordinator to address coachless teams in a way that works best for them; it is not their job to provide a coach.

Waitlisted Players

We will accommodate as many players as possible, but have restrictions on space. Waitlisted players will be notified by email if we are able to accommodate them this season.

Player Expectations

Players should arrive on the field ready to participate in a safe, positive manner. Parents, not coaches, are responsible for their players’ behavior on the field. Your coach will politely let you know of any issues; take the hint and help out!

Players should bring their gear (cleats, shin guards, soccer socks) and a thermos with water to the field. It helps players to have a soccer ball at home to practice with.

Players will also need to purchase a uniform kit; there is more information at the bottom of this email.

Fall 2024 Calendar

For Fall 2024 players and families, here are more important dates to know:

Aug 3    Division Meetings

Aug 5 Registration Closes 

Aug 6-11 Division Coordinators begin forming Teams

Aug 12-16 Coaches can begin to contact you AFTER their training is completed

Aug 19-23 First Practices may begin anytime during this window 

Aug 24   First Games for All Divisions (Schoolyard games will begin later, 5U Division Coordinator will email you)

Aug 31 No Games (Labor Day Weekend)

Nov 2   Last Games

Register to Coach or Referee

Coaches and Referees are Registered Volunteers - AYSO provides background checks and online training to registered volunteers. These training programs are required in order to ensure best practices and safety for all of our players and families on the field.

Registered volunteers may request to work together, with up to 2 coaches and 1 referee on a team. Please work with your division coordinator as soon as you have a plan so they can build their teams.

Get Started - register as a volunteer in your Hilo AYSO account. To participate in games, your team needs 2 coaches who have registered and completed the online training requirements.

Registering to Volunteer - Detailed Version: In your Hilo AYSO account, find 'Volunteer' in the left sidebar. Your profile should appear. If the profile is not you, please make a new profile.

In your profile, look for the volunteer button in the top right of your viewport.

During registration, you will be asked to complete a background check. Background checks are required for all volunteers working with minors. Our background checks are completed through Sterling Volunteers. More information will be sent about training later this week, including our in-person training happening on Saturday, February 17th at the Hilo Town Marketplace, 69 Waianuenue Avenue, from 8am - 3-pm.

Field Map

This season, divisions will use these fields. Please stay in your division area and share each space.

Who to Contact in Hilo AYSO

Hilo AYSO is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Members of the board take on roles essential to organizing a soccer club. You can find all of the board's contact information on this page. As a quick note, most central communication happens by email so please keep an eye on your inbox for emails from Hilo AYSO.

Division Coordinators

Your Division Coordinators are your division-specific support. Your Division is the age group/gender that you coach in and will help to coordinate practices for your division teams. Your Division Coordinator may be a good person to talk to about practice plans as you move into a new age group. Your Division Coordinator will help communication move to and from the board through the season.

Players need to buy their own uniforms from Soccer.com. If you already have a red/blue uniform set, you DO NOT need to buy a new one. 

Players only need to buy 2 uniform shirts, though they will need black shorts and black socks for game day.

These 2 uniform shirts are under "Uniform Kit"; one is red, and one is blue.

Every game day you will be either the red team or the blue team - and you will play against the opposite color. You may not play in the same color all season!

Instructions on How to Order Uniforms:

Step 1: Click this link: Soccer.com OR copy/paste this address in a web browser: https://www.soccer.com/club/#/2002089023/required

Step 2: Click "Collection" and choose “Core 2024-25”

Step 3: Enter your child's name

Step 4: Click "Go To Team Store"

Once you get to the Team Store, then the first thing that will pop up is the required two jersey pack for all players. If you need help with sizing, then you can click details which is right above the price listed on the item. Soccer.com has live sizing charts with models showing sizing based on height and weight. 

The next tab you can go to is the "Recommended" section. This has shorts, sock, shin guards, and other options that will make sure your child has everything needed for the season. You are not required to purchase anything from this tab, but has plenty of options that are needed for a typical soccer season. 

If you have any issues, then you can reach out to the Soccer.com Customer Service Department through email ([email protected]) or phone (1-800-950-1994). 

You Are All Set

Emails are the main form of communication for Hilo AYSO. With more than 20 organizers, 30 referees, 120 coaches, and 500 players each season we work hard to make sure everyone has access to the same information. This may mean seeing the same information 2 or 3 times as new players and volunteers join our organization; please scan through each email as new information may be included.