The President’s Circle honors those Regions that have grown their player registration in two consecutive years (through April 30, 2013) with a minimum of 25 percent or 75 players in cumulative growth. Those Regions that play only Spring/Summer have been included with their May 1-June 30 registration from the previous Membership Year added in to give a full two years. 

New for 2013, an additional opportunity was developed for Regions to be nominated for the President’s Circle when they may not meet the numerical criteria but have persevered in the face of a significant challenge to the growth or viability of the Region. We have two honorees in this special category. 

Members re-qualify each year for the President’s Circle and we’re pleased that 24 Regions are repeat honorees. This year Regions in 14 Sections achieved growth of 75 or more players, and Regions in 13 Sections attained growth of 25% or greater. An outstanding accomplishment by these Regions! 

There are players throughout the State of Florida who don't get the opportunity outlined above. Are you interested in providing such opportunity? Don't know much about soccer? You don't need to. AYSO has courses, resource materials and best of all a huge volunteer base both locally and nationally to help you succeed. To explore the opportunity to start an AYSO region and begin to fulfill the dreams of your community's children please contact Becky Mitchell, Section 14 Director of Development, at Becky@fcys.net

The Fort Lauderdale Strikers traveled to Toyota Field, the new home of the San Antonio Scorpions, and came up short by a final of 3-1 on Saturday, May 18.

The Scorpions struck quickly in the first minute when Esteban Bayona headed a cross toward goal which Strikers' goalkeeper Jeff Attinella blocked, but the rebound fell to Javier Saavedra, who tucked it home for the lead.

"We had to play catch up and just weren’t good enough tonight," said Strikers head coach Daryl Shore. "They put us under pressure and we didn’t handle it well enough."

Following the early goal, play settled down between the two sides. The Strikers arguably produced the better chances, even though first-time starter in net for the Scorpions, Jeremy Vuolo, wasn't required to make any big saves. The best chances coming from interplays between Fort Lauderdale's attacking group of Walter Restrepo, Mark Anderson and Jemal Johnson.

The second half saw a flurry of goals when both teams combined for three tallies in five minutes. San Antonio got the better of the exchanges and extended their lead to 3-1.

The Scorpions' Luka Vucko scored in the 53rd minute after deflecting a free kick from Saavedra. Then Fort Lauderdale's Scott Gordon poked home a score off of a scramble in front of the net following a corner kick.

The game's final score came from an own goal when a deflected cross came low in front of the goal line and Gordon was unable to stop his momentum from hitting the ball into his own net.

The match saw several hard challenges following San Antonio's third goal as the referee handed out four yellow cards and six total on the night.

The team next returns home to face the Laredo Heat in the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, May 21.

Starting lineups:

Fort Lauderdale Strikers (4-2-3-1)- Jeff Attinella; Darnell King, Shavar Thomas (c) (Justin Chavez 78), Scott Gordon (Carlos Salazar 60), Ivan Guerrero; Manny Gonzalez, Toni Ståhl; Walter Restrepo, Mark Anderson, Jemal Johnson (Gonzalo De Mujica 72); Stefan Dimitrov

San Antonio Scorpions (4-4-2)- Jeremy Vuolo; Lyle Martin, Chris Williams, Luka Vucko, Blake Wagner; Walter Ramirez, Pat Phelan (c), Edin Husic, Javier Saavedra (Stephen DeRoux 89); Bryan Jordan (Jeff Jennings 71), Esteban Bayona (Nikola Vasilic 76)

Goal summary:

SAS- Javier Saavedra 1 (unassisted)- 1

SAS- Luka Vucko 1 (Javier Saavedra 2)- 54

FTL- Scott Gordon 1 (unassisted)- 55

SAS- Scott Gordon (own goal)- 58

Booking summary:

SAS- Pat Phelan (caution)- 38; Jeremy Vuolo (caution)- 66; Edin Husic (caution)- 80

FTL- Shavar Thomas (caution)- 47; Ivan Guerrero (caution)- 78; Manny Gonzalez (caution)- 81

Let the Games Begin! That’s the traditional phrase that has proclaimed the start of the AYSO National Games since its first venue in Irvine, Calif., in 1988. Those words will start off a week-long celebration that brings together AYSO players, volunteers and parents from across our country. The genesis of the National Games is typically AYSO. It started with a good idea and volunteer power pulled it off!

The Games were the brainchild of Mike Michalski, then Area 1B Director from West Hills, Calif. Michalski had been putting on successful tournaments for California players, coaches, and referees for years. He wanted to share the good times and fun with more players and volunteers. And so he made a proposal that paved the way for the National Games. He gathered together some diligent, dedicated and daring men and women from the volunteer corps and the National Office – a few of them are still involved in AYSO– who would, in the AYSO spirit and tradition, make it happen.

The opening ceremony, the soccerfest, the sportsmanship medals – they were all there in 1988. Over the years traditions have been added as each venue wove a bit of its own spirit into the fabric. The National Games is everything AYSO: they reflect the excellence, tradition and spirit of our players, volunteers, spectators and philosophies. Let the Games continue!  

For more information related to the 2014 National Games go to http://apps.ayso.org/ng/index.php#2

Since 2008 AYSO Region 644, Weston Florida spearheaded a semi-annual food drive to feed the hungry in the South Florida area. Teaming up with the non proift organization Feeding America, AYSO Region 644 helped to feed hundreds of families each year, not just at Thanksgiving, but all through the year. We are an organization not just of soccer, but of families and communities. We have so many caring individuals and such a great base of participants, it would be a tragedy not to help our fellow Floridians who have fallen on hard times. During a Section Conference Then RC of Region 644 leveled a challenge to the other regional commissioners to have food drives as well. Other AYSO regions in Section 14 began to take up the cause and beginning in the fall of 2013 our Section will be the first AYSO Section to have a "Feeding America" initiative. We will have upcoming information on this website as well as our facebook page and twitter announcements.

Here is a promotional video for Feeding America