It's that time of year again where all the miniature soccer stars of Taft begin signing up for the AYSO season. One round of signups has ready taken place but the second round is just around the corner, Saturday, July 17.
The non-profit organization will be welcoming kids four and older from 9:00 to noon to sign up for the season at the soccer fields behind the Albertson's shopping center. "All you need to do is have your kid's basic information and the registration fee," Regional Commissioner, Curtis Ashmore said. The fee, which includes a uniform, is $55 for one child and $50 for any additional child of the same family.
The Taft AYSO league has been active for more than 25 years and has always catered toward their players. "We just try to provide a fun and secure place to let the kids enjoy the game," Ryan Self, Coach Administrator, said.
The organization guarantees that each player will get to play three out of the four quarters in each game, "Unlike other sports where you might not even see your kid play at all," Ashmore said. "It's all about the kids."
Although the sport has been gaining popularity, the Commissioner said that they are hurting for sponsorships. "We're going to be going around town in the next week or two, business to business, trying to recruit sponsorships," he continued. "We'll take any donations. Everything we make goes back into the kids."
AYSO is powered by board members who are dedicated and close to the sport. "This is my first year and I couldn't do anything without everyone else," Ashmore said. "Especially our treasurer Bonnie Nunoz, she is the glue that holds the AYSO program together." The members,
Luis Ponce, Ruben Nuno, Hubble Self, Tracy Self, Theresa Self, Jackie Ponce, the Commissioner, the Coach Administrator and the treasurer, are all volunteers.
The organization will hold one more round of signups in August before the season begins and vuvuzela enthusiasts from the World Cup flock to the sidelines to cheer on all the future Team USA players.