When does the season start and end?
The AYSO Indoor 2017 Winter Season will start Saturday, January 14, 2017, and end April 1, 2017. Winter SoccerFest will be held March 25 and April 1.
When are the games played?
AYSO Indoor games will be played from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM. During that span, all four fields will be exclusively used by AYSO, meaning all of your AYSO friends and AYSO fans will be together for soccer-filled Saturdays. The day begins with the youngest divisions and then continues with non-stop soccer with our oldest players finishing the day.
When are practices?
There are no practices. You read that right: no practices. This is a games-only league; a Saturdays-only commitment!
Who is eligible?
AYSO Indoor Soccer is open to U5, U6, U8, U10, U12, U14, U15, and U16 players enrolled in AYSO Region 418's Core program for the 2016-2017 season. You must be enrolled in the 2016/2017 Core program. If you are a High School Boy (U15 & U16) who did not play in the Fall, and you are registered for the Spring HS Program, you are eligible for Indoor 2017 Winter Season.
How many spots are available?
We will roster a limited number of players for Indoor Winter 2017 Season. With over 3,000 eligible players in our region, these spots will go fast.
Once we enroll these slots, we will place players on a wait list and will look at adding additional teams based on demand in each age group and field availability. We have space to expand, but the number of additional players will depend on the number of applicants in the age groups.
Soccer in Chicago in the winter?
Yes. The weather is great inside Chicago Indoor Sports.
Who coaches the teams?
As with all AYSO programs, we rely on volunteers and will be asking for volunteer coaches.
We require that all coaches be Safe-Haven certified and AYSO Coach certified for the appropriate age division. There is not a separate certification for Indoor. We do allow coaches to request specific assistant coaches, but we cannot honor every request. Our first priority is to ensure we have enough qualified coaches for each team, and then we try to ensure that the teams are as evenly balanced as possible.
What does it cost and when can I register?
Indoor 2017 Winter Season Registration opened October 5th. The registration fee is $175 per player. We have capacity to accept approximately 20% of our eligible Core players, so please register early to improve your chance for enrollment. Registration slots are typically full by mid-November.
How are teams rostered?
We make every effort to keep outdoor teammates together for Indoor, but we cannot guarantee that this will happen. Our main objectives are to strive for balanced and competitive teams, distributing boys and girls and travel players fairly across all the teams (remember, this is a co-ed league). This means that we may split up outdoor teammates and travel teams to avoid imbalance in skill level as we build the rosters for Indoor.
Co-ed?
Yes. The teams are co-ed and that format has proven to be successful and beneficial for the boys and girls who have played with us in past seasons. It works very well. Please encourage your player to embrace this unique opportunity available only in AYSO's Indoor program.
Uniforms & Equipment?
All registered players will receive a team-specific numbered uniform jersey. Players provide their own shorts and soccer socks, typically the same issued for Fall season. All players are required to wear shin guards. Indoor turf soccer cleats are recommended but not required. Sneakers are acceptable. Firm Ground "outdoor" cleats are prohibited.
Is it fun?
Is this a rhetorical question? Yes, Indoor Season is a lot of fun. The league is a blast, and every year we have kids tell us that Indoor Soccer is their favorite activity. The action is fast and furious on a glass-walled, turf field with no out-of-bounds or throw-ins. Play is 7v7 or 6v6 for all but U5/U6 divisions, with substitutions made on the fly. U5/U6 plays 5v5. And with all fields dedicated exclusively to AYSO during our program time, it's also a great gathering spot for friends, family, and fans. Razzmatazz is the facility's entertainment center attached to the field space and is a wonderful place for families to play games or enjoy an assortment of food and beverage in a sit-down environment before or after game time. A separate concession stand serves food, beverages, sweets, and fresh fruit snacks to be enjoyed throughout the facility.
Is there a tournament at the end of the season?
Yes, we will host our annual Indoor SoccerFest tournament the final two weeks of the season, March 25 and April 1. Expect two Saturdays full of fast and exciting games, fun soccer, great competition and many, many smiles.
How do I register?
Registration is now open. Please register on our website using the same Blue Sombrero system and login information you used for Fall or Spring registration.
When should I register?
Now. The league is very popular and fills fast so register as soon as you can.
Refund Policy
Registered players who withdraw from the program prior to November 15th will be entitled to receive a full refund. Players who withdraw by December 15th will receive a 50% refund.
Other Questions
If your question is not answered in the items above, please email our Winter Indoor Program Coordinator, Adam Cole.