What is Long Beach United EXTRA™?
AYSO EXTRA™ is a competitive, game-circuit program that offers players a higher-level opportunity to refine their skills in a more competitive, tryout based environment, without the typical costs associated with higher-competition programs, like Club. Though players are more advanced, the EXTRA™ program follows the same core values as AYSO’s other programs and embraces AYSO’s Six Philosophies, particularly EVERYONE PLAYS where all players get to play at least half the time (or two-thirds for smaller roster sizes). This is a huge developmental advantage over other programs.
Long Beach United is the collective name of Region 114 EXTRA™ teams.
How does AYSO EXTRA™ differ from Core?
Core is AYSO's recreational level program -- it is the beginning of the AYSO Player Pathway. Core is the most common soccer program that in Region 114 is played in the Fall. EXTRA™ is for players looking to progress to the next level along the AYSO Player Pathway.
At the Core recreational level, any player who registers gets to play -- that's part of the AYSO Philosophy. However, EXTRA™ teams are formed only by try-outs -- think of it like AYSO club soccer, without the substantial increase in cost, time commitment, and travel that is typically required of club soccer. EXTRA has a higher cost than Core.
Just like in Core, EXTRA has games on Saturdays. Unlike Core, EXTRA teams travel 50% of the time to compete against EXTRA™ teams from other Regions. (In Core you only compete against other teams in your region.) Region 114 EXTRA™ teams travel no more than 30 minutes in any direction.
Another difference is that EXTRA™ teams also have a Spring season -- whereas the Region 114 Core program is Fall only (except for some Core players who are invited to play All-Stars or Spring Select).
Is EXTRA™ different than Spring Select and All-Stars?
Yes. Core soccer is the first stop on the Player Pathway -- after that, some Core players are invited to play on Core All-Stars and/or Core Spring Select (through coach invitation). EXTRA™ is the next level up on the AYSO Player Pathway.
EXTRA™ players cannot participate in Core All-Stars or Core Spring Select, because they are not part of the Core player pool. EXTRA players are part of a different league, so to speak.
Is "Long Beach United" different than "AYSO United?"
Yes they are different. "AYSO United" is the final stop on the AYSO Player Pathway -- it is AYSO's true Club program, in which teams play in a Club circuit in a larger geographic area against other club teams. (EXTRA™ teams play against other EXTRA™ teams; not club.) With the higher level of competition comes increased travel and time commitment, just like in Club.
This can be confusing in Region 114 because our 114 EXTRA™ teams collectively go by the same "Long Beach United." Region 114 does not have an AYSO United program. EXTRA™ is the most competitive program offered in Region 114.
How does EXTRA™ compare to club?
Both AYSO EXTRA™ and Club are competitive soccer programs targeting players that have a stronger desire and ability to play soccer. However, EXTRA™ focuses on the development of players in a competitive (but not a cut-throat) environment. All players in the EXTRA™ program play at least HALF of every game. Why spend $3,000 each year in a club team only to have your player play eight minutes a game?
"The best teacher of the game of soccer is the game itself; guaranteed playing time is what makes AYSO EXTRA™ such a great program for young soccer players."
— Tim Ward – Head Coach, Pepperdine University Women’s Soccer Team
In addition, all Region 114 teams practice with a professional, licensed coach through our partnership with First Touch Soccer.
Thanks to more playing time on the pitch and licensed coaching with our partners from First Touch Soccer, EXTRA™ players in Region 114 receive as much -- or more -- development than many club soccer teams, without the substantial increase in cost, time commitment, and travel that is typically required of club soccer. The proof is in the success of our Region 114 EXTRA™ teams against other Regions, and against club teams in tournaments.
How much does EXTRA™ cost?
One of the most significant differences between EXTRA™ and Club is the cost. A full year of EXTRA™ and tournaments can range from $600 - $800 (depending on how many tournaments in which a team chooses to participate, and additional equipment purchases). Club program costs typically run from $2,000 - $3,000 per year.
- Region 114 EXTRA™ players register and pay for the normal Fall Core season. This includes the AYSO Region 114 Core program fees plus an additional fee (approximately $270) to cover the cost of an upgraded uniform, professional training and the EXTRA™ Program participation fee.
- Teams sometimes choose to buy balls, bags, warm-up suits or other items, these costs are covered by players.
- There may also be fees for any optional tournaments in which the team participates.
How are Region 114 EXTRA™ costs so low?
We run on parent power -- not money! All EXTRA™ teams are expected to volunteer during the season -- most often as referees or working the Info tents, lining fields, etc. When your child participates in Region 114, so do you. Your volunteer spirit keeps our costs low. Often the roster decision between two like players comes down to whose parent/guardian is willing to volunteer referee! Let the prospective coach know your interest in becoming a referee, and then visit our Referee Sign-Up page to get started.
What is the EXTRA™ Schedule?
- EXTRA™ Fall Season begins in July / August and continues through December/January.
- EXTRA™ Spring Season begins in February / March and continues through May / June.
- Travel is required (approximately 50% of games). Travel is typically limited to about 30 minutes from our home fields at Heartwell.
- AYSO Region 114 teams compete against other EXTRA™ teams in AYSO Section 11 Areas Q, L, Z, K and E.
- EXTRA™ teams may participate in tournaments throughout the year -- these are optional and are up to each Coach/Team. EXTRA™ teams can participate in AYSO tournaments, or Club tournaments.
When are EXTRA™ Try-outs?
- Tryout dates are posted on this page and on the region calendar (Typically several try-outs are held December through March/April.)
- New and returning players must try out each year to be eligible for selection.
- We encourage players to try out multiple times, as many times as they wish, but at a minimum one is required.
- All players interested in trying out must RSVP when try-out sign-ups are open.
- All players who try-out will receive email confirmation (usually by the end of April) indicating if they were selected or not, using the email address provided when signing up for try-outs. For Fall seasons, teams are selected by the end of April.
IMPORTANT: If you intend to play in Region 114 in the fall, regardless of whether chosen for EXTRA™, you must still register when Fall Core registration opens (March-June), and pay the AYSO 114 Registration Fee. If your player is selected for the EXTRA™ team, there will be additional fees but those will be discussed if/when you are presented with the offer to join the team.
EXTRA™ Exclusivity
EXTRA™ players are asked to make soccer their exclusive/priority sport.
- Players may not play on both a Fall EXTRA™ team and a Fall Core team.
- Players may not play on both an EXTRA™ team and a Club team.
Registering for EXTRA™
You cannot register yourself for EXTRA™. During Open Registration you should register for the regular Fall Core program, even if you plan to play -- or think you may be invited -- on an EXTRA™ team. Once you are officially invited and accept to play in EXTRA™, we will manually add your player to the Coach's EXTRA™ team, and you will receive additional instructions to pay the additional EXTRA™ fees.
Upon successfully being added to an EXTRA™ team, ALL participants (even if returning) must verify their date of birth by emailing la photo/scan of their birth certificate or passport to Region 114 Registrar [email protected]
Questions?
For more information, contact EXTRA Coordinator Pablo Jimenez.
2018-2019 EXTRA Program Guidelines http://section11extra.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EXTRA-Program-Guidelines-MY18.pdf
2018-2019 EXTRA Program Addendum http://section11extra.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/EXTRA-Program-Addendum-MY18.pdf