Long Beach United Try-Outs for 2023

The region is hosting its next round of try-outs for players who are interested in playing on our AYSO EXTRA™ teams, Long Beach United. These teams represent the top talent in our region; players who are looking for a more competitive / advanced level of play. Long Beach United teams play year-round, and work with licensed coaches. The costs and commitment required are greater than those of our Core teams that play in the Fall.

All prospective players must sign-up below before attending try-outs. Athletic shoes (cleats recommended), socks over shin guards, water, and ball are required.

All players, even those on existing Long Beach United teams, must try-out at least once per season. Players are not required to try-out more than once, but are welcome to do so for additional opportunities to be evaluated. (Some coaches may even request your player to try-out again.)

A note to existing Long Beach United players: placement on an EXTRA™ team does not guarantee placement in the ensuing season. Each season coaches have the discretion to keep or remove players as they see fit. (Often this decision is based on attendance, attitude, and family volunteerism.)

When will I hear from a coach?

Coaches who are filling holes in their rosters for Spring will likely reach out early. Coaches who are creating teams for Fall have until April to finalize their roster, so you may not hear from a coach until then. The region usually holds three rounds of try-outs between December and March/April. Team decisions and notifications are left up to each coach. Region 114 requests coaches to notify all participants who tried-out, whether selected or not. You may not hear from a coach until mid-May. If you have not heard by May 21st, please notify EXTRA Coordinator, Jamie Lawendowski at [email protected].

Will there be additional try-outs?

The region typically holds two or three try-outs per season. The second one is typically late January to early February. And a third in March or April. The best way to learn about new try-outs is to register an account with a valid email address so you will receive email notifications if/when we do schedule future try-outs. Also check back at this website frequently!

Questions? Email Long Beach United EXTRA™ Coordinator Jamie Lawendowski.

Year-round soccer. Lower fees. More playing time.

Why Choose to Play at Long Beach United?

In a nutshell: Long Beach United costs less and guarantees more playing time than any other league or club organization. Long Beach United teams train with licensed, professional coaches. Because we are a part of AYSO EXTRA™, our focus is on player development, good sportsmanship, and positive coaching.

Long Beach United represents Region 114 in the AYSO EXTRA™ game-circuit, against other teams in AYSO Section 11. This means no travel greater than 30 - 45 minutes for away games. Home games are played on Region 114 fields.

Long Beach United teams also have the opportunity to play in any tournaments they want -- this can be against other AYSO teams, or against club teams.

What is AYSO 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. 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 are guaranteed to play 75% before anybody plays 100%. Playing time = development.

I thought AYSO was just recreation soccer?

The most well-known product AYSO offers is Core soccer (recreation/grassroots), but AYSO offers many soccer programs that cover all levels and skills, from recreation all the way up to the most elite youth soccer level, ECNL. AYSO EXTRA™ teams are the equivalent of Flight 1 or 2 club teams.

How does Long Beach United compare to club soccer?

Long Beach United is essentially the club soccer program for Region 114. Long Beach United teams have the freedom to play against club teams in the Spring, or participate in any club tournament throughout the season. in the Fall season, Long Beach United teams participate in the AYSO EXTRA™ gaming circuit.

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. Because this is still AYSO, players are guaranteed to play at least 50% of the game. Unlike club teams, whose coaches earn more money every time they pack another player on their team, Long Beach United teams have a cap so that no player plays less than half a game (or usually 3/4 of a game for most players). Why spend $2,000 or more each year having your player play eight minutes each game?

In addition, all Long Beach United teams practice with a professional, licensed coach through our partnership with First Touch Soccer.

Our coaches aren't paid. There is no incentive to pack as many kids as possible on a team. With fewer players that means more playing time -- and more development -- for all.

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™ Season 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 in Fall. AYSO does not allow EXTRA players to play on any other soccer 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 Jamie Lawendowski.

Section 11 EXTRA Program Guidelines & Addendum documents https://www.ayso-section11.org/Default.aspx?tabid=942426