Team Parties
Parties are good. They're a fun way to celebrate the season and say "thank you" to our team coaches, referees and parents.
You don't have to go to a pizza parlor. Consider a potluck at one of the local parks. Make a list of items and circulate it at a practice for people to sign up and bring things. This way, the kids get to run around and you have plenty of space for trophy/medal distribution as well if your team is purchasing those.
Sometimes you get lucky and families will offer to host the party at their homes. You may want to send a quick email out to ask.
COACH AND/OR TEAM REFEREE GIFTS
Coach and team referee gifts are a nice gesture, especially given the amount of time of coaches volunteer to help the kids. Check out our list of suggested gifts and divide the cost of the gifts among players' families. Or, you can simply collect $5, $10 or $20 per player and then purchase the gifts. It is best to run these things by the team families and get their input before arranging for a specific amount or item. You don't want to go out and purchase a $200 item and your team only has 8 players and shock the families with the $25 per player amount. There are several ideas below that do not cost much at all – and they will mean so much:
- A gift certificate to local restaurants;
- Take a picture of the kids at a game or practice and frame it and have the kids sign the matte;
- Purchase soccer equipment for the coach if you've got a soccer-loving coach. Training equipment is good;
- Buy a cool soccer ball and have the kids sign it and purchase a case for it;
- Buy your coach tickets to a LA Galaxy, LAFC, Angel City FC game or merchandise for these teams
- Purchase a t-shirt from their favorite soccer team
- Buy some Agoura-Westlake AYSO gear – we're hoping to have an online store up and running by the end of Summer 2023 (coaches shirts, hats, etc.)
TEAM AWARDS
AYSO Region 4 does not provide season ending participation trophies in any division. We do provide awards for regular season winners in 10U-14U as well as awards for playoff champions & runner-ups in 10U-14U. [Note: 14U may alter awards based on number of teams. Contact the 14U Division Directors with specifics).
AYSO Region 4 has used American Trophies and Awards in Simi Valley and they do a very nice job but teams are welcome to consider other local and online alternatives such as BK Sports in Newbury Park. Please mention "AYSO Region 4" if you do decide to work with American Trophies and Awards (website:
https://american-trophies.com/ ph: (805) 526-0703)