AYSO is about children learning soccer, making friends, and having fun! The 6 philosophies of AYSO are:

• Everyone Plays
• Balanced Teams
• Open Registration
• Positive Coaching
• Good Sportsmanship
• Player Development

Nowhere on this list does it mention winning. While every player, coach, parent, and team wants to win — it is not our goal!

That being said, our Region and Area standard for a score being considered a “blowout” is a difference of 7 goals. If your team wins by more than a difference of 7 goals, the Coach Administrator and the Regional Commissioner will be sent an email notifying us. Please see the steps below once a blowout notification has been received.

We take blowouts very seriously and will take the necessary steps to make sure they don’t happen. If you need help coming up with ideas for your team to work on strategies other than scoring, please reach out to another coach, the Coach Administrator, or our Referee Administrator.

Coaches: hopefully you have all had the unfortunate experience of being on the losing side of a blow-out or a slaughter. If you have, you’ll know that it really is no fun for you and even less fun for the kids. If you haven’t had this experience, then take our word for it: it’s no fun, and it really isn’t a positive learning experience for either team. Moreover, a slaughter really flies in the face of AYSO principles and philosophies for the regular season.

Thus, as coaches, we must do everything in our power to prevent goal differences larger than 7. Remember: a win is a win is a win. Winning by 2 or winning by 7 doesn’t matter (unless you’re on the losing side of things).

So here are some suggestions for preventing a slaughter:

• Do respect the other team(the coaches, the players, the parents). Whatever advice you give your dominant team, make sure you do it in such a way that only your team gets the message — at an official break in the action (quarter or half). If you already know your team is very likely to dominate, you can mention some strategies even before the game.
• Do plan ahead. If it’s obvious your team is dominant, begin employing respectful strategies before you reach a 7-goal difference. You should know whether your team is 4 goals up based on “luck” or “dominance.” If it’s dominance, start using strategies when you’re only 4 goals up — don’t wait until the difference is 7. (If you wait until you’re 6 goals up and then your weakest player scores with the left foot, it’s now 7. And then the other team accidentally scores on themselves — now it’s 8…) So, plan ahead!
• Do continue to challenge your players and the other team:
  • All shots must be with the left foot (but don’t make it obvious)
  • No shots should be taken unless you’ve completed 6 passes in a row (but don’t make it obvious)
  • Only players who haven’t scored in the past 3 games can score now (but don’t make it obvious)
  • No dribbling — only 2-touch play (but don’t make it obvious)
  • All shots must come from outside the penalty area (but don’t make it obvious)
  • Give different players different opportunities on the field
  • Have your weaker players challenge the other team’s strongest players
  • If you’ve got a great goalkeeper, don’t play them in goal
  • Remember: if the other team scores, that’s good! (but don’t give the goal away)

There are other ways to challenge your team while not running up the score — these are just a few suggestions. Feel free to ask other coaches and our Regional Coach Administrator for more suggestions.