For the first time in the history of the National Games, adult players from the North American Adult Soccer Association (NAASA) are being invited to participate in the National Games.

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TORRANCE, Calif. (March 25, 2013) –AYSO National President Paula Berriz  announced today that Kim Roberts Hedgpeth has been named the American Youth Soccer Organization’s new National Executive Director.

Hedgpeth brings a strong background of non-profit leadership and strategic management, including seven years as National Executive Director of the Los Angeles-based American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). She is the first African American woman to be named chief executive of a major national U.S. soccer organization and will begin her new role on April 1.

“We see Kim as the ideal person to support the change management of the AYSO Strategic Plan,” said President Berriz, in making the announcement.  “We believe that Kim’s diverse and successful background brings many talents and unique capabilities that will impact our organization in many new and exciting ways as we approach our 50 year anniversary.  Kim is a proven leader for our national staff and is a very welcome and important addition to our organization.”

Hedgpeth helped negotiate and implement the 2012 merger of AFTRA and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Upon completion of the merger of the two unions, she chose to step down from her executive role to pursue personal projects.  

“I am honored to become associated with AYSO’s 50-year tradition of providing fun, safe and inclusive soccer for children of all ages and abilities,” said Hedgpeth in accepting the new assignment. “ I look forward to working with the dedicated coaches, referees, volunteers, staff and parents in expanding its excellent programs for players across the U.S. and the Caribbean, as AYSO celebrates the start of its next 50 years of great soccer.”

The search for the new AYSO top executive was conducted by New York City-based search firm DRG, which specializes in non-profit senior executives. Hedgpeth replaces Tom Tobin who retired in December. DRG worked with an internal search committee made up of AYSO volunteers and national staff.  NBOD member Tony Veronico, a retired CEO of two different New York City non-profit organizations, served as the interim NED on a volunteer basis during the search process.

“Over 500 candidates were reviewed for this position,” said Robert Daniel, the NBOD member that chaired the search committee. “And DRG narrowed that down to the six best candidates for us to interview. In the end, Kim was just a standout and our committee was pleased to be able to unanimously recommend her candidacy to the National Board of Directors.”  The NBOD voted unanimously at their board meeting on March 23 to approve the recommendation.

Hedgpeth joined the staff of AFTRA in 1981 and served a wide variety of roles including Co-Director of the New York Local and Executive Director of AFTRA’s San Francisco Local and the San Francisco Screen Actors’ Guild.

From 1998-2000, she served as Director of Labor and Employee Relations for Harvard University before returning to AFTRA in 2001.

Hedgpeth received her bachelor of arts in American Government from Harvard in 1978 and her juris doctor in 1981 from the Georgetown University Law Center. She is admitted to both the New York and California State Bar.

She was born and raised in New York City, the daughter of two performers. She is married to Gilbert W. Hedgpeth, a former law enforcement executive for the State of New Jersey. They now reside in Los Angeles, Calif. Gilbert was an amateur boxer and is now a professional boxing referee, and he played varsity soccer at Ewing High School in Ewing, New Jersey.  Hedgpeth’s niece and nephew (ages 8 and 6 respectively) play AYSO soccer in Region 1441, Castaic, Calif.

ABOUT AYSO
AYSO was founded in Torrance, Calif. in 1964 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014. It was the dream of a group of devoted soccer enthusiasts who started the organization out of their own garage with nine teams. Today, the national non-profit has more than 50,000 teams, nearly 1000 leagues, and over 525,000 players nationwide. Its alumni tops 6,000,000, including some of the top professional soccer players in the U.S. AYSO is founded on Six Philosophies which include Everyone Plays®, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship and Player Development. For more information, contact Sahar Milani at saharm@ayso.org or visit www.AYSO.org.

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The North American Adult Soccer Association (NAASA) has become a division of AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization).  NAASA, made up of the numerous adult leagues associated with AYSO Regions, was originally spun off in 2010 as a separate subsidiary that was wholly owned by AYSO.

According to National President Paula Berriz, the change in structure, approved by the AYSO National Board of Directors at its June meeting, is to more efficiently and cost effectively service the needs of AYSO adult programs by bringing them back in-house rather than as a separate entity. Among other matters, having the benefit of AYSO’s 501(c)3 tax status makes securing and retaining playing fields for adults easier in many communities.

NAASA will retain its name, and the NAASA board members will continue to serve and represent the AYSO adult playing community through this new Division.

It is expected that this will be a seamless playing transition for AYSO Regions with NAASA programs. At this time, programs will continue to use the Sports Logic registration system.

There is also no need to change an adult program’s bank account unless it is presently running under NAASA’s Federal Tax Identification Number. These Regions will receive information from the National Office on how to convert their adult program bank accounts back to an AYSO account after the busy registration period now in progress is over.

The change in corporate structure should have no impact on playing schedules or other adult league operations.

For further information, contact Debbie Dakouzlian at the AYSO National Office.

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NAASA’s online registration partner Sports Logic has teamed up with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) to offer its members access to its league management tools.

The partnership of the NSCAA and Sports Logic Group, LLC brings NSCAA members tools for online registration, league management and team management. Sports Logic Group’s League Manager and Team Manager gives coaches a dynamic tool for building teams, setting game schedules, managing referees – a total league and club management and communication solution.

Learn more…

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Adult soccer is not only a way to reconnect with friends and indulge in your favorite sport, but it’s also a fantastic way to stay healthy while getting older. TheNYTimes.com reported several health benefits specific to adult soccer – especially in women – and found that those benefits were long term.

“Playing soccer not only led to better balance and improved muscle strength, but the sport also increased a woman’s bone mineral density by an average of 2 to 3 percent,” says New York Times writer Tara Parker-Pope. “The gains were greater among the women who had played soccer instead of running.”

And, the same goes for the men. “Other studies … have shown similar heart and bone benefits in male soccer players. One study looked at muscle function and balance in a group of 65- to 75-year-old men who played recreational soccer most of their lives,” says Tara.

“In a one-leg balance test, the older soccer players performed just as well as 30-year-old men. Older men who weren’t trained in soccer had twice as many falls during the balance test as their soccer-playing peers.”

The results are in. For a better life, keep on playing! Read the article in its entirety here.

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Annette Klein and her fellow AYSO Region Board Members – from Region 688 in Gilbert, Ariz. – first decided to start an adult soccer league because they were tired of letting the kids have all the fun. “Our Board thought it would be a great opportunity for volunteers to enjoy the game of their youth,” explains Annette. “We also had Board Members whose children aged out of the youth program and wanting to keep playing.”

So, in 2005, Annette and four other AYSO volunteers branched out and created an adult soccer league. “Seeing our older volunteers continue to play their game and for the aged-out players to play with them has been the most rewarding part of being in an adult soccer league,” shares Annette.

Annette and her fellow league Board Members have learned quite a bit while running the league, one key lesson being how to spread the word of a brand new adult soccer program. “In the beginning, we used door-hangers with AYSO program details on one side and the adult program advertised on the back,” says Annette. “We also announced it at every AYSO clinic and put in on our Region website.”

Thanks Annette! If you’re interested in sharing your NAASA league story, send us an email!

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Participating in a NAASA tournament is a great way to take your adult soccer experience to the next level. NAASA is currently developing protocol for tournaments, and welcomes the involvement of its members in the process.

Would your NAASA league be interested in hosting or attending a NAASA tournament? If so, what would you recommend as a reasonable entry fee? If you are interesting in hosting a tournament, how many nearby leagues would your NAASA league be interested in hosting?

Your feedback is welcomed! Send NAASA your thoughts, suggestions and comments on tournaments for your chance to win a special NAASA prize.

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The rules are simple: play safe and have fun!

NAASA, the North American Adult Soccer Association, is the new adult soccer association developed by AYSO. It offers registration, insurance and liability protection, so your AYSO Region can safely have a place for your volunteers and parents to play. And don’t forget the youth players that may be “aging out” of AYSO!

Your NAASA program can be as casual (anybody who shows up on Sunday morning) or sophisticated (age divisions, uniforms, referees) as you choose. Co-ed and single gender both work. Few volunteers are needed and it’s simple to get started. But for the Region’s protection you’ll want them registered before they take to the field.

This is a great way for the adults in your Region to get exercise, have fun, enjoy soccer…and increase their engagement with your Region!

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