The American Youth Soccer Organization, a Davis mainstay since 1979, has extended its fall-program registration deadline to June 30 for mail-in sign-ups, and has added a June 27 walk-in session.

Local AYSO applications were to have been cut off on June 2, but soccer officials found their numbers to be short of normal.

As many as 2,000 kids usually are involved in local AYSO but, as of a week ago, about 1,500 had actually registered, according to Region 218 Commissioner Jen Boschee-Danzer.

Last summer, AYSO — whose season started after Labor Day — took sign-ups through July.

This year, the organization moved the start of play to Aug. 25 (the week before Labor Day) and needed to adjust the deadline for registration.

“I think it’s had an effect on numbers,” Boschee-Danzer explains. “It’s a tough time of year to keep up with everything … everybody has end of the school year, we just wrapped up our spring season with Davis World Cup the weekend before.

“A lot of people were telling me registration just snuck up on them.”

The cost of playing AYSO is $140 (walk-in sign-ups) or $160 for mail-in players. In the under-5 category the fee is $50 or $60.

“I think the economy might have a little to do with it, but everyone should be reminded we offer scholarships,” Boschee-Danzer continued. “We never want any child in Davis not to play soccer because of not being able to afford it.”

AYSO is open to area kids born between Aug. 1, 1993 (U19), and July 31, 2008 (U5).

The Davis program is staffed completely by volunteers.

“We have more than 400 coaches for roughly 200 teams,” adds the commissioner. “There are 200 to 250 referees, all volunteers. The board, the tournament staffs — all volunteer.”

Last spring, when almost 700 AYSO soccer players kicked the ball around, Boschee-Danzer and her board tried something new in an effort to give her many volunteers a little breather:

“We have Just for Kids come in and run our spring program for us. It was an experiment and we’re still collecting feedback on how that went … to see if it’s something we want to do again.”

During the past year, AYSO has branched out to touch as many corners of the community as possible.

In addition to reaching out to Davis Bridge Foundation participants, the local soccer folks also have had information/registration tables at the Davis Farmers Market.

So, is AYSO in panic mode about numbers being down about 25 percent?

“Concerned, sure. Not panicked,” Boschee-Danzer says. “There are many other activities in Davis from which to choose. Knowing which activities to sign up for, and how many your family can handle at one time … that can be a challenge.”

The commish says she’s delighted Davis provides so many opportunities — baseball, basketball, lacrosse and field hockey (among others) — adding, “There’s always competition from a variety of other activities.”

But the main concern Boschee-Danzer has, is that she doesn’t want a family to not get involved with AYSO because it’s not in the budget …

“We want to stress that scholarships are available,” she reiterates. “We want people to visit our website (www.davisayso.org) and see how they can take advantage of those — or sign up for the fall season. It’s not too late.”

Notes: Want to get involved in AYSO? You don’t have to coach or officiate to be involved. The organization looks for coaching administrators, field adopters (opening and closing net and flag storage facilities), game schedulers, field and picture day coordinators and tournament officials. … Even state Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, is getting involved again. A longtime AYSO volunteer and former commissioner (remember her officiating all those years?), Wolk recently contacted the group to ask about how she can give back once again. Boschee-Danzer says, “I’ll have to return that call quickly. We’ll be able to use her.”

— Reach Bruce Gallaudet at [email protected] or (530) 747-8047.

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