18U Division Overview
Dates: Games are scheduled on Wednesday evenings, beginning September 9 and concluding with the final scheduled game on October 28.
Times: Wednesday games are scheduled between 4:30 PM and 9:00 PM.
Location: Core season games are held at Damon Garcia Sports Complex.
Additional Play Opportunities: Additional travel games may be offered during or after the Core season based on coordination with surrounding AYSO Regions and sufficient player availability. Any travel will be scheduled to avoid conflicts with the start of High School soccer season.
Practice: Practice dates, times, duration, and frequency are determined by the Head Coach. If your player is unavailable for the scheduled practice times, they may still participate in games. Team changes will not be made based on practice availability.
The 18U division provide players with an opportunity to continue developing their skills in a full-field environment while maintaining AYSO’s focus on sportsmanship and positive play.
In Region 599, 16U and 18U are offered as separate divisions and are not combined, allowing for appropriate levels of competition, safety, and player experience.
Field Size: Approximately 100 x 50 yards (minimum)
Goals: Official size goals (8 feet high by 8 yards wide)
Ball Size: 5
Roster Maximum: 18 players
Players on Field: 11 vs. 11 (including a goalkeeper; minimum of 7 players per team)
Practice Sessions: Up to 90 minutes per session, not to exceed 3 hours per week
Game Length: 90 minutes (two 45-minute halves, including halftime)
Eligibility
Players must meet AYSO age eligibility requirements and Region 599 policies. Players who turn 18 during the Fall Core Season are not eligible to participate.
Scheduling
Games are scheduled on Wednesday evenings and conclude prior to the start of high school soccer season.
Teams may participate in inter-area play against other AYSO regions or local recreational programs. Matchups vary each season based on registration numbers and team availability.
Games are typically played at Damon Garcia. When opportunities arise, teams may participate in occasional travel games against other regions or programs, generally within the Central Coast area, with Santa Barbara representing the furthest anticipated distance during the Fall Core Season.
Game Format & Philosophy
Scores and basic game statistics may be recorded; however, standings are not maintained and results are not used for rankings or seeding during the regular season. All regular season games are considered scrimmages.
The focus remains on:
- Player development
- Sportsmanship
- Enjoyment of the game
Due to high school athletic commitments and scheduling considerations, Region 599 does not offer post-season programs for 16U and 18U beyond the Fall Core Season.
Referees
Each team is expected to support referee coverage throughout the season.
- Center Referees: Advanced Referees
- Assistant Referees: Intermediate Referees or higher