Player Soccer Equipment

The Region shall make arrangements to supply each player with a shirt with the AYSO logo and a pair of socks. Each player is expected to provide his/her own appropriate shorts, footwear, and shin guards. No player may participate in a game without such shirt, socks, dark/black shorts, appropriate footwear, and shin guards. Players may not wear jewelry of any kind (including chains, watches, body jewelry and earrings), bandannas or other ornamentation or anything else that is likely to cause risk of injury to himself or herself or to other players during the game.

Medical information bracelets should not be removed, but must be padded and taped to the player's skin.

Prescription eyeglasses may be worn, but must remain firmly on the wearer’s head or restrained by a strap. Non-prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses are not permitted to be worn by a player during a game.

Hard casts (including padded casts), splints, helmets and hard padding are not permitted to be worn by a player during any game or training session/practice. Casts and/or splints should not be removed without the supervision of a healthcare provider. Players with permanent orthodontic braces are strongly encouraged to wear mouth guards.

Region 149 has the following rules on player equipment allowed. The referee shall check before each game is to make sure that all players conform to these rules. These rules are for the child’s safety and that of all players and referees on the field. Any exception, for medical, religious or other extraordinary reasons, requires a written waiver, signed by the Regional Commissioner, which must be shown to the referee on the field. Referees may also refuse to permit other items not listed here if, in their opinion, those items are dangerous.

Jewelry No jewelry is permitted; for example, the following are prohibited:

• NO Earrings, at all, period. Earrings must be removed before the child can play - padding/taping is not an acceptable substitute.
  • Earrings, of any kind worn in any visible body piercing or any hard replacement stud used when the jewelry is not being worn must be removed before the player is allowed to participate in a practice or game. Covering the jewelry or hard replacement stud with tape, padding or bandage is not sufficient, the jewelry or hard replacement stud must be removed before playing. Subject to approval of the referee, various soft, flexible materials that do not present a danger to the player or other players may be used to keep recent body piercings open for participation during games.
• NO Necklaces.
• NO Hard Bracelets (metal, plastic, beads, leather, anything that could become hooked on something or cut or bruise). This includes "Medic-Alert" bracelets, which should be taped to the skin so that the medial alert symbol is still visible.
• NO Rings or Watches.
• NO Body Jewelry, such as nose rings/studs, eyebrow rings/studs, tongue rings/studs, etc.
• NO Pins or Pin-on buttons.

Head No metal or hard objects are allowed; for example, the following are prohibited:

• NO hair barrettes or hard fasteners (straps, combs, etc.).
• NO "pony tail holders" (elastic bands with hard plastic balls).
• Plain elastic fasteners, rubber bands, Scrunchies (cloth-covered elastic) are OK as long as they do not contain hard objects.
• Headband OK (cloth only).
• Long hair should be tied back or up.
• Glasses - prescription only, retaining straps strongly encouraged but not mandatory. Safety or sport glasses are strongly encouraged; metal rims are discouraged.
• NO sunglasses, except for prescription.
• NO external head or neck gear (goalkeeper may wear a soft-brimmed hat; referee judges acceptability).
• NO dental retainers with protruding wires (must be removed before match begins). Molded retainers without wires are OK. Orthodontic braces are OK. A sports mouthpiece is allowed.

Jersey

• Team jersey must be worn.
• Another shirt or sweatshirt (long or short sleeve) under jersey is OK. Cannot be the same color as other team jersey. Referee judges if color is acceptable. NO hooded shirts are allowed, unless the hood is securely tucked under the jersey and will not come loose during play.
• There must be 5 different jersey colors, and only 5 colors, on the field: Team A goalkeeper, everyone else on Team A, Team B goalkeeper, everyone else on Team B, Referee.

Shorts

• Non-regulation shorts are OK, but only if color matches team's shorts to referee satisfaction.
• "Bike pants" (tight-fitted stretch shorts) or sweatpants may be worn under regular shorts if they are of the same color as the shorts and do not cover any part of the shin guard or socks.
• NO knee pads except goalkeeper (soft pads only).

Legs

• Team socks must be worn.
• Shin guards are required. Shin guards are to be put on first, then the socks, which must completely cover the shin guard.
• Knee braces are permitted, provided the brace is adequately covered and padded so as to eliminate the possibility of its causing injury to other players. The knee brace should be one designed specifically for use in sports, and may not pose a potential hazard to the wearer or any other player.

Feet

• Regulation soccer shoes, gym shoes, or sneakers (with or without cleats) are permissible in all AYSO competitions subject to the referee’s approval regarding their safety.  Metal cleats or toe cleats (rubber cleats extending from the sole of each shoe at the front) are permitted on soccer shoes if, in the opinion of the referee, they are safe to all players. The toe cleat must be an unmodified part of a shoe from a recognized manufacturer. Examples of these athletic shoes can be found on the manufacturers’ websites or can be examined at a sports store. Sneakers, tennis shoes, running shoes, and basketball footwear are also permitted. Note that metal cleats can sharpen and develop burrs from the player walking on hard surfaces so they should be inspected carefully. In addition, some cleated shoes have studs that can be screwed onto the sole; if the stud unscrews and there is a screw protruding, this is also a safety hazard and should not be permitted. Finally, footwear with a hard plastic construction or similar hard material above the sole should be disallowed as unsafe.
• In the younger age groups, remind players to tie shoes and suggest double knots.

Other

• NO casts or splints, at all, even if taped or wrapped in foam rubber. This applies even to plastic and Velcro strap-on casts.
• No item may be worn if, in the opinion of the referee, such item’s only purpose is for adornment.