The following announcement may also be downloaded in .pdf.

Dear AYSO Family,

Some of you may have already heard the news about AYSO’s newest sponsor. If not, I am very pleased to formally announce a unique partnership between AYSO and Herbalife Ltd. Over six months in the making, it is a groundbreaking, four-year relationship that will help AYSO deliver a new level of programs and services to our members.
The most important opportunities that this Herbalife sponsorship will allow us to pursue are expanding and improving our programs for players. This will directly benefit our kids on the fields.

Other programs the Herbalife funding will help with directly support our volunteers and parents. These include expanded distance learning so our volunteers can more conveniently receive the education opportunities they need and desire; the relaunch of PlaySoccer - AYSO’s home delivered member magazine; new member features for eAYSO; increased customer service for our Regions; the rebuild of soccer.org to be a more useful tool for AYSO volunteers; new e-newsletters that give our volunteers the opportunity to exchange experiences and advice; and public service announcement commercials for use by AYSO Regions on TV and radio. This program insures our ability to fund those elements of the AYSO 25 Year Strategic Plan that are ultimately adopted.

A Herbalife uniform logo (which will include a “Fueled By” designation and appear directly below the traditional AYSO mark) that Regions can opt-in to is a component of the sponsorship. When a Region chooses the Herbalife uniform logo this year, it will receive $.50 per uniform to add to its own income stream. Herbalife is also paying for any additional costs of this logo application. The use of the Herbalife logo is important to the success of this partnership and we ask your Region to support it. Please opt-in when your Region makes its next uniform purchase.

Your National Board of Directors unanimously approved the Herbalife sponsorship and the Herbalife uniform logo. AYSO’s rules and regulations were amended as permitted under the authority of the AYSO National Bylaws to accommodate this option to our Regions.

In addition to the uniform logo incentive program, Herbalife’s independent distributors will be encouraged by Herbalife corporate to develop local sponsorship or other programs directly with AYSO Regions that select the Herbalife logo. Regions that choose the logo will be contacted at their request.

This was a unique opportunity for a single national sponsor to create a fitting association of the fun and active life style of soccer with the importance of good nutrition choices. No additional logos are planned for the front of the uniform, although Regions and Sections will continue to have the important right to include sponsors on the sleeve of the jersey.

Like all of you, I am very proud of AYSO, its heritage and the critical part it plays in developing kids and soccer. AYSO is also key to encouraging the active lifestyle that will keep our kids healthy. The statistics of childhood obesity and illnesses associated with it are chilling. Good nutrition and healthy food choices are urgent lessons for our kids to absorb. Herbalife, as a wellness and nutrition brand that has partnered with soccer through David Beckham and the L.A. Galaxy, helps make those good choices “cool.” I believe this is a WIN for our kids and our entire organization.

I appreciate your support of all AYSO sponsor partners. These are companies that have chosen to associate with and support AYSO values and philosophies. Their financial commitment helps us deliver more programs to more kids. A Frequently Asked Questions document is posted on soccer.org that addresses more specifically the questions you may have about this program. We will continually update it if additional questions arise.

Sincerely,

Mike Wade
National President
American Youth Soccer Organization