• All games are played at Dennis Keat Soccer Park, 69360 30th Avenue, Catherdral City, CA 92234
  

Region 1200 began its first season in the fall of 1997 with approximately 400 players in division U8, U10, U12 and U14. In 1999 the U6 division was added. In 2001 the U16 division started. There where various attempts made to get a U19 program going however nothing really formal developed until 2010 when the region joined the Area in a U19 program involving 4 other regions.

Prior to the start of region 1200 children wanting to play soccer went to Region 80 in Palm Springs. The original Region 1200 Board of Directors were previously volunteers in Region 80. Region 1200 played their games at Nellie Coffman Middle School with practice fields being at a couple of different places do to the need of lights for night practices. The first year practices were held at DeMuth Park sharing space with Region 80. The second year practices were at Thousand Palms. The following season practice time was split between Thousand Palms and Second Street Park in Cathedral City. Once complete lighting was installed at Nellie Coffman in 2006 all practices were held there.

Our commissioner the first 3 years was Rick Sherwood than Gillian Cross for the next four years. Dennis Keat was then elected Regional Commissioner until his untimely death in March of 2010. His sudden death was a blow to the region but was quickly bridged by the election of his wife Diane Keat as Regional Commissioner. Tragedy again struck the region with the death of Diane Keat in March of 2013. The region now had two commissioners die within three years of each other. The board again picked up the pieces and Raul Dominguez took over as commissioner. Raul Dominguez resigned in early 2016.

Back in September of 2006 ground was broken on the new soccer park on 30th Avenue. A special dedication ceremony was held jointly by the city and AYSO Region 1200 in June of 2007 to open the new park. After 10 years at Nellie Coffman Middle School we finally had our own place- the Cathedral City Soccer Park. Our player count for our 11th season, our first at the new park, 2007/08 was up to 1,324.

Region 1200 has continued to be recognized by AYSO and has received a number of awards including:

• AYSO 1200 *Platinum Region Award 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, & 2014!
• AYSO Green Thumb Award for 2008- Largest growth of any region in Section 1
• Accredited by the NCACE,National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education

About AYSO…
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) was established in the Los Angeles area in 1964 with nine teams. It was the dream of a group of devoted soccer enthusiasts who started the organization in a garage. Today AYSO has more than 50,000 teams and more than 640,000 players. It also employs 50 people at its National Support and Training Center in Hawthorne, California.

Over the years, AYSO has created many valuable programs and concepts. Most notably, AYSO revolutionized youth sports with its “Everyone Plays” and “Balanced Teams” philosophies. In AYSO, each child who registers is guaranteed to play at least half of every game. To help create evenly matched games, all AYSO players are placed on new or “balanced” teams each year. These decisions are made based on each player’s skill level and the overall ability of the team.

Since its establishment, AYSO has continued to grow and offer its membership relevant programs.

In 1971, two San Fernando Valley residents developed AYSO’s first girls program. Today, a corporate sponsor has joined with AYSO as the organization’s first official sponsor of its national girl’s initiative. Currently, 40 percent of AYSO’s players are girls.

In the mid 70s, an AYSO coach chartered new territory as he welcomed the organization’s first player with Down Syndrome. As a result of this landmark union, soccer was introduced into the Special Olympics. Today, AYSO offers its membership the Very Important Player (VIP) program for kids with special needs. VIP boasts 75 programs and 1,500 players.

In 1995, two AYSO parents established the first AYSO program in Moscow. Today, AYSO programs exists in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and interest continues from Americans abroad looking to bring the values and philosophies of AYSO to expatriates and local communities alike.

AYSO is supported by more than 250,000 volunteers. Parents donate their time as coaches, referees, team parents, administrators or sponsors. In 1998, AYSO unveiled its new Coach Certification and Safe Haven programs. Each was designed to strengthen the organization’s role in child protection. Although AYSO is primarily a youth sports organization, it realizes the importance of providing a safe and healthy atmosphere for children. AYSO is continually working to improve the education of its volunteers in the fields of child development, human behavior, and sports psychology. A strong emphasis is placed on ethics and sportsmanship and the development of the whole child.

AYSO is a National Association of the United States Soccer Federation. Through the years, the organization has also maintained relations with organizations such as the National Council of Youth Sports, Girls Scouts USA, the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, People to People, Optimists International, Police Athletic Leagues, the National Alliance for Youth Sports, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, YMCA, the United States Soccer Federation, and the Character Counts program. In addition, AYSO works closely with 20 corporations that are part of the organization’s National Team of Sponsors.

AYSO has been the leader in establishing groundbreaking youth soccer programs in the United States. The organization is proud to have paved the road for youth soccer and looks forward to meeting the challenges of the 21st century.