AYSO is the antithesis of club soccer, in my experience. I think it’s well known in California. Here in NY, we call AYSO-type soccer “rec soccer” (recreational). I ran a rec program in our town for ten years, but rec is dying in our area. Instead, we have year-round play, professional trainers, elite leagues, private coaching sessions, travel, tournaments, etc.
AYSO’s Six Philosophies:
Everyone Plays
Balanced Teams
Open Registration
Positive Coaching
Good Sportsmanship
Player Development
Our program also had reduced fees for families with financial hardship (no questions asked), a free-cycle exchange for cleats and other gear, translation for Spanish speaking parents and tech help for the online registration.
OP, if you’re applying to colleges where people might not know about AYSO, I would think about adding something that lets the reader know what kind of program it is.