Page 1 of 2
AREA DIRECTOR APPOINTMENT REQUEST
Please read the following AYSO Policy Statement and sign on the second page to indicate your understanding.
Article Five: Standards of Conduct and Conflict of Interest
5.1 Purpose of Policy.
The purpose of this policy statement is to set standards for the activities of Officials (“AYSO Officials”) in order to ensure
that an AYSO Official's actions would always be in the best interests of AYSO and that he/she does not take advantage
of his/her position in AYSO for his/her own benefit or to the detriment of AYSO or others. AYSO Officials include all
Regional Commissioners, Area Directors, Section Directors, Area and Section staff members, special executives,
members of the national commissions, members of the National Board of Directors and the members of the National
Office, as well as the husbands or wives or members of the immediate family of each of the above.
5.2 General Policy.
AYSO Officials are expected to adhere to high ethical standards of conduct in the performance of their duties, observing
all laws and regulations governing business transactions, competing fairly with others and using AYSO funds only for
legitimate and ethical purposes. The rights of AYSO Officials in their activities outside their AYSO duties or employment
that are private in nature and which in no way conflict with or reflect upon AYSO will be respected. Although AYSO
Officials have been carefully selected and are assumed to possess integrity and judgment, to avoid any
misunderstanding, the following guidelines are issued with respect to proper conduct:
5.3 Conflict of Interest Policy
(a) AYSO Officials must act always in the best interests of AYSO and avoid incurring any kind of financial interest of
personal obligation that might affect their judgment in dealings on behalf of AYSO with firms or individuals. Eac
h
person must examine his/her own activities and those of his/her family to be sure that no condition exists that
could create a self-dealing situation in respect of financial transactions of AYSO.
(b) There are certain areas with which each individual must be especially concerned. Areas giving rise to possible
conflicts of interest include the following:
(i). Holding a material financial interest, directly or indirectly (as an owner, stockholder, partner, joint
venture, employee, creditor or guarantor), in a firm which provides services or supplies, materials or
equipment to AYSO, any of its Regions or any of its participants (such as a vendor of uniforms, soccer
shoes, soccer balls, goal posts or other soccer equipment or a director or owner of a soccer camp for
children), or in an organization to which AYSO or any of its Regions provides services.
(ii). Accepting gifts or favors for himself or herself or for family members, or entertainment or other
personal benefits in excess of $100.00 from an outside organization or individual with whom AYSO or
any of its Regions does or may do business. This does not apply to acceptance of a casual gift of a
nominal value, nor reasonable personal entertainment (but not paid travel expenses), but care must be
exercised to be sure that continuation of such matters does not gradually create or appear to create an
obligation. Gifts of a substantial nature should be returned to the donor with the explanation that
AYSO's policy would not permit the acceptance of the gift.
(iii). Serving another organization in any capacity whether such service includes activities, compensated or
not, which can affect or appear to affect an individual's ability to discharge his/her duties to AYSO.
This includes, but is not limited to, those activities related to AYSO Standard Primary programs,
secondary programs and special programs that interface with other youth soccer organizations and
their programs and their local and national governing bodies.
(c) Therefore, to avoid conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts of interest, it is the policy of AYSO that:
(i). Each executive member shall disclose in the executive member application or in the candidate
statement the existence of any relationship by which the executive member might benefit, directly or
indirectly by immediate family relationship, through ownership (including ownership of corporate shares
exceeding 5% of a publicly traded company or 20% of a privately traded company) or employment of or
with any vendor, supplier, contractor, service provider or sponsor of goods or services to AYSO or its