FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 AYSO Welcomes Three New Members to Its Leadership Team 

TORRANCE, Calif. – Jan. 11, 2018 – American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is pleased to announce the addition of three new team members to our Organization: Scott Snyder, Yvonne Lara and Al Prado.

Scott Snyder joins the organization’s executive team as its new Director of Programs and Education and will also serve as Technical Director. Scott has been working with AYSO for the past six years as the Player Development Specialist and is responsible for developing the new National Coaching Curriculum. He is an experienced coach and instructor, and has been in professional soccer education and management for over 20 years. He is a former professional player in both England and the USA and has represented the USA in the 20U World Cup.

Snyder co-designed the AYSO Soccer Camps program, and has recently been working with U.S. Soccer in its grassroots course design and just completed the new U.S. Soccer Instructor License. He also represents AYSO on the Youth Member Technical Leaders Working Group.

“I am delighted at the expansion of my role,” Snyder says. “My priority and focus is the player by ensuring that the coaching, environment and experience is the best it possibly can be for the child’s development. We have very good content, and now it is time to drive the methodology through every layer in the organization to ensure AYSO is at the forefront of player development.”

Snyder is married to Allison and has two daughters, Madison and Olivia. He is a volunteer coach in his local AYSO Region 688 club program, where Olivia plays right wing.

Yvonne Lara also joins the executive team as its new Director of Marketing and Communications. Lara has been working in the marketing and communications world for 20 years, starting her career in sports marketing at California State University, Fullerton, which lead her to a nearly 12-year career at FOX Broadcasting Company, where she helped launch groundbreaking and memorable shows, such as American Idol, The OC, 24, Glee and So You Think You Can Dance.

Most recently, Lara spent the past six years overseeing the marketing and communications efforts for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (Habitat LA) and played an instrumental role in raising the profile of its tent pole events, including Power Women, Power Tools®, The Hollywood for Habitat for Humanity Build and the Los Angeles Builders Ball®, as well as driving market awareness of its impact in the greater Los Angeles region.

“I’m thrilled to be a member of the AYSO team,” Lara says. “Sports and youth development have always been an important part of my life, and I am looking forward to using my expertise to propel the organization forward by strengthening our brand identity and leadership in the industry.”

Lastly, Al Prado joins the organization as the Senior Business Solutions Analyst. Prado has been in the IT industry for more than 30 years. From UCLA Health to Diva Limousines and FOX Broadcasting, his experience spans a spectrum of companies.

Prado has also been a dedicated AYSO volunteer since 2004, from being a referee and coach to a Regional Commissioner. He is currently an Area Director for Section 1 and still enjoys refereeing when he can as well as working alongside his wife, Jane, who is also an active AYSO Section 1 leader.

“For me, AYSO has been a lifelong passion,” Prado says. “When I was presented the opportunity to be a part of the team in this capacity, I knew it was the perfect fit. I look forward to using my industry expertise and volunteer experience to fine-tune our technology to meet the needs of our valued members and volunteers.”

“Scott, Yvonne and Al bring a depth and breadth of experience for their positions,” says Mike Hoyer, National Executive Director for AYSO. “It is the right talent with the perspective and leadership style for where we want to take the organization, and I look forward to working together to solidify AYSO’s vision to provide world-class youth soccer programs that enrich children’s lives.”

About American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) 
Established in 1964, AYSO is a national nonprofit organization that develops and delivers quality youth soccer programs, which promote a fun, family environment based on AYSO's Six Philosophies: Everyone Plays®, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship, and Player Development. Today, AYSO has 1.6 million players, parents, siblings and volunteers. For more information, visit www.AYSO.org.