2012 Inductees
RON LITTLEFAIR
Ron Littlefair was one of
the earliest AYSO pioneers
and became one of the most
influential in the establishment
and explosive growth of AYSO
in its first 10 years. Some of
the AYSO founders thought
it would be good to involve a
“red-blooded American” – a
little league coach and “football
type” – as their beloved sport
was being introduced to
America. Ron quickly became
an advocate, and as a talented
salesman and business man,
was devoted to AYSO’s
success.
In the early going, Ron made long, wooden tables to
do “sign ups” at Torrance schools. He purchased used
mimeograph machines and had a virtual print shop in the
family garage. People came and went at all times of the
day and night. There were coaches, school board officials,
city leaders and referees – printing rosters, newsletters and
registration forms. The rest of the garage housed a kiln on
which Ron made mugs for the teams and stored up to 500
sets of team uniforms, ready for the hundreds of players
attracted by the “EVERYONE INVITED” outreach of Ron into
his community.
Ron was a key partner in supporting two of AYSO’s
revolutionary philosophies: Everyone Plays® and Balanced
Teams. His sons Andrew and Tom – also AYSO soccer
players - remember that their Dad really believed in AYSO’s
philosophy of Everyone Plays©, taking it to heart and strictly
enforcing it.
Ron was also instrumental in the early development
of leaders. As the third Regional Commissioner for the
city of Torrance, with a goal of increased participation, he
established eight Regions with eight new leaders, resulting
in the explosive growth he and the other early leaders so
envisioned.
As the National Vice President of Growth and
Development for AYSO, Ron traveled all over Southern
California and then the United States. With explosive growth
came the challenge of administering AYSO’s player insurance
program. Ron and a good friend created a self-insurance
program for the organization, which grew from 900 players to
28,000 in a matter of a few years.
Ron and his devoted wife Marion privately financed
many AYSO activities, secured soccer field use from school
districts, helped high school soccer programs get established
and framed the growth into college soccer. South Torrance
High School was the first public school in the California
Interscholastic Federation and Ron was instrumental in
planning AYSO Jamborees at El Camino College, Alpine
Village Field and the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Through all of his years of service, family and friends
recall that there was never a cross word from Ron but
always a giant smile, and that he one of the best listeners
to other’s problems. Whether disciplining a wayward coach,
dealing with a game protest, managing Opening Day
ceremonies or working with the community partners, Ron
Littlefair was instrumental in “placing the interests of the
youth growing within AYSO” at the top of his very busy list,
thus positively influencing the lives of the kids, the families
and the volunteer leaders of an organization that he so loves.
MIKE MICHALSKI
Mike Michalski began his
career in AYSO as an assistant
Regional Commissioner. The
teams his two sons played on
were occasionally invited to
participate in AYSO tournaments
around southern California
and Mike observed a lack of
organization. After he became an
Area Director, he was approached
by Lolly Keys, a National Office
staffer, with a tournament
sponsor. Mike realized this would
be a great opportunity to put
on a showcase tournament.
This inspired the Sunny Delight
Tournament, which highlighted
the famous drink and featured five
guaranteed games for each team
over a weekend. Every player
and coach received a tournament medal, pin and T-shirt, and
regardless of their win-loss record, every participant received a
medal.
Eventually, discussions with the National Office and NBOD
about the quality of AYSO tournaments led to Mike being
appointed as the National Commissioner of Tournaments. In
this capacity, he helped write the first versions of Tournament
Guidelines and reviewed applications for new tournaments
while continuing as an Area Director. Tournaments across
the country slowly started to become more accountable and
organized and were advertised by the National Office.
In 1984, the euphoria of the Los Angeles Olympics
inspired Mike, Lolly and the National Office staff to brainstorm
how they could hold a tournament that would showcase
the best of AYSO. For the next few years, Mike travelled to
Section Meetings and popular AYSO tournaments to gather
information and ideas on how to make a National event like
this possible. By 1986, the framework of the National Games
was established and was presented to the NBOD for approval.
The inaugural Games in 1988 quickly “sold out” with teams
from across the mainland and Hawaii. Initial concerns about
the co-ed Soccerfest for older players evaporated as players
ran down the field trying to write down phone numbers of their
newly found teammates. The Parade of Teams and Referees,
the Soccerfest, the medals, T-shirts and pins for all players and
coaches all started at the first National Games in 1988. The
tradition of medals for all lasted for the first four National Games
and the Soccerfest has grown to include all divisions.
The Games continued in 1989, 1990 and 1992 in
Southern California. The early focus was to build the cadre of
volunteers and introduce training opportunities for referees from
across the country. In the 1989 Parade of Teams, the marching
volunteer referees surprised the people in the stands by saluting
the spectators in unison by flashing yellow cards!
Being credited as the Founder and Tournament Director
for the first four National Games is something that Mike has
always been proud of - and he salutes those who have carried
on the spirit and traditions of the AYSO National Games.
JOHN OUELLETTE
John Ouellette has been
the face and voice of AYSO’s
coaching program for over two
decades. Having served over
33 years as an AYSO volunteer
and 18 as a member of the
national staff, his contributions
to AYSO have had an almost
immeasurable impact on the
organization.
John started his career
path in AYSO as a coach for his
daughters in Utah’s Region 239,
and then became the Region and
Section 9 Coach Administrator
of Training for eight years. John
then hit the national stage and
served AYSO as its National
Coach and Director of Coaching
for 22 years.
He was responsible for the development of AYSO’s
National Coaching Program – a leader in the field of age
specific training for players. He led AYSO in gaining its first
and continuing accreditation by the National Council for
Accreditation of Coaching Education, an credential shared
only by Special Olympics.
His influence is evidenced in many of AYSO’s programs
and materials. John was involved in the genesis of the Safe
Haven program, the College Athlete Program, AYSO’s online
coaching courses, the “Just Let Them Play” video and
the development of the National Coaching Course. John
represented AYSO with many other soccer organizations
and along the way travelled over a million and a half miles
promoting AYSO. He was a technical consultant to and
performer in the English Football Association coaching
program video and a frequent presenter at the National
Soccer Coaches Association of America convention. The
impact John has had on AYSO and its imprint within the U.S.
soccer community will last forever.
As keynote speaker at AYSO events, John wowed
many an audience with his belief in and high expectations for
AYSO coaches, his enthusiasm for the game and passion for
AYSO’s philosophies. It is impossible to count the number
of players, parents and volunteers who have been moved
by John’s commitment to the kids and the organization as a
whole. With his enthusiasm, humor and talent for conveying
AYSO’s message, no one would miss the opportunity to hear
him speak or instruct, giving him the chance to motivate and
inspire so many, and so well. Also of note is John’s role as the
instigator of the mayhem at the NAGM, otherwise known as
the “T-shirt Lottery”!
John is back to his roots these days. While serving
AYSO as a National Coach Instructor and continuing to
participate in a few AYSO events, John is happy coaching
grandchildren in Region 51, alongside wife Carol – an equally
long-time volunteer, and his two daughters --- Cori and Toni,
who started the whole thing!
