PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES
AYSO/City of Torrance
2014
FLOAT THEME: Everyone Plays
Torrance is the birthplace of AYSO -- the American Youth Soccer Organization -- and to kick off the national organization’s 50th anniversary, the city has joined with AYSO to debut a float in the 2014 Rose Parade® and salute the nearly 6,000,000 families that have participated in AYSO soccer since 1964. “Everyone Plays” is the theme of the float and the first philosophy of AYSO, representing the opportunity for all children, no matter size, shape, gender, ethnicity, age or ability to get out and play both in the beautiful parks of the City of Torrance and as a part of AYSO Soccer. The City of Torrance, with its residents and businesses, is proud to be the historic birthplace of AYSO, an organization that started with nine teams and today has over 50,000 teams stretching from New York to Hawaii, each delivering important life lessons and providing all children with the opportunity to learn the world’s game in a fun, family environment.
“Everyone Plays” means just that in AYSO: everyone plays. Boys, girls and children with special needs of all ages, find a warm welcome in AYSO Soccer. And, when everyone truly gets to play, Dreams do Come True – which is the theme of the 2014 Rose Parade®. AYSO players grow up to be doctors, lawyers, plumbers, teachers, truck drivers, scientists - but they can also grow to be professional soccer players.
“Everyone Plays” was AYSO’s first established philosophy that the AYSO founders adopted. They wanted to make sure that every child had the opportunity to play soccer in a fun, fair and safe environment. Fifty years later, “Everyone Plays” is still the most important and recognizable of AYSO’s tenets. The AYSO-Torrance float features eight riders and 12 outwalkers. Our host float rider is Cobi Jones, former U.S. National team member and LA Galaxy soccer star who discovered his passion for the sport in AYSO. He is the all-time leader in caps for the U.S. National Men’s team and a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
AYSO’s 50th anniversary will also be showcased by three float riders who exemplify AYSO’s family experience. Michael Bonchonsky, along with his son Tyhe and grandson Kieran, personify three generations of AYSO players. Michael played AYSO in 1964 on one of the very first AYSO teams, while Tyhe began his seven year tenure with AYSO in 1987. Kieran, 7-yearsold, began playing in 2010. Both Tyhe and Michael have coached league championships, including a team featuring Tyhe’s sister, Carley.
The famed Futboleros are the float out-walkers. The Futboleros are the “Harlem Globetrotters of soccer” and will perform soccer skills and tricks, outfitted in their AYSO gear, throughout the parade route.
The float was designed by legendary designer Raul Rodriguez, and is 24’ high by 18’ wide and is 35’ long. Butterflies, high up in the trees, gently flutter their wings as the soccer ball spins while being kicked by a whimsical bear team member, hoping to be blocked by a wide winged eagle goalie. Music is played from an on-board sound system.
AYSO, founded in 1964 with nine teams in Torrance, kicks off its 50th anniversary by generously contributing to the Torrance Rose Float Association (a 501c3, non-profit organization) to help pay for the cost of the Rose Parade® float. Today, AYSO boasts over 50,000 teams and more than 500,000 players nationwide. AYSO is a family experience with parents volunteering at every level focused on happy, healthy kids as its passion.
Every decision, every rule and every program has “what’s good for families” as its basis. Every girl and boy stepping on a soccer field for the first time can have fun and their parents are part of the experience as volunteer coaches, referees and administrators.
AYSO’s child first approach also makes it one of the finest player development programs. Everybody likes to win, but the City and Torrance and AYSO are also about creating and supporting a great learning environment and a lifetime of memories for the entire family.