A coach can be the most influential person in a child’s life.

In AYSO, Positive Coaching is a fundamental philosophy because of the crucial role that a coach has. Coaching in AYSO is a chance to spend quality time with your own child but you’ll also provide an important role model for all the children on your team. In fact, the joy of coaching is so meaningful, that many AYSO coaches continue coaching long after their own children have moved on from AYSO.

AYSO 688 requires that all coaches and assistant coaches be certified in the age group they are coaching.  You can be certified by participating in the clinics offered; no charge for these clinics.  The clinics offer a foundation for beginning coaches and creative tactical advice for advanced coaches. The clinics will offer many fun, yet effective drills, useful handouts and practice demonstrations on the field.

Soccer knowledge is a plus, but AYSO provides training and materials so that even a soccer novice can coach effectively by starting in the younger age divisions.

REQUIREMENTS TO COACH OR ASSISTANT COACH

1.  Volunteer Application and Background Check

Every volunteer (coach, referee, board member, team manager, etc.) must submit a Volunteer Application and Background Check each membership year. A background check screens volunteers’ suitability to work with our participants.

2.  Complete Safe Haven online training

AYSO is proud to present its Safe Haven Program– the first of its kind in youth sports, most notably in soccer. It creates a safe environment for players, volunteers and families to enjoy the beautiful game of soccer.

The #1 priority is player safety. Precautions and guidelines are provided to minimize the occurrence of injuries and to prevent the opportunities for abuses to occur. AYSO’s Safe Haven program has been put in place to protect AYSO players and the volunteers who serve them. 

Certification is valid for 3 Years from the certification date. 

 
3.  Complete CDC Concussion online training

AYSO has partnered with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to use the “Heads Up” Concussion training tools in support of the following guidelines in order to ensure the safety of all our participants.  The AYSO/CDC Coach/Referee Action Plan provides coaches/referees with the signs and symptoms of concussion and the recommended steps to take whenever a player exhibits any sign or symptom.   

Certification is valid for 3 Years from the certification date. 

4.  Complete SafeSport Mandatory online training
 
The 2017 SafeSport Act has expanded Mandated Reporters to include adults authorized to interact with children. Due to this expansion, that includes AYSO and it requires training on child abuse and mandated reporting.  The training is the full course in the first year, which is 90 minutes, and repeated every three years, followed by annual updates in the in-between years, which are 30 minutes.

5.  Complete Coach training for the age level that you wish to coach 

Required coaching certifications for each of the age levels: