AYSO has developed different programs to help coaches learn how to teach soccer to children at the different ages. The basic understanding of the AYSO program is taught through the following mandatory courses. There are four (4) main requirements - coaching skills, referee basics, safetyand a volunteer form, which vary at the different age levels.

• Everyone, regardless of division, must submit a Volunteer application  and a background check which needs to be renewed every 12 months.
• To protect our volunteers and our children, Safe Haven is a mandatory requirement for all Region 88 AYSO coaches, assistant coaches, and referees. You must take the Safe Haven course before you can coach or referee this coming fall.
• If you cannot attend the Region 88 courses, see the AYSOU site for additional courses.
• Besides the AYSO program, there are many different other opportunities for coaches to learn as much as they want about teaching soccer (see practice sessions for ideas and some good links, or just surf through the internet).
  

Please send questions Coach Administrator Iain Blackwood at [email protected].

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. 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.

Being a coach involves skills you probably already have in addition to specific soccer knowledge. If you are uncertain, try being an assistant coach. Our region's Coach Administrator will be happy to try to match you up with somebody with a little more experience.

As a head coach, not only are you allowing more children to play, you also get to:

• Choose the day and location of practice
• Choose the uniform color/style
• Choose your assistant coach (who may be the parent/guardian of your child's best friend) (only available in 10U division and younger)
• Choose the (final) name of the team
• Coach more than one team and your games will be scheduled so there are no conflicts

No experience is necessary and all training is provided. Learn what others find to be such a rewarding experience.

Volunteer Application
Every volunteer (coach, referee, team coordinator, etc.) must submit a Volunteer Application each season. Click here for instructions: Submitting a Volunteer Application

Background Check Effective January 1, 2001
All American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Regions, Areas, and Sections are required to comply with the AYSO policy on criminal background checks. Information: Policy - Criminal Background Check / Instructions: Submitting a Background Check

Live Scan (fingerprinting) Effective, January 1, 2022
All administrators, employees and regular volunteers in California MUST have a one-time background check as approved by the California Department of Justice to exclude individuals with a history of child abuse. This form of background check requires live scan fingerprinting (once / lifetime). Instructions: LiveScan Process

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AYSO's Safe Haven
This free online course is required for all AYSO Volunteers and must be completed before any interaction with players and/or parents. We will reach out to all volunteers with clinic date/time and location. Click here for more information: AYSO Safe Haven for Parents

SafeSport Mandatory 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. Click here for more information

CDC HEADS UP Concussion training
This free online course is required for all volunteers that interact with our players on the field such as Coaches & Referees and recommended for all other volunteers. Click here for more information: AYSO Volunteer Resources - Concussion Safety

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
This is a course (added in 2021) is required by the State of California for all AYSO Coaches & Referees. This course is available in AYSOU. AYSO Volunteer Resources - SCA

The following is required to be a 5U or 6U coach or assistant coach:

• 6U Coaching Training (online) and field training (classroom) [4 hours]*

Please note that all Region 88 head coaches and assistant coaches in the 7U/8U and older divisions must complete a Referee certification as listed below:

The following is required to be a 7U or 8U coach or assistant coach:

• 8U Coaching training (online) and field training (classroom) [4 hours]
• 8U Official Course (online) and field training (classroom) [4 hours] 

The following is required to be a 10U coach or assistant coach: 

• 10U Coaching Training (online) and field training (classroom) [4 hours]
• Regional Referee clinic (online) and field training (classroom) [8 hours]

The following is required to be a 12U coach or assistant coach:

• 12U Coaching Training (online) and field training (classroom) [8 hours]
• Regional Referee clinic (online) and field training (classroom) [8 hours]

For coaching requirements for 14U and above, please reach out to our Coach Administrator Iain Blackwood at [email protected] 
*U4 coaches are recommended to complete this training

	Coach	Referee	Coaches and Referees
Division	Training	Training	Clinic
U4/5U	Playground/Schoolyard	None	Safe Haven Concussion Awareness training Sudden Cardiac Arrest SafeSport LiveScan (fingerprints) All volunteers must submit a volunteer application (per team) and a background check (every 12 months).
6U	6U Coaching	None
7U/8U	8U Coaching	8U Official
10U	10U Coaching	Regional Referee
12U	12U Coaching
14U	Intermediate	Intermediate (minimum)
16U/19U	Advanced