AYSO is a volunteer-run organization.
Coaches, referees and administrators are volunteers. AYSO’s volunteer foundation ensures that it’s all about what’s good for kids. It also makes AYSO very affordable. AYSO operates in a business manner, but volunteers ensure its “profits” are happy, healthy kids playing a sport they can enjoy for life.
AYSO has developed special training that helps parents who may have little or no soccer experience quickly gain the age-appropriate knowledge and skills they need to be effective coaches and referees. It also has unique administrative and management training. This ensures that each community program:
- Abides by the AYSO philosophies
- Offers a great AYSO experience
- Continues to grow, offering the AYSO opportunity to more children
It only takes a few hours to become qualified as an introductory-level coach or referee. But if you’re not able to commit even that much time, there are many small jobs you can help with. Even a couple of hours each season are an important contribution to your team and Region 605!
REQUIREMENTS
1) Volunteer Application
Every volunteer (coach, referee, board member, team parent, etc.) must submit a Volunteer Application each year through our Sports Connect portal.
2) Sterling Background Check
The application is delivered to AYSO National Headquarters and to Sterling Background Checks. Sterling provides all volunteers with an annual background check which screens for volunteers’ suitability to work with our participants. Once the results of the background check are received by National and by AYSO Charlotte, the volunteer will be evaluated for the volunteer positions selected.
ONLINE COURSE REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the annual Volunteer Application and Background Check, there are certain training requirements that must be completed by all volunteers.
1) Safe Haven
All volunteers must complete the AYSO Safe Haven course before they are allowed to participate in any regional activities. This course can be completed online through AYSO's learning platform, AYSOU, under the "Online Courses" tab. All volunteers are required to complete this prior to receiving team contact information and prior to holding team practice, so please complete the course at your earliest convenience.
2) CDC Concussion Awareness
The Concussion Awareness training can be completed online through the AYSOU platform. Once you have successfully completed the course, your certification record will be updated.
3) Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)
The Sudden Cardiac Arrest training can be completed online through the AYSOU platform. Once you have successfully completed the course, your certification record will be updated.
4) Safesport Course (Not on etrainu / Instructions Below)
A comprehensive overview of facts, principles, and strategies to help you provide safe and positive sport environments. Units include:
- Sexual Misconduct Awareness and Education
- Mandatory Reporting
- Physical and Emotional Misconduct (including bullying, hazing, and harassment)
Accessing and Completing Safesport:
1 | Log into your Sports Connect account
2 | On your Dashboard, select the Volunteer tab on the left side of the screen
3 | Check the box next to Safesport
4 | Click Renew & Update
5 | A prompt will pop-up. Click the link to get Started
6 | You will need to create a Safesport account. During the process when you see the question for "Membership ID", leave this blank.
7 | Once the account has been created, go to "My Courses" and select "Safesport Trained- U.S. Soccer Federation."
8 | Complete the course
To access the online courses, please log into eTrainu and search for these courses under "SAFE HAVEN." Info on how to access eTrainu can be found below.
Click the register NOW button on the top right of the screen to register.