Coaches Corner

Certification and Training

A coach can be the most influential person in a child’s life. In AYSO, Positive Coaching (one of AYSO Six Philosophies ) 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 and you’ll also serve as 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 age-appropriate training and materials so that even a soccer novice can coach effectively by starting in the younger age divisions.

All coaches must be AYSO registered volunteers, take Safe haven (online), Concussion Awareness (online) and be age appropriately certified. To register as a volunteer you must complete the online volunteer application on this website. Once you are registered you can sign up for a training class through the www.AYSOU.org web site.

Coach Certification

*Certification requirements apply to both Head Coach and Assistant Coach.

Division	Requirement
5U/6U	Safe Haven (Online) CDC Concussion, 6U Coach
8U	Safe Haven (Online) CDC Concussion, 8U Coach
10U	Safe Haven (Online) CDC Concussion, 10U Coach
12U	Safe Haven (Online) CDC Concussion 12U Coach
14U	Safe Haven (Online) CDC Concussion Intermediate Coach
16U-19U	Safe Haven (Online) CDC Concussion Advanced Coach

Certification	Prerequisites
Safe Haven & Concussion Awareness (online)	Nothing
6U Coach	Nothing
8U Coach	Nothing
10U Coach	Nothing
12U Coach	Nothing

Safe Haven

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.

The program requires that each AYSO volunteer complete and eSign a volunteer application each and every year, agreeing to background checks and to abide by AYSO’s philosophies and policies.

Every AYSO volunteer must apply and be accepted as a volunteer. Volunteers are also asked to complete child and volunteer protection (AYSO’s Safe Haven) and job specific training in order to become trained and certified.

AYSO training courses focus on the best ways to work with children in an age-appropriate manner and the importance of safety protocols. AYSO’s Safe Haven program is designed to protect both children and volunteers.

Click here for AYSO’s Safe Haven Training.

Directions for Certification and Training Courses

Course Registration is done online through AYSOU.ORG
Please contact Kayla Sines, Regional Commissioner at [email protected] for assistance. You may also contact a board member on Facebook at AYSO Region 670 - Meyersdale, Garrett, Salisbury, Wellersburg for assistance.

Logging In:
1) Go to www.aysou.org
2) Use your existing Blue Sombrero account username and password to log on to AYSOU.

My Courses:
1) The My Courses tab on the navigation menu contains the list of your available courses.
2) By default, you will have access to AYSO’s Safe Haven and the CDC Head’s Up Concussion Awareness course, at no cost.

Finding Courses:
1) Navigate to the AYSOU storefront by finding the eCommerce button on the navigation bar, located on the top of the site’s page.
2) Click on the button to browse through the available products and learn more details about each one. Courses are immediately available upon purchase!

Purchasing Courses:
1) On the eCommerce page of AYSOU, you will find the list of available courses for purchase. Scroll down and select the desired course item and click on the See details button.
2) Once you have selected the course, click on the Buy now button.
3) Fill out the appropriate Billing information on that page and click Review order button when ready to purchase.
4) Review your order and details before entering your billing information. When you are ready to purchase, click on the Place order now button on the bottom right.
5) Congratulations! You have successfully purchased your online course!

When you have finished your course, please email a copy of the Completion Certificate to Jonathan Simpkins at [email protected]. You will be reimbursed for your purchase at that time.

Concussion Safety

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 Parent/Athlete Concussion Information Sheet should be used to inform parents and players about the potential risks associated with concussions.

CDC Heads Up Concussion Training is required for all coaches, referees, executive members, Advisory Commission members, Section/Area/Region board and staff members. Go to www.aysotraining.org

AYSO requires the new AYSO Participation Release Form, signed by a parent/guardian, acknowledging that the player has been given clearance before the player can return to play.

AYSO strongly recommends that parents/guardians seek medical attention whenever a player exhibits any signs or symptoms of a concussion and obtain a clearance by a medical professional before the player is allowed to return to play. When required by state law, parents must obtain a medical clearance in addition to completing the Participation Release Form.

If a player exhibits any signs or symptoms of a concussion and is removed from play or not permitted to participate, the player may not return to play for the remainder of that day.