COACHING

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 - a coach can be the most influential person in a child’s life. Because of that crucial role, Positive Coaching is a fundamental AYSO philosophy. 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. Being a coach involves skills you probably already have in addition to specific soccer knowledge. If you are uncertain, try being an assistant coach. The Regional Coach Administrator or Division Commissioner will be happy to match you up with a coach who has a little more experience.


All coaches must be AYSO registered volunteers, take AYSO’s Safe Haven and Concussion Awareness online classes. and take AYSO’s age-specific training. 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.


The difference you can make in the life of a child is immeasurable and incredibly rewarding. Please sign up to coach today.

*Certification requirements apply to both Head Coach and Assistant Coach

COACH TRAINING

1. Complete your background check annually.  Look for an email (may be in your spam folder) from Sterling Volunteers. It's very important to use your LEGAL name and the same email address you use for AYSO18.org to sign up for your account.
2. All Volunteers must complete basic safety courses on AYSOU. Access AYSOU on your Volunteer Dashboard by clicking the AYSOU button below your name. Once there, click on Training Library. Under the Safe Haven category - complete Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness and Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training.
   
3. For coaches in divisions 10U+ - Complete a LiveScan Fingerprint Check – check the HOW TO section of AYSO18.org for location details. 
4. For coaches in divisions 10U+ - Complete the SafeSport Course - accessed through your Volunteer Dashboard (AYSO18.org - log in - click on Volunteer). Click on the box next to SafeSport - then Renew & Update. Click on or copy/paste the link to SafeSport.
   
5. Return to AYSO18.org and click HOME. Coaches should then refer to the above chart for Division specific training which is also accessible on AYSOU.

ANNUAL COACHES MEETING

We hold an Annual Coaches Meeting before the start of the Fall Season to highlight any rules changes, discuss any new development initiatives, and outline points of emphasis for the upcoming season.  We review basic logistics for AYSO18 and answer any questions coaches may have.

Topics included:

• New coach mentor program
• Introduction of The Coaching Manual Resources
• Mobile App for accessing your online Team Pages
• New Player Development Initiatives (PDIs) for U7/8/10/12
• Support available to you from EVO trainers
• New resources available on ayso18.org

Note: Each U10/12/14 team with a coach in attendance will earn a referee point.

ANNUAL COACHES MEETING PRESENTATION (U7 & Older, click to open)

ANNUAL U5-U6 COACHES MEETING PRESENTATION (click to open)

PLAYOFF INFORMATION

Divisions 10U through 14U participate in the AYSO 18 Beach Cup Playoffs at the end of the Fall Season.  

Divisions 16U & 19U participate in Area Playoffs with the opportunity to advance to Sectionals.

Standings & Referee Points System for Middles (U10, U12, U14) 

Each team is required to provide Volunteer Referees for games according to the AYSO18 Standings & Referee Points System policy.  Referees earn Referee Points which affect a team's total points in the standings.  Failure to meet minimum Referee Points thresholds may penalize the team during the playoffs or in extreme cases prevent the team from participating in the playoffs.  Details vary by Division.
 
Please reference the Full Detailed Policy for Specifics:  Standings & Referee Points System

Team Picture Day Details for Coaches - Fall 2023

Team Picture Days are: 

Picture Day 1 is Saturday, October 14th - Location TBD - 8am-3pm
Picture Day 2 is Sunday, October 15th - Location TBD  - 8am-3pm
Make Up Day is Sunday, October 22nd - Location TBD

There are no forms this year for players - please meet in the parking lot off 17th Street to check in and you will walk down to the field together.

Coaches need to sign up for a time using the link that will be posted early October  

Please be sure to meet with your team 15 minutes before your picture time and bring a team ball for the picture.  One coach from each team needs to check in at the tent when your team is assembled.

Each player receives the following package included as a part of their league registration:  1 Memory mate (8-11 team and player), 1 photo button and 4 wallets.



Individual parents, whose children missed their Team Pictures, are welcome to show up anytime on the make up day for an individual picture.

GAME CARDS (aka Line-Up Cards, Score Cards)

You can either manually fill out Game Cards, or print Game Cards.  

To print the lineup card, go to GAME CARDS, download the fillable PDF, fill it in, and the print them.  If you print them, you must trim, staple or securely tape the printed page to the new white game cards.  (Y can also navigate to AYSO18 Game Cards under the Coaches Menu item above)

A completed Game Card should look like this before you give it to the Referee.

RESOURCES

Referee Schedule
Incident Report Form
Referee Feedback Form
Participation Release Form
Team Photo Form
Concussion Info & Training
Spirit of the Game
PDI's Playing Out from a Goalkick/Keeper Possession
Working with Referees & Parents
Youth Referee Program
Player Recognition Certificates - also available as PDF here