Becoming A Volunteer
It's About What's Good For The Kids
AYSO is a volunteer-run organization. Coaches, referees and administrators are volunteers. Over 220,000 parents, neighbors, relatives and friends lend their time and talents so that each child gets a terrific AYSO experience.
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 to become qualified as a 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!
AYSO training doesn’t stop as long as you’re having fun. Referees, coaches and administrators have clinics, workshops and other advanced training available to advance their skills.
Programs Overview
Coaching Program
Because "Positive Coaching" is one of AYSO's guiding philosophies, coach training is one of our highest priorities. AYSO also provides a wide range of courses to continue instructing its volunteer coaches.
No Experience? No Problem
- Our volunteer coaches receive complete training right from the beginning!
- Training and certification for all coaches.
- Age- specific coaching courses provide training for coaches of every level of experience.
- Complete with manuals, handouts and outlines that are continually reviewed and updated.
- Wanna coach? (Click here)
We Don't Stop There!
- Supplemental local instruction programs, camps and clinics.
- Held throughout the country, throughout the year.
Refereeing Program
AYSO referees do more than just enforce the Laws of the Game. Their job is to make sure the game is safe and enjoyable for everyone: the players, the coaches, the spectators -- and themselves.
- Referee training that teaches not only the letter of the law, but the "Spirit of the Game."
- Six levels of AYSO referee training.
- USSF cross-certification.
- Training for referee instructors, administrators and assessors.
- Ready, Set Ref! video and workbook for new referees.
- Youth Referee Program
- AYSO referees are volunteers, so we want to be sure they have as much fun as the players do.
Management Program
Because a smooth running program means more fun for everyone, AYSO provides extensive management training for its volunteers. Introductory/Intermediate/Advanced Regional Management courses teach AYSO's league administrators how to manage their local programs. AYSO also provides in-depth operational manuals to assist administrators at every level in all aspects of their AYSO program.
The Board and Staff Introductory Certification (BASIC) audiovisual presentation gives regional volunteers a thorough understanding of their duties.
Section Conferences
- Educational conferences conducted annually for each of AYSO's geographic sections.
- Workshops
- Training seminars
- Motivational speakers
- Vendor show
- Exchange of ideas and information.
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Special Programs Description
VIP: Where Everyone Plays!
AYSO's Very Important Player (VIP) program offers children and young adults with disabilities the opportunity to play soccer at their own pace. The practices and games are geared to their needs—with fewer and more flexible rules—allowing for a successful sport experience.
(click)
Suit-Up
Meeting the needs of regions with financial challenges, whether in urban or rural communities, AYSO provides assistance through special funds, designated sponsor products, uniform and equipment donations, and information on acquiring outside resources
"Safe Haven" Child & Volunteer Protection
By becoming trained and certified in their positions through AYSO's Safe Haven program, AYSO volunteers are afforded maximum protection under the federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997.
Safe Haven means safety for kids. AYSO's volunteer application and screening process reduces the likelihood of abuses occurring while kids are participating in soccer.
AYSO's certification programs are accredited by the National Association of Sports and Physical Education (NASPE), providing universal recognition and validity from colleges, universities, high school athletic associations, national governing bodies of sport, youth sports organizations, and others.z
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