Coach Admin FAQ

• Why does AYSO need Coach Administrators?

• Why do I need to be trained?

• What are the responsibilities of a Coach Administrator?

• What training is offered to a Coach Administrator?

• What is the time commitment?

• What is the Coach's Code?

• How does AYSO protect its volunteers and athletes?

• What are AYSO's Supervision Protocols?

Why does AYSO need Coach Administrators?

The Coach Administrator runs the coaching program, based on the AYSO National Coaching Program, at the Region level. AYSO coaches come from many different backgrounds and have different skill levels. They need a model of good coaching as well as instruction and support.

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Why do I need to be trained?

Training and Certification ensures that volunteers understand the available resources and the responsibilities of their positions. It also offers the best hope that every family will receive the best possible AYSO experience.

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What are the responsibilities of the Coach Administrator?

The Coach Administrator makes sure there are enough coaches for the Region and that all coaches are properly trained, certified and registered. She also prepares an annual budget, schedules and publicizes coaching courses, participates in player ratings and team formation, meets with coaches every season, attends Section and Area meetings/conferences/events as required, and helps the Regional Commissioner in handling any coaching related issues.

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What training is offered to a Coach Administrator?

AYSO offers orientation by the Regional Commissioner, Safe HavenTM Certification, Coach Certification, Board and Staff Introductory Certification (BASIC), eAYSO training as well as additional training during Section meetings/conferences/events.

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What is the time commitment?

Speak to your Regional Commissioner about how much time your position requires.

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What is the Coach's Code?

1. Enthusiastically support and practice the Everyone Plays, Good Sportsmanship and Positive Coaching philosophies of AYSO.
2. Be reasonable in your demands on a young player's time, energy, enthusiasm and performance on the soccer field.
3. Impress on your players that they must abide by the Laws of the Game at all times.
4. Develop team respect for the ability of opponents and for the judgment of referees and opposing coaches.
5. Ensure that your players' soccer experience is one of fun and enjoyment (winning is only part of it). Players should never be yelled at or ridiculed for making mistakes or losing a game.
6. Set a good example and be generous with your praise when it is deserved. Children need a coach they can respect.
7. Keep informed of sound principles of coaching, growth and child development.
8. Check your equipment and playing facilities. They should meet safety standards and be appropriate for the age and ability of your players.
9. Follow the advice of a physician when determining when an injured child is ready to play again.

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How does AYSO protect its volunteers and athletes?

• Safe Haven™

Safe Haven™ is a program designed to address a growing need for child and volunteer protection. There are four elements in the Safe Haven™ intervention cycle: Create Policies, Screen Volunteers, Train Volunteers, and Promote Education and Awareness. These are intended to stop child abuse and its agents before they get into the program.

• The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997
  This law grants immunity from certain types of prosecution for volunteers who meet its requirements. In order to receive full protection under the law, AYSO volunteers need must:
  1. Be properly trained and certified.
  2. Be performing duties as laid out in a position description.
  3. Act within the scope of AYSO's Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines.
• AYSO Certification
  AYSO's goal is to provide training certification for all its volunteers. Certification offers the hope that every AYSO child will be treated with understanding, compassion, and respect.
• Kids Zone™
  The national media has focused on the negative, even violent, behavior of players, coaches and parents involved in youth sports. Kids Zone™ is a dynamic program targeted to eliminate negative sideline behavior. Kids Zone™ buttons and signs are distributed throughout the Region and parents are asked to sign the Kids Zone™ Pledge promising to behave within the guidelines of the program.

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What are AYSO's Supervision Protocols?

While performing duties related to an AYSO volunteer position, the volunteer is:

• Subject to the bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines of AYSO;
• Under the overall authority of and directly supervised by the Regional Commissioner; and
• To maintain the recommended adult to child supervision ratio of 1:8 or less; that is one adult for every eight or fewer children and two adults (one of whom may be the coach and one of whom should be of the same gender as the group) present at all times. For the protection of both the children and the volunteer, no volunteer should permit himself or herself to be alone with any child or group of children (except his or her own) during AYSO-sponsored activities.