Becoming a Coach
Coach Administrator: Phil Munguia
Coaching children is a very rewarding experience. And coaching your own child's team can be one of the most rewarding experiences of all! Coaches are pivotal to having children get the AYSO experience. If Regions don't have enough coaches, registration is scaled back and kids who want to play in AYSO are turned away.
Do you have little or no experience with soccer? No problem! AYSO will teach you, based on the age level you are coaching. Unique age-appropriate coach training is one of AYSO's specialties. If you plan to be at your child's soccer practices and games, you'll also have time to be your child's coach.
To become an AYSO coach, you must be trained and certified in the age level you are coaching. Certification takes three easy steps. First, fill out a volunteer form and complete the third-party volunteer screening program. Then either attend a short Safe Haven™ course in person or online and omplete the on-line CDC Concussion Awareness Course. Training requires a coach volunteer to complete a age-specific coaching course. When you complete the on-line portion of your training you will be provided instructions on how to download your coaching manual. Region 112 also offers a Field Training event where senior coachs/coach instructors provide technical direction in the AYSO coaching system (U6 division through U12). Higner level coach certifications are provided as a combination of on-line and class room training.
Coaches are essential to the game. They teach children soccer skills and help develop a healthy, positive attitude, teamwork and good sportsmanship. Coaching is a rewarding experience because you have the opportunity to build a child's self-esteem, help them learn new skills and just have a lot of fun.
AYSO Philosophies:
- Everyone Plays
- Open Registration
- Balanced Teams
- Positive Coaching
- Good Sportsmanship
- Player Development
All that follows is an expansion on these ideas.
Click Here for Required Training
Working with Volunteers
(especially Referees)
To help with recruiting volunteers, and to help in building the AYSO team of coaches, parents, and referees, we would like to make experienced AYSO referees available for your meetings. We think that by having someone who can answer questions about refereeing, and about AYSO refereeing in particular, we may get some more volunteers. We’ll talk about the AYSO regional referee, the training classes, and the support system that LVSD AYSO has for the beginner and the advancing referee.
Partner with the referee to help control the game.
You are responsible for your own conduct, the conduct of assistant coaches, players and parents. Most of them take their cues from you. If you are yelling at the refs and players, they will feel that it is ok to do so. You need to set the example that all of the others will follow.
Referees don’t point out your coaching mistakes. So, do not vocalize referee errors. If you have a question about call, politely approach the Referee during halftime or after the game for an explanation, NEVER during the game!
Do not allow side-line players, spectators or photographers to occupy the area around the goal line or the touchline around the Assistant Referee unless approved by the Referee. No dogs or pets are allowed at any AYSO field.