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American Youth Soccer Organization Providing world class youth soccer programs that enrich children's lives.

steps to become a coach

Steps to Become a Coach

All Coaches

1) Submit your volunteer application and complete the Sterling Volunteers Background Check. Returning Coach volunteers must submit an application every season
- Go to the region website (you should already be on it) www.ayso588.org.
- Click the Login or Register Now button in the upper right of the homepage. If you already have an account please do not create a new account.
- Once you are logged in, you will be on the My Account page.  On the left, click Volunteer, then click Find Volunteer Roles
- Select the current season (e.g. - Spring 2024 Core), then click on view roles.
- Find your age group and click on Head Coach or Assistant Coach
    Important! When you are asked Who would you like to sign up for this role?, only select yourself (the first option).
    Please DO NOT select Sign up a new user (the second option) - this creates many problems within the system.
- Follow the steps to completion and that will enter you into the coaches queue.

- You will receive a confirmation email after you submit your volunteer application.
- You will receive an email from Sterling Volunteers to complete the process, click the link in the email to submit your Background Check.

2) Complete the Safe Haven training which consists of: (AYSO's Safe Haven, CDC Concussion Awareness and Sudden Cardiac Arrest courses)  
- Login to your account as above, click the Volunteer menu on the left, and click the AYSOU button under your name on the Volunteer page.
- On the left, click Training Library
- Under Safe Haven click View Courses 
- Then click Enroll and complete each of the following online courses
    AYSO's Safe Haven 
    CDC Concussion Awareness  
    Sudden Cardiac Arrest
    You do not need to take any other courses under the Safe Haven category. 
    Note: Especially, DO NOT select the course Access your Safe Sport Course Here as this is NOT a course. See Step 3 for the SafeSport requirement
- When you have completed each course, please download your course certificate (pdf). In the event there is a system problem, you can send us a copy of the pdf and we can send it to AYSO to show you completed a course.

3.)  Complete the SafeSport training online at: https://safesporttrained.org/?KeyName=tsVWe36Xa6PS3b5NzOug (Minors do not take SafeSport)
When you create your account, use your legal name and the same email you used to register/login to Sports Connect
The required course is called: SafeSport Trained (90 mins) and is Free for AYSO volunteers.

4.)  All volunteers must be fingerprinted via LiveScan.  (Minors do not get fingerprinted)
Option A: Register and attend a local event, Region 588 will be billed automatically.
Local events will be announced in advance.
Register here: https://www.applicantservices.com/AYSO-BILLED

Option B: Register and schedule an appointment at a LiveScan location. 
https://www.applicantservices.com/AYSO 
You will be required to pay $25, forward your receipt to [email protected] for reimbursement

With either option, you will receive an email confirmation. Please bring that with you on the day of the event/appointment.  

Reminder: You must be 18 to coach, coach licenses do not expire and a higher level badge does not automatically qualify you for a lower division. All coaches must be certified for each division they wish to coach and Double Head Coaches must be certified for each division. 

If you have coached Club and hold any US Soccer Licenses, they may be eligible for equivalency. See here for the Equivalency Policy  


Coach Training Lower Divisions
5U, 6U, 8U, 10U & 12U Coaches
 
5) Complete Age Appropriate Online Coaching Course
- Login to AYSOU (as described above, the AYSOU button is under your name on your Volunteer page)
- On the left, click Training Library
- Under Coaching click View Courses 
- Then click Enroll and complete the online course for the division you are coaching
    6U Coach - Online (good for 5U Sparks and 6U)
    8U Coach - Online
    10U Coach - Online + In Person Field Session
    12U Coach Training Pre-Course (Part 1) - Online course 


6) Enroll in the desired Field Session and attend the In-Person Training
- Login to AYSOU (as described above, the AYSOU button is under your name on your Volunteer page)
- On the left, click Training Event and find your course. You will Enroll in the desired Field Session or 12U Coach (Part 2) course*
    6U Field Session
    8U Field Session
    10U Field Session

*Special Instructions for 12U 
Coach (Part 2), In-Person 2-Day course
This course is comprised of two sessions over two days. A classroom night session, usually Wed, Thur or Friday AND a Field Session on Saturday. You MUST attend BOTH sessions to receive the 12U Coach license.

Note on Field Sessions for Double Head Coaches: Double Head coaches must enroll in each Field Session they are coaching but only have to attend one session. This is required so that you receive credit for each coach license.


Coach Training Upper Divisions
14U or 16/19U Coaches
Prerequisites:
For 14U / Intermediate, you must have the 12U Coach license and one season in-grade experience as a 12U Head or Assistant Coach.
For 16/19U / Advanced, you must have the Intermediate / 14U Coach license and one season in-grade experience as a 14U Head or Assistant Coach.
Each license requires the online course, AYSO's Summary of the Laws of the Game
 
5) Complete the desired online course
- Login to AYSOU (as described above, the AYSOU button is under your name on your Volunteer page)
- On the left, click Training Library
- Under Coaching click View Courses 
- Then click Enroll and complete the online course for the division you are coaching
    Intermediate 14U Pre-Course (Part 1) - Online 
    Advanced Coach Pre-Course - Online
    Note: Each online course has a deliverable that you must provide to the instructor of the In-Person course (see below).

6) Enroll in the desired Part 2 course and attend the In-Person Training
- Login to AYSOU (as described above, the AYSOU button is under your name on your Volunteer page)
- On the left, click Training Event and find your course. You will Enroll in the desired Part 2 course
    Intermediate 14U Coach (Part 2) - Full In-Person Course, this course requires a Training Plan
    Advanced (16U-19U) Coach (Part 2) - In-Person Course, 
this course requires a Match Analysis


Please refer to the website Calendar for dates and times when Coach courses will be offered.

If you have any questions, please contact: Coach Administrator

coach staff

Regional Coach Administrator - Name and email will be found on the Board Members page.

coaching manual

We are delighted to announce we have
signed a new partnership with our friends
at The Coaching Manual.
This exciting new partnership
will provide FREE access to the
 ayso.thecoachingmanual.com 
for every coach in AYSO.

Our Sponsors

Contact Us

Desert Hot Springs AYSO

P.O. Box 226 
Desert Hot Springs, California 92240

Email Us: [email protected]

Phone: 760-463-2976