Becoming a Coach
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 certified in the age level you are coaching. Certification takes three easy steps. First, fill out a volunteer form. Then either attend a short Safe Haven™ course in person or online. Lastly, you must attend a brief age-specific coaching course. It's only a few hours. We also have brand new Coaching Manuals that help you with training plans and activities for the age you are coaching.
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.
Contact your Area's Coach Administrator if you are ready to become a coach.
New AYSO Coach Training
AYSO has announced important steps to ensure that every AYSO child has the best possible soccer learning experience. Coaches and assistant coaches in every division in every AYSO Region are required to have AYSO’s age-appropriate training and AYSO Safe Haven® certification when they take the field. The policy was approved and adopted by the National Board of Directors at their July 2009 meeting and is supported by the National Coaching Advisory Commission.
The coach-training policy will roll forward each year adding one additional level of required age-specific coach training until, by the 2015 membership year, every AYSO coach and assistant coach at every level will be appropriately trained for the team they will coach.
AYSO Coaching Training is NCACE!
NCACE Accredited
National Council for Accreditation of Coaching EducationThe American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) National Coaching Program is the only soccer coach education program in the U.S. that is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE.) The AYSO program has been reviewed in detail and has passed the very high standards of this important accrediting body.
NCACE is a non-profit organization, established by sport leaders across the country. The Inaugural Meeting was held on July 14-16, 2000.
Mission Statement:
The National Council for Accreditation of Coaching Education (NCACE) promotes and facilitates coaching competence within all levels of amateur sport by overseeing and evaluating the quality of coaching education programs. In addition, NCACE endorses comprehensive standards for sport practitioners, including: volunteer, interscholastic, collegiate, and elite coaches. Through accreditation, NCACE provides leadership and guidance to coaching education providers, sport administrators, and the public regarding the knowledge, values, and skills of effective coaches.
Drills and Practices
These pages are intended to provide information to AYSO Coaches to improve their ability to deliver quality training sessions and practices
Note: All coaches need to read the following "Teaching The Game To Kids".