Becoming A Coach
Coaches are the pillars of AYSO. You teach kids how to play soccer and help them develop a positive attitude, teamwork skills, and good sportsmanship.
Becoming a coach does not require experience but it does require some work. We provide the training and certification classes for each age range.
All Coaches must complete the following:
1. Register as a "Coach" in our region at www.ayso214.org - Must register annually
2. Complete the following national courses at www.aysou.org
- Safe Haven
- CDC Concussion Awareness
- SafeSport
- Sudden Cardiac Arres
- AED Online Certification (Coming January 2027)
3. Complete the state of California's fingerprinting process via a regional Live Scan event
The requirements for a named Assistant Coach are equivalent to the requirements for Coach.
| Age Group | Coach Courses and Certification Requirements |
| All Divisions | - Register annually as a Coach volunteer at www.ayso214.org
- Complete AYSO's Safe Haven at www.aysou.org
- Complete CDC Concussion Awareness training at www.aysou.org
- Complete AYSO's SafeSport training at www.aysou.org
- Complete AYSO's Sudden Cardiac Arrest training www.aysou.org
- Complete the state of California's fingerprinting process via a regional Live Scan event
|
| Fall Season | All Star Season | Tournament / EXTRA Season |
| U5 | Coach Orientation | N/A | N/A |
| U6 | U6 Coach | N/A | N/A |
| U7 | U8 Coach | N/A | N/A |
| U8 | U8 Coach | N/A | N/A |
| U10 | U10 Coach | U10 Coach | U12 Coach |
| U12 | U12 Coach | U12 Coach
Regional Referee | Intermediate Coach
Regional Referee |
| U14 | Intermediate Coach | Intermediate Coach
Regional Referee | Advanced Coach
Regional Referee |
| U16/U19 | Advanced Coach | Advanced Coach | Advanced Coach |
Safe Haven
All AYSO Coaches must complete the Safe Haven certification. This ensures that the well-being of the child is placed first, the philosophies of AYSO are understood and teaches the coaches risk management to avoid putting themselves in positions hazardous to themselves and the children. It is also part of the requirements to be covered under the Volunteer Protection Act.
Age-Specific Training - U6, U8, U10 and U12 Coach Certifications
These four coaching courses focus on working with the player in these age divisions to create a fun learning environment. Coaches in U6, U8, U10 and U12 must have the age specific coach certification for the age they are coaching. There are no substitutes nor will higher level courses satisfy the requirement. These courses have no pre-requisite and may be taken individually or in any order.
Intermediate, Advanced and National Coach Certifications
These upper level courses build upon each other, thus a coach with the Advanced Coach certification may also coach teams needing only the Intermediate Coach certification. However, these do not confer the age-specific certification needed to coach U6-U12. A coach who holds an Intermediate Coach or above certification and wishes to coach in U10, must also hold a U10 Coach certification. U14 coaches must have at least the Intermediate Coach certification. U16 and U19 coaches must have the Advanced Coach certification. The National Coach certification is for coaches who desire to further advance their skills and offer a greater level of support to their region.