BECOMING A COACH
Coaches are at the heart of Mt. Diablo Soccer because, as a coach, you have the most contact with the kids during the season. We appreciate your time, and will provide the training, advice, and assistance you need to make your coaching experience a positive one.
Coaching children is a very rewarding experience! Coaches are pivotal to having children get the AYSO experience.
If we 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. We offer unique age-appropriate coach training.
If you plan to be at your child’s soccer practices and games, you’ll also have time to be your child’s coach.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COACHES
As with all AYSO Volunteers, becoming a coach involves 4 steps:
- Registration
- One-Time Fingerprinting
- Training
- Certification
Step 1 – Register as a Volunteer with AYSO
- Complete the Parent Registration in inLeague, selecting the appropriate Volunteer Role. Ensure you use your full legal name (for example David not Dave).
- Once the Volunteer Application is received by MDSA, it will be submitted to Sterling Volunteers to complete the AYSO National Background Check
- CHECK YOUR EMAILS FOR AN UPDATE FROM STERLING VOLUNTEERS. Follow the steps in this email to submit your Background Check.
- You will receive an updated email from Sterling Volunteers when your Background Check is complete.
- The Background Check must be completed annually.
- If you are interested in coaching your child’s team for the upcoming season, please email Coach Admin.
Step 2 – Fingerprinting
STARTING JANUARY 1, 2022, California AB 506 requires all regular volunteers who have direct contact with children in California to have a one-time background check as approved by the California Department of Justice to exclude individuals with a history of child abuse. This form of background check requires live scan fingerprinting.
- Request a code to cover the cost of fingerprinting from cvpa@mdsoccer.org
- Make an appointment at a Live Scan Service Center: www.applicantservices.com/AYSO
- This only needs to be done once but it is not transferable from another organization.
Step 3 – Safe Haven, Concussion Training and Sudden Cardiac Arrest and SafeSport Training Online
- Sign in to ETrainU via your inLeague account. (Graduation Cap icon)
- Under the Training Library > Safe Haven Courses, complete AYSO’s Safe Haven course online (must be completed after 2013).
- Under the Training Library > Safe Haven Courses, complete CDC: Concussion Course online.
- Under the Training Library > Safe Haven Courses, complete Sudden Cardiac Arrest Online Course.
- From inLeague’s ETrainU page, use this link to access SafeSport online training, or CLICK HERE.
Step 4 – Complete Age-Appropriate AYSO Coach Certification
- 5U/6U Coaches: the 6U Coaching Course can be completed online at EtrainU.
- 7U/8U Coaches: the 8U Coaching Course can be completed online at EtrainU.
- 10U Coaches: the 10U Certification is an Online Course and Field Session.
- The 10U Online Coaching Course can be completed online at EtrainU.
- Details on upcoming Field Sessions can be obtained from Coach Admin and you can register for the session under Live Courses at EtrainU.
- 12U-19U Coaches – no-charge classroom training sessions are also offered locally (contact Coach Admin for details on upcoming sessions) which you can sign up for using EtrainU. Select the applicable age certification under Live Sessions.
- Not sure if you have taken the courses previously? You can view all your certifications under your account at MDSoccer.
COACHING DUTIES
- Attend pre-season coach meeting and required training.
- Hold a pre-season meeting with families. (Introduction, roster and schedule distribution. Discuss expectations.)
- Recruit volunteers, especially assistant coach, team referees, and team manager.
- Complete player evaluations. (U8-U14 divisions only.)
- Ensure the kids all have fun!
