Training	Date	Time	Location
U06 Coach Certification	Saturday,	8:00 AM - 11:30 AM	TBD
U08 Coach Certification	Saturday,	8:00 AM - 11:30 AM	TBD
Fall Mandatory Coach Meeting	Saturday,	Noon - 1:00 PM	TBD
U10 Coach Certification	Saturday,	1:00 PM - 5:30 PM	TBD
U12 Coach Certification	Saturday,	1:00 PM - 5:30 PM	TBD
Fall Mandatory Coach Meeting	Sunday,	Noon - 1:00 PM	TBD
Keeper/Shooter Clinic	Sunday,	2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Intermediate Coach Certification	TBD	TBD	TBD
Advanced Coach Certification	TBD	TBD	TBD
AYSO Expo 2018 Section 6	Mid to Late Feb	Fri, Sat, Sun	TBD Probably Chicago

In addition to the Coach Certification listed above, Every coach, assistant coach, and team parent MUST be a registered volunteer prior to attending training, and prior to volunteering in any capacity with AYSO. Every Coach must complete online Safe Haven Certification, CDC Concussion Certification & Cardiac Awareness.  All training certifications will stay with you for life - Once you are certified to coach a certain level, you will not need to re-certify unless specifically requested by the regional coach administrator.  You MUST, however, re-apply as a volunteer on an annual basis each spring, in order to continue to volunteer with the region.  You are welcome to re-certify as many times as you like.  Youth volunteers must be 10 years of age or older to attend.  All Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Team Parents should attend ONE mandatory Coach Meeting each Fall, and One mandatory coach meeting each Spring.

If you have any questions regarding coach training or certification, please contact the Regional Coach Administrator at [email protected].

To Register or attend class, you must do the following...

• Register as a volunteer coach in the correct division.
• Contact the Coach Administrator for a Class Voucher - to pay for class attendance.  Email at [email protected].
• Go to the AYSO Training Website - AYSOU (linked in the tabs above).  This site will require a user name and login.  If you are logged in to your BSB registration account, simply clicking on the login button should automatically give you access.
• Search through the available classes.  Geographic lookup is not yet operational, so search by calendar date.
• Register for the course you plan on attending by clicking the "Register" button
• Pay for registration with your online voucher, or alternatively, by credit card.
• Complete any prerequisites.  You can access these online prerequisites through the AYSOU website - check for "My Classes"
  This will include, but not be limited to...
  • Online Safe Haven (approximately 1 hour online, including test)
  • CDC Concussion Certification (approximately 30 minutes online)
  • Laws of the Game (Informational Only - No Test)
• Attend Class and coach inspired Soccer!!!!

With your graduation, you will receive access to an age specific coaching e-book.  This book will have all of the information covered in class, and much more.  It will include a 12 week coaching lesson plan, which you may choose to follow, or expand upon based on the needs and abilities of your team.

To Attend the Keeper/Shooter Clinic, please email [email protected] and let them know your intention to attend.  This class is recommended for ALL coaches and players U10 and above.  It is particularly helpful to U10 and U12 coaches, and ALL Players U10 and above.  Keeper is the most important position on the field.  We introduce it at U10, and it is incumbent on you as a coach to introduce it to your players, and to teach them to fill the role effectively.  In addition, all players and coaches will also benefit from the attacking tactics and techniques discussed and demonstrated.

All coaches must attend ONE of the Mandatory Coach Refresher courses offered.  At these courses, you will be issued a final schedule and roster, uniforms for your players, and equipment bags.  Information on signing up for practice times and locations, and for secondary programs will be available also.  In addition, all rules changes and expectations will be covered.  If you are unable to attend, you must contact the coach administrator at [email protected] and schedule a time to go over the information at another time.  Please be respectful of our busy schedules, and make every effort to attend one of the scheduled refreshers.

Coaches are the foundation of our organization.  We expect our coaches to not only teach soccer, but to teach and mentor children.  We value development over winning, and encourage every child to improve at their own pace.  

A good coach should care about the kids he or she is coaching.  They should be doing it because they enjoy it and because they have something to offer back to all the kids in the neighborhood.  They are coaches because they want to impact and effect these children in a positive fashion.

The AYSO philosophy is that children should have fun while playing soccer, and learn something they can apply beyond the soccer field as well.  We preach and expect good sportsmanship and a positive experience on and off the soccer field.  We try to make our games competitive so that all teams have an opportunity to win and compete every year.  

Coaches are responsible for making sure that winning AND losing are positive learning experiences for the child.  Regardless of the outcome of the game, what did the players do well?  What can they work on to improve at practice?  Did they have fun?  NO child should ever feel like losing a soccer game on a Saturday morning in May is the worst thing in the world, and No child should ever take blame for that loss.  Every child should be allowed to develop and flourish at their own level, grow within the team, and know that they have value on that team.

Soccer experience is NOT required to be a coach.  Soccer knowledge is not required to be a coach.  You can learn everything you need to know about soccer in a few hours.  You will continue to learn how to develop children for your entire life!  If you have the right attitude and dedication to impact our children, please contact the Regional Coach Administrator at [email protected]  for more information, or contact your town representative directly about local coaching opportunities.