AYSO's goal is to provide certification and training for all its volunteers. The level of certification and training is relative to the level of risk associated with each job. To make this certification program effective for both the players and the volunteers, the process includes:

 

• AYSO certified instructors
• Child-centered curriculum
• Developmentally-based sports activities
• Complete instructional plans
• Complete learning spectrum for children and adults, through:

   

  1.) Education, testing, and confirmation through unified instruction.

  2.) Experience through participation in a focused environment.

  3.) Observation by training evaluators for performance enhancement.

  4.) Opportunity with graduated participation.

AYSO is a leading advocate for child and volunteer protection, as well for the good of the game through the implementation of the "Kids Zone" Program. The AYSO Safe Haven AND Kids Zone Programs have become a model for other youth organizations.

 

View the complete training matrix (pdf) for coaches, referees, managers and instructors.

 

 

What is Safe Haven?

AYSO Safe Haven provides a place where players and volunteers can come to play and work together, where fun is the order of the day, and where the welfare of the individual participant is always a high priority. We create the Safe Haven environment by taking steps to preserve the culture of AYSO while responding to demands from the legal and legislative communities.

 

AYSO requires all its volunteers to complete, sign and submit a Volunteer Application form each year, and to act within their job descriptions, and the scope of AYSO Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines.

 

Basically, all volunteers who have any kind of interaction with the kids need to take the Safe Haven Clinic. This is a one time deal, and once you have completed this clinic, you will receive a sticker on your license for future verification. It is also now an insurance requirement under AYSO national policies. Any volunteers not attending a Safe haven class will not be covered by AYSO's insurance policy. You only have to take this one time, as long as you complete the course.

 

For specific Safe Haven Clinics, Team Parent Coordinator, Coach/Asst Coach, or Referee, please click on the link that best identifies your role in AYSO to find out when the next scheduled clinics will take place.

As a coach you are required to complete a Safe Haven class, complete the Coach Clinic appropriate for the age group that you are coaching, and you must attend a General Meeting. Under the age group sections below, you'll see many choices for each type of clinic. You need to attend one of each. If you have completed the Safe Haven class in a prior year, you don't have to attend again.

 

We hold coaching clinics for coaches working with specific age groups. These clinics are arranged for coaches of various levels of experience with AYSO. Look for the clinic that fits your experience level with AYSO and/or the age group that you are coaching.

 

Contact either one of the Regional Coach Administrators (Boys or Girls RCA) if you have questions (979-1344) or email; and/or .

 

Age-Specific Clinics:
	U6 / U8 Coach Clinic This is the clinic level for new coaches or those coaching teams in the under-6 and under-8 age divisions. The beginning basics of soccer skills will be covered, we will provide ideas for lots of fun games for the kids, and the AYSO philosophy as it applies to young children will be discussed.
	U10 and U12 Coach Clinic This clinic will focus on the under-10 and under-12 age divisions. Basic soccer techniques, games that teach soccer skills, and the AYSO philosophy for this age group will be emphasized. U12 certification requires an additional two hours of instruction with particular field and technique emphasis.
	U14 (Intermediate) Coach Clinic Under 14 clinic, which is now called Intermediate Clinic: This clinic focuses on technical skill development, beginning tactical skills, and the AYSO philosophy for players in the under 12 and under 14 age divisions. Coaches taking this clinic are expected to have previously taken a clinic for new coaches (e.g. U6/U8/U10 clinics).
	U16-19 (Advanced) Coach Clinic

 

Why attend the Coaches General Meeting?

The purspose of these General Meetings is to first acquaint yourself with the AYSO Coaching Staff who will be the ones to answer any of your questions throughout the season.

 

Secondly, you will receive your coach packet which will contain useful information for the soccer season. In addition, the AYSO staff will briefly go over some of the AYSO policies and procedures for the season.

 

Lastly, you will receive your team equipment for the season.

 

All Coaches General Meeting Dates

 

There will be three General fall 2007 meetings coming up soon. All coaches must attend one of these scheduled meetings. All meetings will take place at 6:30pm at the AYSO building. The dates are:

• Aug. 18, Saturday.
• Aug. 22, Wednesday.
• Aug. 28, Tuesday.

At these meetings, coaches receive numerous pieces of equipment, documentation, information for parents and players, and up to date information about the forthcoming season, rules, fields, and policies.

First game of the fall 2007 season will be on September 8. Schedules will be posted during mid to late August. It is expected that all coaches will hold practices during the week of September 3rd and as early as the prior week; Please have your player prepared to participate.

 

AYSO needs YOU to be a referee! We will train you, give you a uniform, and LOTS of opportunities to get good exercise! If you are interested in getting started, see the courses listed below.

 

If you have any questions on referee training you can contact Mike Goodison at:

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Latest Clinic Info: For schedule of Upcoming Clinics, see just below. Course details are found in the appropriate sections (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, etc.) listed below under Referee Level Clinics & Descriptions.

Certification Requirements: see what is required by AYSO National to achieve the various levels of referee certification (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, National).

 

NOTES about these referee training sessions:

 

• Intermediate Class: This is an excellent opportunity for all certified Basic Referees to obtain additional training on the laws of the game, judging offside infractions, management of the match, dealing with angrycoaches/parents, etc. This course is meant to fill in many of the fine details and gray areas that referees need to referee the more challenging games you might face when refereeing fall season U12 matches and Select season U10 matches. Our goal is to have all certified Basic Referees become certified at the Intermediate level. This is the minimum level we want all our referees to attain. You will come away from this course feeling more confident and knowledgeable in how you referee games at all levels. To register, e-mail Bruce Hartsough as brhartsough@ucdavis.edu. Successful candidates will receive a set of referee flags.

 

OTHER NOTES:

• All NEW referees are required to take a Safe Haven course (a one-time requirement).

 

• Please bring 2 copies of printed Volunteer Application (completed online at www.eAYSO.org) and photo ID.

 

For a complete list of upcoming Save Haven Clinics, please also see our Safe Haven page.

Referee Level Clinics & Descriptions

 

U6/U8 Parent Referee Course

(for parents with children in Under 6 AND Under 8 teams)

 

This course is for parents with children on Under 6 (U6) and Under 8 (U8) teams. No soccer or refereeing knowledge or experience is required! Women are strongly encourage to participate.

 

To become a U6/U8 Parent Referee requires taking the U6/U8 Parent Referee course PLUS a Safe Haven (child and volunteer protection) course. For your convenience, these two courses are offered back-to-back in most cases. The total time is about 4.5 hours.

 

Each U6/U8 game will be required to provide two trained Parent Referees, one from each team. Upon successful completion of the course, the referee will be given a "Parent Referee" t-shirt, whistle, and flipping coin.

 

For the U6/U8 games, the HOME team will be responsible for providing the "official Parent Ref".

 

Basic Referee Training Course

This is the basic referee class to certify you as an AYSO Regional Referee and prepare you to officiate at the Under 10 age level. No soccer or refereeing knowledge or experience is required!

 

Target audience: Parents: We strongly encourage women to attend....be role models for the girls of our community. Youth: (must be at least 12 year old) both boys and girls.

 

Course details: This is a nine-hour AYSO course to introduce soccer refereeing. Graduates become certified as AYSO Regional Referees, are provided referee uniforms (official soccer referee shirt, shorts, and socks) and equipment, and are qualified to referee AYSO games at U8 and U10 levels or higher.

 

Why should you attend? AYSO is an all-volunteer organization. Your participation does make a difference. Referees are particularly needed. Ideally, we need three referees for each game. Referees are needed for all of Davis AYSO's seasons, Fall, Winter (Select), and Spring, as well as for its annual big fund-raising tournament during each Memorial Day weekend.

 

Recommended commitment: two game per Saturday.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: In addition to the Basic Referee course, new referees must also attend a separate 2-hour Safe Haven (child and volunteer protection) course. See the Coach Clinic schedule for dates.

 

How to be an Outstanding Assistant Referee

This is a one-evening workshop targeted at any referee (Regional badge or higher) who wants to reinforce and/or improve his or her skills as an assistant referee. Topics include: duties, professionalism, mechanics and positioning, communication (including flag signals), and offside. All attendees will receive their own set of flags upon completion of the course.

 

Participants will receive a set of referee flags.

 

Intermediate Referee Level

All experienced Basic Referees are encouraged to upgrade their skills and certification. The Intermediate Referee course reviews, reinforces, and covers in more depth topics covered in the Basic Referee course. It includes instruction to prepare the referee to officiate at the U12 level, including offside, referee communication, and interaction with coaches and players. A passing score of at least 90% is required to successfully complete the course exam.

 

Advanced Referee Level

The Advanced Referee course is offered mid-July each year at AYSO's Golden Gate Camp held at St. Mary's College in Moraga. The course starts mid-Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday noon.

 

National Referee Courses (the step past Advanced)

 

The National Referee course is offered mid-July each year at AYSO's Golden Gate Camp held at St. Mary's College in Moraga. The course starts mid-Friday afternoon and continues through Sunday noon.

 

See the Golden Gate Camp AYSO Section 2 website for details.

 

Referee Cross-Certification

 

See the referee certification page.

 

Referee Mentor

If you are a new referee, we have a "Mentor" program where we will match you with an experienced referee who can give you advice, share experiences,a nd work with you to improve your skills. Contact the Referee Mentor Coordinator, Fred Main, at fredlmain@yahoo.com. EXPERIENCED REFEREES - we need your help as a mentor also!

 

Law Refresher Courses (how about a tune-up before the next season?)

 

 

Additional Resources:

Watch this informative video on: Law 11, offside (http://www.dynamic-thought.com/Offside.swf)

 

2008 Golden Gate Camp

AYSO’s (Section 2) Instructional Retreat for Referees and Coaches, August 1-3, 2008

For details, visit:

http://www.section2.org/goldenga.htm

http://www.section2.org/pdf/GoldenGateCamp2008Flyer.pdf