AYSO Volunteers are the driving force to keep AYSO as strong as it is today providing quality soccer programs for development of youth under 19 years of age. They are protected under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 if they are registered, trained (certified) and act in accordance with their responsibilities on approved AYSO events.
HOW TO BECOME AN AYSO VOLUNTEER?
The process is the same for every volunteer other than the task education. Avoid problems and view the Important Notes below. Ask our board members if you have questions.
First things first:
(Re-)register as AYSO volunteer every year. Examples: Referee, Youth Referee, Coach, Assistant Coach, Team Manager.
SIGN UP UNDER THE SOCCER PROGRAM OF CHOICE
Team volunteers sign up under the Fall program and includes referee and youth volunteer.
Click on Volunteer icon in your account left panel. Then select FIND NEW ROLES button.
Select the Soccer Program, like Fall 2023 or Spring 2024. > View Divisions > Select any division like 16-19U > View Selected Opportunities
Scroll through the volunteer roles > Select role and click. Then complete the Volunteer Application.
What is next?
How a referee or coach receives training. Each job has an AYSO training program.
To receive training see ETRAINU menu left panel. Training Courses Library folder for new courses. My Training folder for courses already started. Courses can be repeated for continued education.
In AYSO training is structured for each job. It is for beginners and and continues to higher levels.
All AYSO Volunteers must complete the following (most are CA mandated):
- AYSO Safe Haven Course or refresher. Annually. ETRAINU (ETU) online or in-person course.
- CDC concussion course, Bi-annually. Can upload certificate if not taken through ETU
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Once. Can upload certificate if not taken through ETU
Youth 18 and over and adults:
- Volunteer background check (see Note here under) Sterling Volunteers
- SafeSport Training - the first time is 90 minutes, and repeated every three years, followed by annual updates in then-between years, which are 30 minutes.
- Livescan fingerprint background check - You perform this process for each applicable organization you volunteer with, but the good news is that this is a one-time requirement. See also our website "Live Scan Fingerprint Services". The background check does not share databases with Livescan/Fingerprinting and thus is separate.
VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK (Risk Status)
- Adults do this annually by Sterling Volunteers. It must show status color green and an expiration date.
- Youth receives no background check and have status color blue on their risk status.
- The volunteer renews Risk status every year but the system allows 15 months before expiring validity.
NOTE:
An email is sent to your email address by Sterling Volunteers when you have signed up as volunteer or renew Risk Status.
Follow the steps in this email to complete procedure. Most volunteers have created an account with SterlingVolunteers.
Choose pay later option (invoice) for payment so the charge of $25 will go to our region.
Usually in one day your Risk Status on the volunteer page will be cleared and shows an expiration date.
An expired Risk Status requires that you check the Risk Status check-box and click on button Renew & Update to renew.
- Volunteer background check (see Note hereunder)
Steps for completing courses (Some courses require pre-requisites):
Example is for a referee but other volunteer roles will have similar steps to follow.
Step 1: Go to ETU (education website) - Use the AYSOU button.
Step 2: Regional Referee Online Course and the Companion course
Step 3: Continue with the course until all modules are done including the exam
Step 4: Print the Certificate
Step 5: Enroll in a Companion Course and attend in person.
Step 6: Verify in ETU Skills Folder that you received credits for the courses you completed. DO NOT WAIT.
NOTE:
You will not get credit for a course if you have not completed the pre-requisites for that course. Contact the instructor to clarify.
DO NOT ASSUME that the instructor will call you or you receive emails to inform you of credits received for a course. It is your responsibility to verify that you received the credit. Most instructors close rosters in 24 hours so you should check your ETU record.