When to Submit Your Volunteer Application

New and returning volunteers need to submit a Volunteer Application every season. (In both Fall and Spring seasons.) You should submit your application once Registration for that season opens. If you are wanting to volunteer in the upcoming Fall season, please wait until that registration opens, or you will have to submit an application again.

Volunteer Sign-Up FAQ

Need help registering to volunteer? Check out our  Volunteer Sign-up/FAQ for all your answers.

Region 1408 Volunteer Guides

Not sure what you need to complete online or in-person? Take a look at these documents:

• Step-by-step Certification Guide for Region 1408 Coaches (PDF)
• Step-by-step Certification Guide for Region 1408 Referees (PDF)

Steps to become a Certified AYSO Coach

All Head and Assistant Coaches must:

1. Complete a Head or Assistant Volunteer Application for the Current membership year on AYSO1408.org
2. Complete the online AYSO Safe Haven course within current registration year, through AYSOU.org
3. Complete the online AYSO Concussion Awareness course within the current registration year, through AYSOU.org
4. Obtain AYSO Coach Certification in the age level you will coach by attending an in-person AYSO Coach Certification Course. (See chart below)

Obtaining Coaching Certifications

All AYSO Head and Assistant Coaches must get their Coach Certification in the age level they wish to coach. This requirement can only be certified by attending an in-person Certification Course. Register for courses through AYSO University (aysoU.org).

You can take this course through any AYSO Region you want. All Regions offering Coach Certifications class post them on aysoU.org. You can find many dates and options from which to choose.

Coaching multiple teams

When we identify coaches who are coaching multiple teams, we strive to make sure your teams never play at the same time. (Another benefit to coaching is never having to decide which child's game you will watch!) If you sign up to coach multiple teams, please send an email to the Region 1408 Coach Administrator and let us know the names of each player you plan to coach. This allows us to identify you to our Region 1408 Schedule to avoid game conflicts.

Important Reminder: All Head and Assistant coaches must submit separate volunteer applications for each Age Group they wish to coach. (In other words, if you plan to coach 12U and 8U, then you should submit two coaching applications, 12U and 8U.)

Do I have to be certified at each age group I coach?

To be covered under the Volunteer Protection Act you must be certified with age-specific training (and also Safe Haven Certification.) Certification in an upper age group does not confer all lower age-specific certifications. For example, a coach who holds a U12 or intermediate certificate and wishes to coach U10 must then get a U10 certificate.

Ensuring your own player is on your team

Some coaches sign-up using a different AYSO logins than their player. (For example, the player was registered under a spouse.) Our Region Registrars do their best to try and identify your child and place them on your team, should this be the case,  please send an email to the Region 1408 Coach Administrator and let us know your name, plus the name of your child, once you both have signed-up.

Questions?

Check out our COACH FAQ below

Still have questions? Or If you are are interested in becoming a volunteer coach,please reach out to our coach administrator Coachadmin@ayso1408.

Region 1408 Coach F.A.Q.

What is the minimum age to be an AYSO Coach?

You must be 18 years old or older to be an AYSO coach. Though AYSO appreciates and encourages young people to participate in all aspects of soccer including coaching, an individual under 18 years of age may not be listed as the head coach or assistant coach on the official roster, due to liability issues. They can certainly assist in training and even make decisions regarding the team, but can’t ever be left alone with players and can’t be listed on the official roster.

When do I practice?

Tuesdays and/or Thursdays and the practice times are at your discretion.It's your team. (If another parent wants to dictate the practice schedule, they should have signed up to be a coach!) Of course, if you set practices for 3pm, don't expect everyone to make it. Find a time that works best for you, but be mindful of other families' work/school schedules.

How often do I practice?

Typically, the younger divisions (U6 and below) practice once per week for half an hour. Older divisions often practice twice per week at the coach's discretion. Once games start, you can only meet with your team twice a week(to include practices and games)

When are games?

Tuesdays and/or Thursdays, March through May -- each team plays roughly 9 or 10 games (depending on Division). 

What are the game formats?

• Playground-U6: 4v4, no goal keepers,. 10 minute halves (Note: Scores and Win-Loss records are not kept)
• U8: 5v5 20 minute halves, no goal keepers
• U10: 7v7. 25 minute halves
• U12: 9v9. 30 minute halves
• U14: 11v11. 35 minute halves
• U16: 11v11. 40 minute halves
• U19: 11v11. 45 minute halves

What size ball do we use?

• Playground: Size 3
• U6: Size 3
• U8: Size 3
• U10-U12: Size 4
• U14+: Size 5

What size fields and goals do we use?

• Playground/U6: 30yd x 20yd
• U8: 50yd x 30yd, 6' x 18' goals
• U10/U12: 80yd x 40yd, 7' x 21' goals
  
• U14-U19: 110yd x 60yd, 8' x 24' goals

I'm thinking about being a Head Coach... BUT...

I have no time to coach.

That's exactly WHY you should coach. As a coach, you set your own practice schedule. You can choose a time that fits your family's schedule.

I have little-to-no experience with soccer.

No problem! We provide you with information  prior to the start of the season based on the age level you are coaching. You will also be given an easy to follow manual with simple instructions and an explanation of AYSO philosophies and regulations. Unique age-appropriate coach training is one of AYSO's specialties.

I don't know what to teach or how to run my practices.

We are here to help with that! There are several courses online you can take and we can provide printouts if needed.

I don't have any coach equipment.

That's not an issue! We supply you with equipment you need like cones, balls, pinnies, and more!

I don't know how to register or get certified to be a coach.

We can help you with that too. You can become a coach in three simple steps:

1. Sign-up / register on this website to be a Head Coach
2. Complete two, three online courses at AYSO University (aysoU.org) -- AYSO Safe Haven™ ,Concussion Awareness and CDC.
3. Attend an in-person, age-specific coaching Certification course. You can register for these through aysoU.org. (Find a day that fits your schedule. You can take this course from ANY AYSO Region.)

Okay, you talked me into it. After I sign up to volunteer, what do I do next?

Don’t panic. This isn't the world cup. If you can make kids laugh, you're qualified.

Don’t be mad at your significant other if they volunteered you without you knowing about it.

Your next step is to complete your online courses (if you haven't before), and obtain your age-specific Coach Certification. (See above)

Also, read the Laws of the Game. Watch a few games on TV. Talk to your friends or anyone you know who is or has been a coach before.

Always remember you can contact the Coach Administrator, Referee Administrator or your Division Coordinator for support and advice. We are all part of a team, we’re here to help one another for the benefit of the kids.

I still have questions.

You may reach out to the Region 1408 Coach Administrator

Region 1408 Coach Contacts

Regional Coach Administrator
(Available position)
[email protected]

Child & Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA)
Jessica Crowson
[email protected]

Regional Referee Administrator
(Available position) 
[email protected]