Purpose 
 
The AYSO volunteer position of Youth Soccer Trainer is intended to help the head and assistant coaches with training their soccer players. The position is essentially the same as an assistant coach except for the portions that require the volunteer to be an adult (there must be an adult coach present at all times along along with a second adult to meet Safe Haven guidelines).
 
Specific Duties and Responsibilities   
 
The Youth Soccer Trainer is expected to: 

1. Always carry a copy of their eAYSO youth volunteer form with them and let the adult in charge know where that form is kept in the case of a medical emergency;
2. Ensure there are 2 other adults including an adult coach at any AYSO team practice, game or event;
3. Attend team organization night with the head coach before the season begins;
4. Attend the age appropriate coach clinic for training on how to coach or as a refresher on AYSO philosophy;
5. Help run one to two training sessions per week, help develop team line-ups for games, and attend regular and tournament games;
6. Provide leadership and be an active role model exemplifying the AYSO culture and philosophies;
7. Provide player evaluations to the head coach; and
8. Carry out other team tasks as necessary upon request of the head coach.

 
Qualifications and Desired Skills 
 
To be considered for the position of Youth Soccer Trainer, the applicant must: 

1. Be reliable;
2. Be 12 years of age or older and at least the same age or older than the players in the respective division;
3. Have an interest in helping children;
4. Have good character;
5. Be interested in promoting the benefits of youth sports, especially soccer;
6. Attend training classes in coaching before the season begins; 

 
Supervision Protocols 
 

1. While performing as the Youth Soccer Trainer, the volunteer is:
2. Subject to the bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines of AYSO;
3. Under the overall authority of and directly supervised by the head coach and/or assistant coach, and supervised indirectly by the regional coach administrator; 
4. To maintain the recommended adult to child supervision ratio of 1:8 or less; that is one adult for every eight or fewer children and two adults (one of whom may be the coach and one of whom should be of the same gender as the group) present at all times.  For the protection of both the children and the volunteer, no volunteer should permit himself or herself to be alone with any child or group of children (except his or her own) during AYSO-sponsored activities; and
5. Once the head coach has assumed charge of the children on his or her team, he or she remains responsible until a duly designated adult has taken charge of each child after practice or a game or the child leaves the immediate vicinity of the practice or game as prearranged by the parent to walk home or to a friend’s or relative’s house.  No child shall be left unsupervised after a game or practice.  Parents who are unreasonably late or consistently tardy should be reported to the child protection advocate for action.  Each coach may establish a standing policy of where children may be picked up by late parents

 
Time Commitment 
 
The anticipated time commitment for an Youth Soccer Trainer is a season.  The estimated hours to fulfill duties are about 10% less than those for a head or assistant coach and range from 30 to 140 hours per season depending on the division. For more details on hours required, please see our coach time commitment chart.
 
Orientation, Training, Certification, and Continued Education Provided 
 
To prepare a volunteer for the position of Youth Soccer Trainer, AYSO will offer the following educational opportunities which volunteer Youth Soccer Trainers are expected to take advantage of and participate in, as appropriate.   

1. Orientation by the head coach;
2. AYSO Safe Haven Certification;
3. Soccer training classes; 
4. Coach clinics;
5. Referee clinics; and
6. Annual coach update.

 
Activity Locations 
 
While performing the duties of assistant coach, the volunteer is limited to the following locations, unless expressly authorized in writing by the regional commissioner to hold activities in another location. 

1. Assigned field locations;
2. Assigned classroom locations;
3. Regional meetings; and
4. Independent work at home alone, or in a properly supervised situation with children.