AYSO is a volunteer-run organization. Coaches, referees and administrators are volunteers. Over 220,000 parents, neighbors, relatives and friends lend their time and talents so that each child gets a terrific AYSO experience. AYSO’s volunteer foundation ensures that it’s all about what’s good for kids. It also makes AYSO very affordable. AYSO operates in a business manner, but volunteers ensure its “profits” are happy, healthy kids playing a sport they can enjoy for life.
AYSO has developed special training that helps parents who may have little or no soccer experience quickly gain the age-appropriate knowledge and skills they need to be effective coaches and referees. It also has unique administrative and management training.
This ensures that each community program:
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Abides by the AYSO philosophies
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Offers a great AYSO experience
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Continues to grow, offering the AYSO opportunity to more children
It only takes a few hours to become qualified as an introductory-level coach or referee. But if you’re not able to commit even that much time, there are many small jobs you can help with. Even a couple of hours each season are an important contribution to your team and Region!
AYSO training doesn’t stop as long as you’re having fun. Referees, coaches and administrators have clinics, workshops and other advanced training available to advance their skills.
Become a Team Parent
The AYSO Team Parent is a pivotal part of every team. They are the coach's assistant, cheerleader, and traffic director all in one. These are things you will already be doing if your child is on the team, so take it one more step and help the entire team operate more smoothly!
Every coach needs help arranging snacks and water for games, making calls when rain or snow makes practice impractical, and keeping an energetic team in line on the sidelines. You're making a difference for a whole team - a team that includes your child. It's a great way to make your child's team a family experience.
Please step up at the beginning of the season and offer the coach your help as a Team Parent!
Become A Referee
Every athletic competition needs officials. In soccer each game needs three - a referee and two assistant referees. Their job is to keep the game safe, fair, and fun.
As with coaches and team parents, our referees are volunteers. Referees receive training in the laws of the game, game control, and age appropriate player management. On field mentoring is available if desired and we have regular informal training at monthly referee meetings. For those who really enjoy refereeing formal advanced training is available.
Refereeing is fun and gives you a great understanding and appreciation of the game. You also get the best seat in the house, right in the middle of the action! Check out what refereeing is all about. You don't have to have playing experience to be a good referee, you just have to want to help out.