In AYSO, Positive Coaching is a core philosophy. We believe that kids best develop as players when they receive positive encouragement and mentoring. Every AYSO coach is a volunteer. Come share the joy of soccer with your own child and the other members of the AYSO family of players and volunteers. We provide all the training you need in a few hours. You provide the fun.
To volunteer as a Coach or an Assistant Coach:
- You must be registered as an AYSO volunteer at http://ayso.bluesombrero.com/region7 for THIS season.
- You must have completed Safe Haven training.
- You must have Concussion training.
- You must have Coach training for the age level that you wish to coach.
Volunteer Registration
Volunteers must register through the national AYSO website each year, regardless of whether you have registered and coached in prior years. Register here: https://aysou.org
Safe Haven™
To ensure the safety of both children and volunteers, each volunteer is required to take a short in-person or online training session called Safe Haven™. To access Safe Haven™ follow the instructions in the AYSOU instructions page to enroll and take the course.
Coach Training
Training sessions are offered at each age level to ensure that coaches understand not just soccer technique, but also the unique needs of children.
Local Coach Training Opportunities - See Chart Below:
Training Resources
Click the link below to view and download the AYSO Coaching Manual for your age group. The document will open in a new window, so be sure to allow pop-ups:
U6 AYSO Coaching ManualU8 AYSO Coaching ManualU10 AYSO Coaching ManualU12 AYSO Coaching ManualU14 (Intermediate) AYSO Coaching Manual
U16/19 (Advanced) AYSO Coaching ManualAdditional Training Resources
AYSO Region 7 YouTube playlist:
We have been curating a playlist of YouTube videos that you might find helpful for everything from teaching your players the basics of proper kicking technique to more advanced drills for the older kids. If you have additional videos you use and would like to share or have added to our playlist, please email our Coach Administrator.
There are a lot of additional resources and apps out there with training plans and drills. Below are a few additional ones that coaches in our region have used and recommend. Please note that some of these have a freemium model, where you get limited access for free and more when you subscribe, and others require a subscription. There is no obligation to use these and they are provided for your consideration only.
The Coaching Manual - The Coaching Manual has a partnership with AYSO and provides both free and subscription tiers. You should be able to find plenty of free resources on the site, but may be prompted to upgrade your account if you try to view certain types of content, like Season Plans.
Mojo Sports - Mojo Sports offers an app with soccer drills and games. There is a free version and a subscription version, but the free version should be plenty. See the image below for the differences between the free and paid tiers.
Coach Certifications
*U6, U8 and U10 coach training is offered on-line.The AYSOU instructions page show how to access these training courses. However, full coach certification for U6 – U10 requires a field portion to be completed. The same page shows how to find and enroll on these classes.
You can find your eAYSO ID on the eAYSO website. In addition to coach training/certification courses held by Region 7, other local courses are held by various regions in the area. These are listed on the AYSOU website as well (Intermediate Coach, Advanced Coach, Referee Courses, etc.). If you can’t access the course list, contact your Division Commissioner for details.
Other Coach Resources
ayso.org
Laws of the game
2024-25 Laws of the game (downloadable)
Proper Game Card Guide for Coaches
Fillable Game Card (U10, U12, U14) (option to print and glue to front of physical card)
Fillable Game Card (U7/U8)
Sportsmanship Points in Competitive Divisions
General Rules about Substitutions and Game Conduct
Nielsen Field Setup and Tear Down Instructions