Welcome to Region 17 Coaches Corner
This is our Coaches Corner where we keep our coaches informed and up to date on the latest news and training requirements. If you have any questions, contact coachadmin@ayso17.org.
Minimum Requirements for Coaches
All Coaches in AYSO Region 17 must:
be a registered volunteer each and every year that they wish to coach, and
have completed "AYSO's Safe Haven" training (available on AYSOU), and
have completed "CDC Concussion" awareness training (available on AYSOU), and
be age appropriate coach certified for the age group they are coaching
AYSOU Online Certifications & Training Courses link: AYSOU
AYSOU is our online learning resource where you can complete online training, sign-up for in-person courses, and view your certifications history. Use your Blue Sombrero username and password to login to AYSOU.
AYSO Coach Training Courses and Requirements
AYSO provides age-appropriate Coach training courses that are designed for the players specific age level that not only teach age-appropriate technical skills, but also teach the coaches about the players physical capabilities and how the players emotions and feelings impact their development. AYSO has several Coach Training courses that can be completed online at AYSOU and other courses that must be completed in-person. These courses do have tests at the end of them. If you take a course and fail the test at the end, you will need to go back and review the material and re-take the test until you pass to get credit. The following are the required Coach Training courses required at each age level:
6U: Complete "6U Coaching Training" (online) or a "6U Coach" course (in-person)
8U: Complete "8U Coaching Training" (online) or a "8U Coach" course (in-person)
10U: Complete "10 Coaching Training" (online) and a "10U Field Session" (in-person); OR complete a
"10U Coach" course (in-person) which covers both the online and field session components12U: Complete "12U Coaching Training Pre-Course" (online) and a "12U Coach" course (in-person)
14U: Complete "Intermediate Coach Pre-Course" (online) and an "Intermediate Coach" course (in-person)
16U/19U: Complete "Advanced Coach Pre-Course" (online) and an "Advanced Coach" course (in-person)
Please be aware that the 12U and above online "Pre-Course" must be completed in advance of attending the in-person course. The Intermediate and Advanced Pre-Course typically must be completed 2 weeks in advance of the in-person course (see the course details for your specific in-person course). Additionally, the Intermediate and Advance in-person courses are typically only offered twice a year; so please plan in advance to complete these courses. Lastly for 6U/8U, it is highly recommended that you take the in-person course at the fields when they are offered as they provide field training exercises as well as in-person discussion with our instructors.
In-Person Coach Training Class information
Be on time or early. Anyone arriving 5 minutes late will not get credit for the class.
Be prepared to do some running and drills. Please wear athletic clothing and shoes; and bring water, pencil and paper, and an open mind.
Game Cards
Game cards need to be filled out for each and every game in 8U though 19U. The AYSO Region 17 game cards (8U through 14U) are green and are easy to fill out, but it is amazing how many are done incorrectly. Area game cards game cards are different colors but similar format (Fall: 16U and 19U, Spring: 8U through 19U). Sportsmanship points may be deducted if game cards are not filled out properly. Below are instructions to fill out the game card.
Top Section
Enter the Division (e.g. 8UB, 14UG) and Team #
Enter your Team Name (e.g. Blue Thunder, Pink Flamingos)
Enter your Team Color (primary colors of jersey and shorts Blue/Red, Green/Black, etc)
Enter Coach and Assistant Coaches name
Player Section
List ALL players on your team in NUMERICAL order based on their jersey number. This is the most important part!
List all players even if they will not be at the game. Tell the referee if a player is absent and they will mark the card accordingly.
Bottom Section
Fill in the Date, Time, and Field for your game that day.
The referee will fill in the remainder of the bottom section.
AYSO SIX PHILOSOPHIES (for Coaches)
In AYSO we have 6 philosophies: OPEN REGISTRATION, EVERYONE PLAYS, BALANCED TEAMS, GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP, POSITIVE COACHING and PLAYER DEVELOPMENT.
Open Registration
Our program is open to all who want to register and play soccer. Interest and enthusiasm are the only criteria for playing.
Everyone Plays
AYSO’s goal is for kids to play soccer—so AYSO National has mandated that every player on every team must play at least half of every game. Region 17 has further improved this and requires that every player on every team gets at least ¾ play per game for 14U divisions and below (one exception). We set up roster sizes so that ¾ play is assured in most of our divisions. Our only exception is the 8U division that has a 7 player roster to 5 players on the field ratio. If all 7 players on the roster show up for the game, then 1 player will only get ½ playing time. When this occurs, the coach should rotate every player through ½ playing time during games throughout the season to be fair to all the players. In 16U/19U, Area 1D controls the roster size so we can only assure ½ playing time. In all divisions, if a player miss practice during a week they still get to play. They might have school work, be sick, or their parents have issues with the practice days. Players can not be penalized because they miss practice. The only exception to this rule is if a player misses practices continually for no reason. In this case, the DC should be contacted to advise the coach on how to proceed.
Balanced Teams
Each year in our competitive divisions (10U and above), we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible —because it is fair and more fun when teams of equal ability play. We rate the players each and every year at our end of the season Coaches' meeting. The player ratings are then used during the following season to fairly assign players to create balanced teams. For any new players, they are given a try-out and player rating that is used to assign them to a team as well. Is it a prefect system? No, but we do the best we can to balance the teams. In 5U/6U/8U we do not balance teams as these are non-competitive divisions; scores are not kept, we just want the players to have a good time so they will want to return to the world’s greatest sport.
Good Sportsmanship
We strive to create a safe, fair, fun and positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win at all costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of AYSO. The coach plays a critical role in demonstrating and instilling good sportsmanship in his or her team as many players and parents will follow the coach's behavior. The coach must lead by example and demonstrate good sportsmanship during the match toward the referees and the other team (players, coaches, and parents). The coach should always insist on good sportsmanship from their players and parents and immediately address any instances should they occur. It is strongly encouraged to set an expectation of good sportsmanship with players and parents before the first game of the season! Lastly should a match become lopsided, a good coach will ease off on the attacks by rotating defenders into attacking positions (and visa-versa) and/or instructing players to work on ball skills (minimum # of touches or passes, playing the ball back to keeper, etc.) before taking any additional shots on goal.
Positive Coaching
Encouragement of player effort provides for greater enjoyment by the players and ultimately leads to better-skilled and better-motivated players. The coach's communication with the players should always be in a positive constructive manner during practices and games. Coaches should do most of their coaching in practices and not provide constant instruction to the players during the game. Players need the opportunity to think for themselves during the game, experiment, and to learn from their mistakes! Players always respond better when they are given positive reinforcement of their play. Their confidence grows when they are encouraged by what they do.
Player Development
We believe that all players should be able to develop their soccer skills and knowledge to the best of their abilities, both individually and as members of a team, in order to maximize their enjoyment of the game.
Player Development should always be prioritized over Winning. Here is a quote by Landon Donovan, AYSO Alumni, and Professional player. “One of my biggest pet peeves is youth team coaches who take winning too seriously. This has always bothered me, and I always tell coaches to forget about winning with young players. They need to create an environment where the kids enjoy playing and are developing their soccer skills. Winning should never be a priority.”
Development Over Winning Philosophy:
Player Development does NOT reduce competition!
Competitive environment does not need to be about Wins, Draws, Losses
Focus on performance rather than outcome (ball skill, effort vs. score)
Children should be competitive, not the adults!
It is our responsibility as coaches to control & create a healthy environment for learning!
Finally, we would like to thank all of you that have taken the time to be a coach or assistant coach! You are the face of the organization to our players and parents and have a tremendous impact on their AYSO experience. Always remember that AYSO's goal is for the kids to play soccer and have fun. Please be as positive and fair as you can be and focus on Player Development. You will be surprised at the end of the season, win or lose, on how well your team enjoyed the season if you have created a positive environment for them to play soccer, develop their skills, and have fun.