Become a Coach!
WSSL Certification Courses for Coaches & Assistant Coaches
Prior to every season and often in between seasons, WSSL offers a series of certification courses for parents who wish to become coaches and assistant coaches. This is the beginning of your training, not the end. Participating in and completing the certification process is a requirement in order to coach. All coaches and assistant coaches must take Safe Haven and must take the age appropriate level of certification training for the kids they are coaching.
- Safe Haven (2 hours)* -- required for all coaches and assistant coaches
- U6 Course (2 hours)
- U8 Course (2 hours)* -- required training for all teams in U8 and under
- U10 Course (2 hours)* -- required training for all teams in U9 and U10
- U12 Course (5 hours)* -- required training for all teams older than U10
- Intermediate Coaching Course (15 hours)
- Advanced Coaching Course (18 hours)
- National Coaching Course (56+ hours)
*See WSSL's Calendar for WSSL Certification courses that are offered locally and their dates/times. Course lengths listed above are required, however WSSL courses may be longer due to consolidated materials and on field demonstrations.
Safe Haven for All Volunteers
To ensure the safety of both children and volunteers, each coach is required to take a short in-person training session called Safe Haven. It focuses on safety and appropriate behavior with children as well as first aid and other on-field issues. Safe Haven also gives volunteers the highest degree of protection available under the law. Agreeing to a background check is also required for each volunteer.
We ask that every volunteer take the in person Safe Haven course at least once during their WSSL volunteer career. Coaches should renew their familiarity with the Safe Haven materials each year through this excellent on line resource. Click here for your Safe Haven refresher.
All Coaches & Assistant Coaches Must Be Registered
All coaches and assistant coaches must be registered with AYSO national.
Coach and assistant coach backrounds and references are checked by national staff to ensure the safety of our children. Your information will not be shared with any third party. Key personal information (e.g., social security numbers) is encrypted. You will need to fill in specific information including details on personal references. Once you are ready, please click on the link below to register as a volunteer through AYSO national's eAYSO system. http://www.eayso.org/
Tips On Registration
It's easy to do. Just follow the Log In instructions. Click on Volunteer on the top of the eayso site, sign up and go. (Make sure you hit Volunteer, not parent.) If you have registered as a volunteer before, it takes just a few minutes to update your record. If not, it is easy to sign up as a new volunteer and takes just an extra couple of minutes. Once you are done, print the form, sign it (this is essential for you to be covered by insurance) and give it to your Division Head. Your Division Head will then give the form to the League's Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA) for processing.
If you forgot your password, you will need to call the lovely people at eAYSO, not the lovely people at WSSL. eAYSO folks can be reached Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time at 866.588.2976. They can help you find your password or generally trouble shoot your volunteer registration.
If you are having other troubles with your volunteer registration, please contact our Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate at cvpa@wssl.org.
Ongoing Coach Education
We ask that every coach take at least two (2) coach education clinics each season. Coaches who attend 4 or more each season will be rewarded with a jacket or other awesome coaching related material.
WSSL is committed to providing coaches with "feet on" training sessions with professional coaches. Sessions take place in an indoor gym on weekday evenings. See WSSL's Calendar for details. Clinics for coaches are offered by professional coaches in partnership with:
- The New York Red Bulls
- Manhattan Soccer Club
- New York Futsal
Advance Your Studies
Coaches who are gifted and passionate about the job are encouraged to share their gifts with others. WSSL needs more Coach Instructors who are willing to be certified, trained and to train others in pre-season courses or in more informal coaching clinics.
Here's some insight on the path to becoming a WSSL Coach Instructor:
- Complete the U8, U10 and U12 Coaching Courses
- Get recommended by the Regional Coach Trainer and Administrator
- Pass the Introduction to Instruction Course
- Pass the Coach Instruction Course