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 Concussion Awareness online, and must take the age appropriate level of certification training for the kids they are coaching in person.
Course lengths listed above are required, however WSSL courses may be longer due to consolidated materials and on field demonstrations.
You need to complete all of a course's sessions to be certified (this means the lecture AND the outdoor session - note there are two (2) outdoor sessions for intermediate u14 and older).
All coaches MUST register online at aysou.org to receive credit for the course. For instructions on how to register, click HERE.
Spring 2020 COACH CERTIFICATION COURSES:
6U Coach
Lecture: Saturday, March 28, 12:30 - 1:30 pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Practical: Saturday, March 28, 3:45 - 4:45 pm @ Riverside Park 107th Street Soccer Field
Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
Note: Please plan to bring a player to the outdoor session. Player needs a size 3 soccer ball and wear shinguards covered by soccer socks.
8U Coach
Lecture: Saturday, March 28, 1:30 - 2:30 pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Practical: Saturday, March 28, 3:45 - 4:45 pm @ Riverside Park 107th Street Soccer Field.
Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
Note: Please plan to bring a player to the outdoor session. Player needs a size 3 soccer ball and wear shinguards covered by soccer socks.
10U Coach
Lecture: Saturday, March 28, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street.
Practical: Saturday, March 28, 2:00 - 3:45 pm @ Riverside Park 107th Street Soccer Field.
Lecture Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
Practical Instructor: Rich Gendron (rggendro@gmail.com)
Note: Please plan to bring a player to the outdoor session. Player needs a size 4 soccer ball and wear shinguards covered by soccer socks.
12U Coach
ONLINE COURSE PREREQUISITE (Website: www.aysou.org)
Title: 12U Coaching Training Pre-course
Lecture: Saturday, March 28, 9:00 am - 11:00 am @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street.
Practical: Saturday, March 28, 12 noon - 1:45 pm @ Riverside Park 107th Street Soccer Field.
Lecture Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
Practical Instructor: Carlos Galvez (cgalvez465@gmail.com)
Note: Please plan to bring a player to the outdoor session. Player needs a size 4 soccer ball and wear shinguards covered by soccer socks.
Intermediate Coach (13U/14U/19U)
ONLINE COURSE PREREQUISITE (Website: www.aysou.org)
Lecture: Friday, March 27, 6:30 - 9 pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Practical/Evaluation: Sunday, March 29, 9 am - 12 noon @ Riverside Park 107th Street Soccer Field.
The Practical/Evaluation is a MANDATORY Intermediate level training session illustrating age-appropriate activities with a team of players. Each coach will run a MANDATORY training activity selected from a training plan they have created, based on a focus topic assigned during the lecture session. If the coach has been assigned to a Spring 2020 team, they should invite their players with the goal of having at least eight attend.
FALL 2019 COACH CERTIFICATION COURSES:
Playground Activity Leader (U5)
Not offered this fall.
Leader: Alan Leverenz
6U Coach
Lecture: Wednesday, 9/4 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street.
Practical: Sunday, 9/8 - 9:00am - 10:00am @ Riverside Park 107th Street Field.
Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
8U Coach
Lecture: Wednesday, 9/4 - 8:00pm - 9:00pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street.
Practical: Saturday, 9/7 - 9:30am - 10:30am @ Riverside Park 107th Street Field.
Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
10U Coach
Lecture: Saturday, 9/7 - 8:00am - 9:30am @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street.
Practical: Saturday, 9/7 - 10:30pm -12:00 pm @ Riverside Park 107th Street Field.
Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
Assistant: Rich Gendron (rggendro@gmail.com)
12U Coach
Lecture: Friday, 9/6 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street.
Practical: Saturday, 9/7 - 12:00pm - 2:00pm @ Riverside Park 107th Street Field.
Instructor: Alan Leverenz (awleverenz@aol.com)
Assistant: Carlos Galvez (cgalvez465@gmail.com)
Intermediate Coach (13U/14U/19U)
Lecture: Saturday, 9/7 - 3:30pm-6:00pm @ The Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Practical/Evaluation: Sunday, 9/8 - 10:00am-1:00pm @ Riverside Park 107th Street field
This is a MANDATORY Intermediate level training session illustrating age-appropriate activities with a team of players.
Each coach will run a MANDATORY training activity selected from a training plan they have created, based on a focus topic assigned during the lecture session. If the coach has been assigned to a Fall 2019 team, they should invite their players with the goal of having at least eight attend.
Safe Haven and Concussion Awareness for All Coach Volunteers
To ensure the safety of both children and volunteers, each coach is required to take two short online training sessions called Safe Haven and CDC Concussion Awareness. Safe Haven 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. A background check is also required of all coach and assistant coach volunteers.
Once the background check is complete (you will get an email notification from Sterling Volunteers - typically within 24-48 hours of submitting the request), go to www.aysou.org and log in with the same credentials you use for our wssl in-league website. Choose "Online Courses" from the top menus, select the course you want by clicking the blue "open" button to the right and then launch each course to take and complete.
We ask that every volunteer take the in person Safe Haven and Concussion Awareness courses at least once during their WSSL volunteer career. Coaches and assistant coaches should renew their familiarity with the Safe Haven and Concussion Awareness materials each year.
All Coaches & Assistant Coaches Must Be Registered
All referees and assistant referees must be registered with AYSO national. This is done by updating your adult profile on your WSSL in-league account. After logging in, click on Player and Volunteer Registration from the top menus. That will take you to your family profile page. Update the adult profile for the volunteer and check the volunteer box for Coach or Assistant Coach.
Backgrounds are checked by Sterling Volunteers, a vendor hired by AYSO national, to ensure the safety of our children. Your information will not be shared with any third party.
If you are having trouble 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.
Advance Your Studies or Become a Coach Instructor!
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.
To become a WSSL Coach Instructor: