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, Concussion Awareness, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest courses online, and take the age appropriate level of certification training for the age group they are coaching in person.
* The 12U, Intermediate, and Advanced Coach courses include an online pre-course prerequisite that must be completed before enrolling in the in-person course.
The in-person coach certification courses are broken into a lecture session and an outdoor practical session. Both must be completed in order to be certified.
All coaches MUST enroll in an in-person course at eTrainU to receive credit. eTrainU calls an in-person course an "event." For instructions on how to enroll in an event, click HERE.
FALL 2025 COACH CERTIFICATION COURSES
To enroll in an in-person class, go to the eTrainU login page on the WSSL website after logging in (click on the Graduation Cap icon at the top). Click on the green "Login to AYSOU (eTrainU)" button which will load your eTrainU Dashboard. Click on "Training Event" in the left sidebar to bring up the calendar. Click on the course/date you wish to enroll.
To enroll in an online pre-requisite course in AYSOU, from the eTrainU Dashboard select "Training Library." Once you start an online course it is moved to the My Trainings sidebar in the Dashboard. This applies to the 12U, 14U, and 16U courses.
6U COACH (for 6U coaches)
Lecture session
Saturday Sept 6, 8:45 AM - 10:00 AM.
Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor session
Saturday, Sept 6, 11:00 AM - 12 NOON
Riverside Park 107th Street Field
8U COACH (for 7U and 8U coaches)
Lecture session
Saturday Sept 6, 10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor session
Saturday, Sept 6, 12:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Riverside Park 107th Street Field
10U COACH (9U and 10U coaches)
Lecture session
Saturday Sept 6, 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor session
Saturday, Sept 6, 2:15 PM - 3:45 PM
Riverside Park 107th Street Field
12U COACH (11U and 12U coaches)
Lecture session
Saturday Sept 6, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor session
Saturday, Sept 6, 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Riverside Park 107th Street Field
14U INTERMEDIATE COACH (13U and 14U coaches)
Lecture session
Friday, Sept 5, 7 PM - 9 PM
Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Coach Evaluation
Sunday, Sept 7, 9 AM - 12 NOON
Riverside Park 107th Street Field
16U ADVANCED COACH (19U coaches)
Lecture session
Thursday, Sept 4, 7 PM - 9 PM
Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Match Observation
Sunday, Sept 7, 5 PM
Sports Illustrated Stadium
Gotham vs Angel City
Match Analysis Presentation
Wednesday, Sept 10, 7 PM - 9 PM
Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Background Check, SafeSport, Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest
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.
First, register with AYSO and complete the annual background check.
Register for all in-person and online courses by logging in to eTrainU, our training website:
From any inLeague page, look for the eTrainU Graduation Cap Icon on the top-right. Click on that icon, and then click on the Login to eTrainU button on the next page. There are no separate credentials; you log in to inLeague first and then go to AYSOU from there.
Compliance courses required of all volunteers:
To take SafeSport, login to your WSSL account. Click the "Graduation Cap" icon at the top of the page. Near the bottom of the page that loads, click on the SafeSport URL link at the bottom. On the SafeSport website, complete your account setup, and then take the course.
If you haven't taken the online Safe Haven or Concussion Awareness since 2011, login to eTrainU and complete these online. You can find them by clicking on the “Training Library” link and browsing the courses in the Safe Haven category. There is a "refresher" SafeSport course for those who have taken the original.
We ask that every volunteer take the in person Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest courses at least once during their WSSL volunteer career. Coaches and assistant coaches should renew their familiarity with the Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest materials each year.
All Coaches & Assistant Coaches Must Be Registered
All coaches 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 coach education clinics each season. Coaches who attend four 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. 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: