Certification

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.

  • Safe Haven (1-2 hours) -- required for all coaches and assistant coaches
  • Concussion Awareness (1 hour) -- required for all coaches and assistant coaches
  • Sudden Cardiac Arrest (15 minutes) -- required for all coaches and assistant coaches
  • U6 Coach (2 hours) -- required training for all teams in U6
  • U8 Coach (2 hours) -- required training for all teams in U8 and under
  • U10 Coach (3 hours) -- required training for all teams in U9 and U10
  • U12 Coach (5 hours)* -- required training for all teams in U11 and U12
  • Intermediate Coach (6 hours)* -- required training for all teams in U13 and U14
  • Advanced Coach (9 hours)* -- required training for all U19 teams
  • National Coach (Week long)

* 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 2022 COACH CERTIFICATION COURSES:

Fall 2022 coach certification schedule is finished. Thanks to all the coaches who updated their certifications.

 

SPRING 2023 COACH CERTIFICATION COURSES:

PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER FOR A SCHEDULE.

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.

  • Login to https://inleague.wssl.org and go to “Player and Volunteer Registration“
  • Complete the “User Accounts and Volunteer Registration” for MY2021
  • Once registration is completed and submitted, be on the lookout for an email from “Verified/Sterling Volunteers.” Follow the instructions in this message. It often goes to junk/spam, so be on the lookout there, too.  Your background check and AYSO registration will not be initiated until you complete the steps listed in the email message. 

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:

  • SafeSport - A Federal requirement for all volunteers who work with children in youth sports
  • AYSO’s Safe Haven – outlines the important elements around protecting our children and volunteers
  • CDC Concussion Awareness – understanding the signs and required actions for concussions
  • Sudden Cardiac Arrest - understanding the signs and required actions for sudden cardiac arrest

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:

  • 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