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 2022 COACH CERTIFICATION COURSES:
All lecture sessions held at Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street.
Outdoor sessions are held on Riverside Park fields R101 and R107 for various age groups.
6U Coach (for 6U coaches)
Saturday, September 10
Lecture: 8:30 - 9:30 am @ Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Instructor: Alan Leverenz
Sunday, September 11
Outdoor: 9:00 - 10:00 am, R107
Instructor: David Schiff
8U Coach (for 7U & 8U coaches) - Saturday, September 10
Lecture: Sat 9:45 - 10:45 am @ Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor: 11:45 am - 12:45 pm, R101
Instructors: David Schiff
10U Coach (for 9U & 10U coaches) - Saturday, September 10
Lecture: Sat 11:00 am - 12:30 pm @ Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor: 1:30 - 3:15 pm, R101
Instructors: Alan Leverenz, Rich Gendron
12U Coach (for 11U & 12U coaches) - Saturday, September 10
Lecture: Sat 12:45 - 2:45 pm @ Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor: 3:30 - 5:30 pm. R101/107. (Session will include a mentoring session for 2 coaches running an activity)
Pre-requisite: 12U Coaching Training Pre-Course, on eTrainU.org website.
Instructors: Alan Leverenz, Carlos Galvez
Intermediate Coach (for 13U & 14U coaches) - Friday evening, Sep 9 & Sunday, Sep 11
Lecture: Friday 7 pm @ Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor Evaluations: Sunday 9 am - 11:00 am, R107
Outdoor Evaluations: Sunday 11:30 pm - 1:30 pm, R107
Pre-requisite: Intermediate Coach Pre-Course, on the eTrainU.org website.
Instructors: Alan Leverenz, Rich Gendron
Advanced Coach (for 16U - 19U coaches) - Thursday evening, Sep 8 & Sunday, Sep 11
Lecture: Thursday 7 pm @ Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
Outdoor Match and Player Evaluation: Sunday 2 pm - 3 pm, R107
Session Analysis, Preparation and Test: Sunday 3 pm - 5 pm, R101 Field House
Pre-requisite: Advanced Coach Pre-Course, on the eTrainU.org website.
Instructors: Alan Leverenz
Continuing Coach Education (attending coaches will get Volunteer Points)
Simplified Games for Developing Players - Monday evening, Sep 12
Lecture: 7 pm @ Unity Center, 213 W 58th Street
This session will also cover new research in how players learn to move and develop sport-specific skills, touching on the relationship between perception and action, and why dribbling around cones may not be as effective as playing 1v1. This will also include onboarding information on the Mojo app.
SPRING 2023 COACH CERTIFICATION COURSES:
PLEASE CHECK BACK LATER FOR A SCHEDULE.
Safe Haven, Concussion Awareness, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest 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.
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:
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.
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: