Rules for coaches / Annual certification

AYSO Region 33 Safe Haven Annual Certification Update

1. All AYSO coaches and referees are required to do the following: complete Safe Haven Certification, be properly trained in their jobs and be authorized to do their job by the appropriate AYSO authority.
2. The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 grants immunity for volunteers from civil suits for ordinary negligence BUT NOT those including offenses involving alcohol, tobacco products and drugs.
3. AYSO recommends that at least two adults be present when children are being supervised at AYSO events and that at least one adult be of the same gender as the children being supervised.
4. AYSO volunteers should avoid situations, including transporting youngsters in a car, in which they are alone with a child other than their own.
5. Some forms of touching children are acceptable as long as they are respectful and appropriate. STICK TO HIGH 5s!
6. Criticism of referee decisions is a part of sport which MUST be discouraged in young players. Lead by example!
7. Players emulate the behavior of adults at sporting events and develop lasting attitudes and values based on the behavior modeled by adults in youth sports.
8. Physical features such as sprinkler heads, goal posts, holes, standing water and mud may present significant hazards and should be corrected or otherwise identified.
9. The possibility of contracting a blood-borne disease such as HIV-AIDS or hepatitis B through athletic activity is extremely low.
10. The 5 basic philosophies of AYSO are Everyone Plays, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching and Good Sportsmanship.
11. The AYSO coaching philosophy recognizes children as individuals and advocates the development of the whole child.
12. Parents should be informed that risk is associated with playing sports.
13. Shinguards are mandatory NOT ONLY at games, but also at all practices.

14. Coaches need to take Player Registration (Medical Release) Forms to practices, games and any AYSO-sanctioned activity. Each coach should make three copies- one for the coach to put in his or her coaching bag, one for the Assistant coach and one for the team manager. Each copy needs to be re-signed in BLUE INK to render the copy a duplicate original.
15. The coach’s medical role is limited to injury prevention and first aid, not professional treatment or diagnosis.
16. First Aid is the immediate treatment given before regular medical care is available.
17. The coach should treat each athlete as an individual with unique needs.
18. The benefits of athletics for youth are not limited to their physical development and include their social and emotional growth.
19. Practices are limited to one hour per week in U7-U8 and no more than 3 hours per week spread over no more than 2 days in U10-U19.
20. COACHES ARE EXPECTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT RESPECT AND POSITIVE REGARD FOR OTHERS (PLAYERS, PARENTS, COACHES, REFEREES, SPECTATORS AND VOLUNTEERS) ARE ESSENTIAL FOR A QUALITY SPORTS EXPERIENCE.