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Volunteering As A Coach

For the latest details and step-by-step instructions for registering as a volunteer and checking certification status, finding fingerprinting info, etc. please visit our VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION AND CERTIFICATION page.

Control your schedule! Don't forget Head Coaches get to request their preferred practice day, time and location (submit 3 choices).

COACHING IN 2023

ASSISTANCE FOR COACHES
HAVE A QUESTION? NEED HELP?
Please contact Regional Coach Administrator Corinne Briers ([email protected]) or visit our Board page for all Division Director contact info.

MENTORING
Want advice or mentoring? Contact Regional Coach Administrator Corinne Briers ([email protected]) .

AYSO'S Hey Coach! EMAIL
Hey Coach! is AYSO's bi-weekly newsletter for coaches and other coaching positions. Every other Tuesday, Hey Coach! will contain articles on coaching techniques, drills and other important news. Hey Coach! is also your opportunity to write in with any possible article suggestions. Sign up here.

COACH CORINNE'S "OFFICE HOURS" ZOOM
Regional Coach Administrator Corinne Briers will conduct Zooms for 6U-7U-8U coaches and 10U+ coaches to discuss topics, provide advice, ideas and allow coaches to learn from one another.

UK INTERNATIONAL COACHES FOR YOUR PRACTICES
AYSO Region 4 will be assigning UK International (UKI) to attend 2+ training sessions for you and your team. More details to follow later this Summer.

FAQs
Click here for a PDF document containing the most Frequently Asked Questions for Coaches.

LAWS AND GUIDELINES FOR PLAY
10U DIVISION - PLAYER DEVELOPMENT RULES (PDI)
Click here for the document on gameplay in 2023 for 10U. These are "must-know" details for 10U.

10U-14U LAWS OF THE GAME - REFEREE REVIEW NIGHT
Click here for the updated 2023 laws of the game to help you understand how referees call the game and how coaches and referees work together.

HOW TO QUALIFY FOR POST-SEASON PLAY
10U-14U POINTS POLICY (PDF)

PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Coaches must complete the practice request form from their Division Director - with their top 3 choices - selecting a day, time and field with each choice. The practice schedule request form will be sent out to all Head Coaches in May-June.

TURN IN THE TEAM ROLES/VOLUNTEER LIST
Link To Fill In Your Team Volunteer Roles (See above link to Google Form on this page)
Enter your entire list of team volunteers - this is required before you can select uniforms
Please make sure you have all positions below filled before starting to fill in the Google Form.
Note: Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Team Manager, Field Setup/Takedown & if 10U-19U Referee also, must be filled in - other positions are optional. You will want to have name and emails for all positions and cell phone # for all Head Coaches & Assistant Coaches.

Here's the Google Form (2023)
Here's a list of positions & their descriptions (2023)
PLEASE do not fill in this form until you have accounted for ALL volunteer positions for your team as listed on the sheet in your coach binder. You should enter cell phone and email for coaches. Other position do not need cell phone numbers. If a change must be made later in the season you can inform your Division Director. Coaches with multiple teams please fill out a form for each team.

The four team volunteer positions requiring registering as a volunteer are Head Coach, Assistant Coach, Team Manager and at least one Referee position. Other required/strongly suggested volunteer positions Goal set-up/take-down, Team Sponsor. Additional volunteer positions may include but are not limited to Team Banner, Regional Many Hand Helper, Team Party, Kids Zone Leader, and Team Safety.

IF AN INJURY OCCURS
Injury Incident Report (for when there is an injury at practices or games) (this also must be filled out if any player or coach tests positive for COVID)
Click here for our Injury Incident Report form. This form should be filled out by coaches to report any player or coach injuries. Please email completed form to ([email protected]). See below for returning to play if injury or COVID results in missed practice or game time.

Return to Play Form - must be filled out when a player or coach returns from injury or COVID positive test.

CONDUCT ISSUES AT FIELDS
Coach Incident Report (for issues or disagreements on gamedays)
Click here for our Coach Incident Report to be used by coaches to report disagreements with officiating. Please email the completed form to your Division Director.

Referee Assistance System For Referees For 10U-14U Teams
All teams in 10U-12U-14U will need to earn a minimum of nine (9) referee points (1 per game) as referee or assistant referee to be eligible for playoffs (impacting referees working for teams in 10U-14U). In order for post-season teams to be eligible to advance in the bracket team referees must also work at least one opening round match in the Region 4 playoffs.
Also note, anyone 12 or older can be trained and represent a team as their referee. Email [email protected] for info related to youth referees.

6U & 7U PLAY FOR 2023 [2v2 & FULL GAME]

DRIBBLING SOCCER FOR 6U AND 7U
Click here for 6U Gameday document with explanations of Dribbling Soccer, 4v4 play and goal set up and take down.

Click here for 7U Gameday document will be revised to half-fiend play with explanations of Dribbling Soccer, 5v5 play and field set up.

GAME & PRACTICE SCHEDULES WILL POSTED ON THE SCHEDULES PAGE

QUICK REFERENCE

Schedules & Standings
Fields & Practice Layout
Important Forms/Medical Forms
2023 Practice Equipment Monitors
How to fill out game cards

Coach resources from AYSO

NATIONAL AYSO COACHING website
AYSO's The Coaches Clipboard resource page
AYSO's Coaching The Basics info page

Coach Training and Development 2023

Why take the Coaching Class?

These classes are for the appropriate division-level coach instruction.
Required for all Head Coaches 6U & 8U (strongly recommended for assistant coaches)
Required for all Head Coaches in 10U & 12U
Required for all Assistant Coaches in 10U & 12U (if you wish for your team to potentially participate in Area Playoffs where both coaches must be fully certified & trained).

Do I Need To Take A Coach Class Again?
Each age group/level has it's own required coach class. Once you take that class you do not need to retake it if you coach again in that division (coach sibling, grandkids, etc.).

6U is for 6U (in-person course recommended, online course on eTrainU accepted)

8U is for both 7U and 8U (in-person course recommended, online course on eTrainU accepted)

10U is for 10U (in-person course required)

12U is for 12U (in-person course required)

Intermediate is for 14U (Instructed at "Area" level, contact Division Director) (online on eTRainU and in-person)

Advanced is for 16U and 18/19U (Instructed at "Area" level, contact Division Director) (online on eTRainU and in-person)

FOR ALL REGION 4 COACHING CLASSES
Certificates last a lifetime. Each division specific class is a one-time requirement that is good your entire AYSO lifetime.
Note that if you need 12U the10U certification is a pre-requisite.
You should pre-register on eTrainU before attending to make sure you get on the course roster.
You must fully attend the entire class to get credit - please arrive before the start time.

For all classes please be prepared for classroom learning (bring pen and paper to take notes) and be prepared to participate in drills outdoors in coaching attire. Sunscreen and water is also recommended.

Dates and info (only attend one day)
July 15, 2023 (Saturday) - times subject to change
6U & 8U: 9am-12pm
10U & 12U: 9am-2pm
Location: Brookside Elementary, Oak Park - outdoor cafeteria seating
**Snacks and Lunch (for 10U-12U) will be provided
NOTE - the Region 4 fingerprinting session will also be July 30 at this same location.

July 30, 2023 (Sunday) - times subject to change
6U & 8U: 9am-12pm
10U & 12U: 9am-2pm
Location: Brookside Elementary, Oak Park - Multipurpose Room (indoor)
**Snacks and Lunch (for 10U-12U) will be provided

Sign up by logging in to eTrainU on your volunteer page - On eTrainU, go to "Live Events".
For details on how to view your certifications, navigate eTrainU and find and select classes visit our Parents & Volunteer page.

If you like you can alternatively attend an in-person course in another region that you may find on eTrainU ("Live Events").

Digital Coach Packet 2022

DIGITAL COACH PACKET
Here's the material for the initial Coach Meeting and the Digital Coach Packet for 2022.
It contains the following:
2022 Coach Meeting presentation [2023 pending]
2022 Digital version of the Coach Manual for the 2022 season [2023 pending]
2023 Team Sponsor forms for 6U, 7U & 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, 19U
Team Sponsor checks need to be given to Division Directors no later than Aug 13, 2023 - before you select uniforms.
2023 Practice Equipment Monitors Click on this link to sign up to be an opener or closer for the Region and you will have access to practice equipment for your field. If no coaches sign up to be opening and closing equipment monitors, you will need to provide your own equipment.

Advice For Coaches From AYSO Alums

Julie Foudy
AYSO Alum Foudy won two World Cups and two Olympics medals as one of the top players in U.S. soccer history. Advice for a first-time AYSO coach: First of all, I'd tell them they're not going to be an expert right away! They can read all the books in the world about the technical skills, but the most important thing is to create an environment where the kids feel comfortable and it's fun to learn. You don't have to turn them into an Abby Wambach or Landon Donovan...just let them have fun and love playing soccer!

Landon Donovan
AYSO Alum Donovan is a three-time World Cup veteran and is the all-time leader in both scoring and assisting goals for the national team. Advice for the first-time coach: One of my biggest pet peeves is youth team coaches who take winning too seriously. This has always bothered me, and I always tell coaches to forget about winning with young players. They need to create an environment where the kids enjoy playing and are developing their soccer skills. Winning should never be a priority.

Shannon Boxx
AYSO Alum Boxx has won both an Olympic Gold Medal and NCAA Division 1 College Cup for Notre Dame. The 2015 FIFA World Cup represents her fourth FIFA World Cup as a member of the U.S. National Team. Advice for a first-time AYSO coach: Make soccer fun for the kids and get them to enjoy it first, then teach them skills. The most important thing is to have fun on the soccer field; winning is not so important. If you teach the value of teamwork and you instill that early, that's what's important.