GENERAL INFORMATION FOR COACHES

A coach can be the most influential person in a child's life.  For this reason, Positive Coaching is a fundamental philosphy in AYSO.  Soccer knowledge is a plus, but AYSO provides training and materials so that even a soccer novice can coach effectively.
 
All coaches must have filled out and submitted a Volunteer Application, completed Safe Haven and any required age-specific training, and attended a General Coaches Meeting before the start of the season in order to receive their team roster and equipment.

For the Fall season, coaches may start training sessions on August 1.  Games start after Labor Day.  The regular season typically ends in the middle of October.

AYSO recommends that teams have training sessions no more than twice a week.  When the season begins, each team will have two games per week, one on a weekday and one on Saturday.

GAME INFORMATION

The following is a brief overview of some of the age group specific rules.

AGE GROUP	U5	U6	U8	U10	U12	U14	U19
NUMBER PLAYERS		3 v 3	5 V 5	7 v 7	9 v 9	9 v 9	11 v 11
BALL SIZE	Size 3	Size 3	Size 3	Size 4	Size 4	Size 5	Size 5
LENGTH OF HALVES	10 Min.	15 min.	20 min.	25 min.	30 min.	35 min.	45 min.
OFFSIDE	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES
RETAKES WITH INSTRUCTION	YES	YES	YES	First 2 weeks Only	NO	NO	NO
GOALKEEPER	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES	YES	YES

COACH TRAINING

There are two parts to coach training.

One part is an online course that covers team management, safety, volunteer protection and AYSO's principles.  This course is known as Safe Haven. All coaches must have Save Haven training.  Once you are Safe Haven certified, you are not required to take the course again; however, you are always welcome to repeat the course for a refresher.

There is also age-specific training that covers soccer techniques, strategies, and teaching ideas appropriate to the age group.  Coaches in the U6, U8, and U10 divisions must have age-specific training.  Coaches in the upper divisions are encouraged to complete age-specific training and that training is mandatory for anyone coaching a team in the Cookie's Best Area Tournament and the Kit Carson All Star Tournament.

The U6, U8, and U10 coach training can be completed online. The U10 field requirement and all other coach training involves an in-person training clinic.

Training dates and times will be posted on the Training web page as they become available.

For more information or if at any time you need to speak to someone regarding the upcoming season, contact the Coach Administrator, Kyle Walt, at [email protected].