“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” 

The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) requires a variety of certifications and training to ensure the safety of children and volunteers, and to help coaches understand AYSO's philosophies and risk management:

Required for All Adult Volunteers

Volunteers need to have their own account at www.ayso75.org with a unique email address.  

- Creating an Account for First Time Users
- Tutorial on How to Create an Account
- Be sure that you use your legal name when creating your account to ensure an accurate background check. 

- Register as a Volunteer
- Tutorial on How to Register as a Volunteer

- Risk Status/Background Check
- First Time Users: Risk Status through Sterling Volunteers
- Returning Volunteers: Renewing and Updating Your Background Check through Sterling Volunteers

- Complete Certifications
- Enroll and Complete Certifications in AYSOU
- Need to complete the following certifications:
- AYSOs Safe Haven
- CDC Concussion
- Sudden Cardiac Arrest
- SafeSport
- Special Instructions on how to complete the SafeSport training - Use the directions for Sports Connect Users
- Class title: SafeSport Trained - U.S. Soccer Federation

- California Mandated Fingerprinting (Live Scan)
- California AB 506 requires that all volunteers in youth sports complete a Live Scan (fingerprinting) background check. 
- Live Scans are not transferable so even if you have completed one before for another organization/job, you are required to complete another one specifically for AYSO. 
- Instructions will be provided when the volunteer is ready to complete the Live Scan.

How to Register as a New Youth Volunteer in Sports Connect

To register a new Youth Volunteer requires an email address not previously used in Sports Connect; this is due to the SSO requirements which use email as the Username. Typically, if the Youth is also a player, they are registered as a participant under their parent's account linked to the parent's email address.

Using the Youth's email, create login credentials in the local Sports Connect registration portal, click Register Now. Follow steps to complete the registration process selecting the appropriate program from the available volunteer programs.

Youth volunteers are not required to complete Risk Management or Fingerprint scan but will show a Blue Background Check Status until their 18th birthday, at which time they will receive an invitation from the background check provider to complete a background check. 

Youth volunteers are required to complete AYSOs Safe Haven, CDC Concussion, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest certifications. Youth volunteers cannot supervise other minors on their own


Any questions regarding volunteer certifications can be directed to:  [email protected]