Click here for instructions on how to register for an in-person Coach or Referee Training Course.
For more advanced courses and for Albuquerque AYSO also has training.
AYSO 104 Training
Coaching Training Class Info
AYSO offers coach training for every age group. The various levels are as follows and each one has its own course: U-6, U-8, U-10, U-12, Intermediate, Advanced and National. Typically, EMSL offers U6-U12 coach training, combining some classes for the older age levels. Intermediate and Advanced classes are typically offered for EMSL by Region 104 in Albuquerque.
AYSO's U-6, U-8, U-10, and U-12 courses are all considered “stand-alone” courses, meaning that you may take any one of them without having taken any prior courses. The U-12 course then becomes the prerequisite for taking the Intermediate course, which is the prerequisite for taking the Advanced course, which is the prerequisite for taking the National course. In-person training takes about this long:
U-6 Coach - 2 hours
U-8 Coach - 2 hours
U-10 Coach - 3 hours
U-12 Coach - 5 hours
Intermediate Coach - 15 hours
Advanced Coach - 18 hours
National Coach - 56+ hours
Coaching Requirements
All of our teams have volunteer coaches. As a coach you will motivate, congratulate, teach, encourage, drill, console, strategize, lead, and mentor a small group of children or young adults for 10 weeks. Even if you have no soccer experience, AYSO will help teach you the principles of the game and how to coach kids to have fun and learn soccer. You'll learn about the game and you'll likely love it so much you'll become a coach next year.
The rewards come in the form of watching the kids have fun at a game or practice, and watching their individual skills and teamwork improve. There is also a great sense of accomplishment when you reach the end of a season and look back and see how far the team has come.
And for those who have "serious" jobs, there is no better way to regain your perspective than to watch a bunch of 7-year-olds at practice.
Training (
www.aysotraining.org)
U-5, U-6, U-8, and U-10 coaches need to take online Safe Haven training (60-70 min), online Concussion Awareness training (45-60 min), and the appropriate online coach course (20-40 min). Coaches then need to do in-person field training in the East Mountains or in Albuquerque (2 hours). Coaches are then AYSO certified. U-12 and up coaches require more in-person training. While not required, it is highly recommended that coaches take the intermediate coach training, especially if they plan on coaching EXTRA or AYSO United teams.
Time Commitment
Coaches have to put in a lot of work during the course of the season: one practice per week, plus a game on Saturday, plus preparation time for each practice, plus general administrative work. Over the course of an 8-week season this can take from 15-45 hours of work, depending on the age level. While other volunteer positions require more or less time, coaching provides the greatest opportunity for you to have fun!
Questions/Issues/Concerns