Helpful Links & External Resources
Check out the many resources available to AYSO Coaches including coaching information, tools, documents and forms, suppliers, and important contact information.
Official Game Cards
Ask The Coach
Coach Training Games
Training Matrix
Rules & Regulations
Online Training
eAYSO Courses
How to Cross-Certify as a Coach from USSF to AYSO
Practice Evaluation Form
U-14 & Above Evaluation Form
Documents and Forms
2010 Documents
2010 Referee Zero Tolerance Policy Form
Team Volunteer Form
July 14, 2010 coaches meeting Powerpoint presentation
2010 Fall Coach Manual
2010 Rules Matrix
2010 Referee Policy - Certification, classes, and team requirements
2009 Documents
2009 MDSA Discipline Policy
2009 MDSA Coach / Assistant Coach Agreement
AYSO Certification Policy
Division Coordinator job description
MDSA Referee Abuse Zero-Tolerance Policy Form
Offside Video Trainer
On-line Under-8 & Under-10 Coach Certificate Courses
PowerPoint Presentation
Safe Haven On-line
Soccer Accident Insurance (SAI) Claim Form with instructions:
For Injuries occurring on and after July 1, 2009.
SAI Brochure 2009 (English) - PDF format
SAI Brochure 2009 (Spanish) - PDF format
SAI Claim Form with Instructions 2009 (English) - PDF Format
Incident Report Form:
(Accident report)
The AYSO Incident Report Form is used whenever there is a personal injury, damaged property, or threats of or actual physical violence surrounding an AYSO game, practice, event or property. The form should be prepared by the Coach, AYSO Official, or other AYSO Volunteer. The form may also be prepared by a member of the regional staff such as the regional safety director, or by tournament or event staff members.
Incident Report Form with Instructions
Contact Information
To schedule practices please contact: fields@mdsoccer.org
For Medical Release Form (MRF) questions please contact: commish@mdsoccer.org
Interested in being an MDSA Coach?
Coaches are the heart of Mt. Diablo Soccer because as a coach you have the most contact with the kids during the season. Coaching requires a significant commitment of your time for coach training, practice sessions and preparing for scheduled matches, but it can be a very rewarding experience. Mt. Diablo Soccer appreciates your time, and will provide you with the training, advice, and whatever assistance you need to make your coaching experience a positive one.
It's FUN.
It's a great break from work.
It makes you feel good.
It's a great way to put something back into the community.
The rewards come in the form of watching the kids have fun at a game or practice, watching each player improve their soccer skills. There is also a great sense of accomplishment when you reach the end of a season and look back and see how far each player has developed.
Coaches have to put in a lot of work during the course of the season: in most divisions 2 practices per week, a game on Saturday and preparation time for each practice. Over the course of an 12 week season this is well over 50 hours of volunteer work. While there are other volunteer positions that require more time, coaching provides the greatest opportunity for you to have fun!
And for those who have "serious" jobs, there is no better way to regain your perspective than to watch a bunch of 5 year olds at practice.
There are generally three types of coaches:
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Social Oriented
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Task Oriented
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Goal Oriented
The social coach wants to go out and have a good time. If the kids want to have fun at practice (and not work on dribbling for 40 minutes), that's no problem. The social coach enjoys meeting the parents on Saturday morning. This may be the case for some parent coaches who did not grow up playing soccer.
The task oriented coach is looking to see players develop their soccer skills over the course of a season. Many coaches who played soccer as kids and/or adults, tend to be somewhat task oriented, since they have the skills that they want to share.
The goal oriented coach wants to see results. Sometimes this means winning on the score board, but it can often mean that the coach wants to see the team show some level of improvement as a team.
Of course, most coaches have some degree of the three characteristics listed above, but if you have no soccer skills and just want to be a social coach, attending a coaching clinic will help you gain enough knowledge to get by. If you already have the soccer skills, but are scared of working with a group of kids, we will give you some ideas about running a practice and having fun.
For those who are interested, a high school or college-aged assistant coach can be terrific role model for young players, since (s)he has typically grown up playing the game. We do require that an adult (or at least someone over 18) be at every game and practice, but Mt. Diablo Soccer strongly encourages youth coaches.
The coach side of the organization is managed by the regional coach administrator, with help from the coach coordinators, whose primary responsibility is the recruiting and training of coaches in the region. The coaches in each age group will have direct contact with their Division Coordinator, who serve as the primary point of contact between the teams and the region.
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Attend pre-season and mid-season coach meetings.
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Attend pre-season coach training offered at no cost by the region.
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Complete Safe Haven training prior to working with players. (This is a one-time, mandatory obligation.)
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Hold pre-season meeting with families. (Introductions, roster and schedule distribution. Discuss expectations.)
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Solicit volunteers, especially assistant coach, team referee, and team representative.
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Conduct pre-season and mid-season practices.
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Complete player evaluations. (U8-U14 divisions only.)
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Ensure the kids all have fun!
