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become an ayso coach today!

Join the Youth Soccer Volunteer Community - Become an AYSO Coach Today!

Join the AYSO volunteer family and help grow our local Prescott soccer community. As an AYSO coach, you’ll give children the opportunity to learn, play, and fall in love with the game of soccer in a safe, supportive, and fun environment. You’ll teach skills, encourage teamwork, and build confidence, all while inspiring young athletes to reach their potential as players, teammates, and individuals. By volunteering, you’re not just coaching a team, you’re helping strengthen the community, creating positive experiences for kids, and fostering a lifelong love of soccer.

new ayso volunteers start here!

Step 1: Register as an AYSO Volunteer!

The first step to becoming an AYSO volunteer is to visit the AYSO Region 172's Sports Connect portal and click on "Register Now." For First Time Volunteers: You'll need to create a new account by entering your email address, setting a password, and clicking "Create Account" to proceed with the registration process.

Please Note: If you would like to coach your child’s team, please register as a volunteer while registering your player.

Become an AYSO Region 172 Volunteer

VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION CONTACT
If interested in coaching, feel free to contact our Coach Administrator with any questions!

Region 172 Coach Administrator
Email: [email protected]

age-division coach certifications

Age-Division Coach Requirements
Registered Volunteers: Access Age-Division Coach Certification Online through AYSOU. Learn how to access AYSOU through your Region portal!

Playground / Schoolyard	Playground and Schoolyard Activity Leader Online or FULL in-person
6U	6U online or in-person
8U	8U online or in-person
10U	10U in-person; attend one of two in-person dates. Register for the course in your AYSOU account.
12U	12U online, 12U in-person; attend one of two in-person dates. Register for the course in your AYSOU account.
Intermediate (14U)	14U online, 14U in-person; attend the in-person date at Kuebler Park Note:Completion of 12U Coaching Course is required
Advanced (19U)	19U online, 19U in-person Note: Completion of Intermediate Coaching Course is required

Course dates not yet announced. More information to come.

before the season begins

Training: Ensure all of the required coach training is complete

Equipment: Ensure that you have gathered the proper equipment (cones, whistle, clipboard, etc.)

Goals: Put together a list of goals for each practice and the season as a whole

Parent meeting: Schedule a meeting with your team's parents (ex. at the first pra) and review the following:
- Introduce yourself and go over season goals.
- If you don't have an assistant, ask parents for help. Any person who coaches the kids needs to be certified and a registered volunteer!
- Collect contact info from parents, including a cell phone number
- Hand out or email parents game schedules. Game schedules are located on this website.
- Discuss parent conduct.
- Discuss proper player equipment: cleats, shin guards, sports wear
- Explain your style of coaching
- Go over the Laws of the Game
- Ask for volunteers to help with the season. You can use volunteers for a snack schedule, end of season party planning, etc.

general practice format

Activity	Duration
Warm-up and/or fitness: Introduce the Session Topic/Focus	10-15 minutes
Small-Sided Activity: 1v1 to 3v3	15 minutes
Expanded Small-Sided Activity: 3v3 to 9v9	15 minutes
Small-Sided Scrimmage: Coach in a game-like environment	15 minutes
Free Play/Open Scrimmage: Limited coaching interactions	15-20 minutes
* with water breaks: 10 minutes per Practice	Approx: 90 minutes

Your AYSO Manuals are great resources for practice drills
Skills to work on: Dribbling, Shooting, Passing, Attacking, Defending, Field Positions, Throw-ins, and Set Pieces (Corner Kicks, Foul Kicks, Kick-offs).
Arrive early to practice to set-up the field
Teach the Laws of the Game applicable for small sided games format
Follow AYSO Safe Haven guidelines: do not allow anyone on the field that is not authorized. Two certified adults are required on the field at all times. At least one adult must be the same gender as the players
Do not allow anyone to coach the players unless they are certified by AYSO
After practice do not leave unless all players have been picked up

end of season

Make sure you rate each player on your team. This will help with balancing teams for the next season.
Participation prizes are given to every AYSO player
Try to have some sort of team gathering where you can conclude the season and hand-out medals

terminology

Visit the Terminology page to review Coaching Language and Terminology!

game day

Bring extra equipment like shin guards, keeper jersey, keeper gloves
Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the game
Have a game plan. Know which players are in which position on the field
Your game strategy should be focused on player development, not just winning the game
Try to keep the game fair for both teams. If your team is up 4-0 in the first quarter, think about pulling back your attack
Try not to argue referee calls, it sets a bad example for the players. Team captains can respectfully question referee calls on the field
Emphasize sportsmanship on the field
Try to allow players to make their own mistakes on the field
Keep your sideline in order. Make sure parents are 3-4 feet back from the sideline. Make sure spectators are not coaching, arguing with referee calls, or interfering with the game.
After the game, regardless of the outcome, shake the hands of the opponent and referees
If a coach has a question or concern regarding another coach, a referee, or a parent, please contact the Coach Administrator or visit the Information Tent at the Fields on Saturday.