Pleasant Hill/Martinez Soccer Association

Volunteer Roles (Details below)

Coaching
Referee
Parent Volunteers
Division Coordinators
Board Member Roles

Coaching

Schedules and attends one practice during the week and Saturday games
Brings soccer balls, cones and other equipment to each practice and game
Plans and organizes practice drills
Uniform distribution
Plans game rosters so that everyone plays

1. Attend team organization night with the assistant coach before the season begins;
2. Attend the age appropriate coaching course for training on how to coach or as a refresher on AYSO philosophy;
3. Attend uniform/equipment distribution night prior to a season to receive team uniforms, equipment, and a playing schedule;
4. Conduct appropriate training sessions;
5. Promote the AYSO philosophy;
6. Support the Regional Commissioner;
7. Cooperate with the Regional Coach Administrator on all coaching matters;
8. Support the division (age group) coordinator;
9. Distribute practice and game schedules to parents;
10. Conduct a parent meeting;
11. Teach age appropriate skills;
12. Follow Safe Haven guidelines and principles;
13. Provide player evaluations to the division coordinators at the end of the season;
14. Carry out other team tasks as necessary; and
15. Have FUN!

Tips
· Take a bit of time before the season and before each game to be organized
· Planning the practice drills will make practice go smoother
· Do not be afraid to ask parents to step up and help you! Team site and communications, setup and tear down, team events, game cards, shade shelters and benches. The more engaged parents are the more team energy you will have
· Communicate to the players and parents as far in advance as possible. If a coach is going to miss a game or practice, everyone wants to know in advance
· Consider putting together the lineups together for each quarter in advance of each game. This will make the games go smoother and ensure that everyone plays

Referees

Completes technical training certification (typically 2 evenings and part of a weekend day) before the season starts
Completes annual online volunteer training, concussion training, and background check
Gets login for the online ref scheduler and self schedules for games
Flexible schedule - Referees can pick their own schedule! You are not pre-scheduled for games or required to do specific games!
Great exercise and the best seat in the house!

https://ayso.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/vol_referee5834.pdf
1. Support the AYSO National Referee Program in both specifics and spirit;
2. Attend regional referee meetings before and during the season as required;
3. Attend specific referee training courses to develop refereeing skills;
4. Attend referee refresher courses (continuing education training) as necessary to maintain AYSO rules, the FIFA Law knowledge, and to become familiar with changes;
5. Officiate matches to which he/she is assigned according to the AYSO rules, the FIFA Laws and prevailing guidelines;
6. Keep a record of each match he/she officiates and make special reports as necessary;
7. Support the AYSO philosophies;
8. Support the regional commissioner and staff;
9. Cooperate with the regional referee administrator and referee staff on issues pertaining to refereeing;
10. Present a healthy environment and model by refraining from consuming alcoholic beverages or using tobacco products in the immediate vicinity of the soccer fields; and
11. Carry out any other refereeing tasks as necessary.

Tips
· Plan your schedule ahead of time
· Make sure your uniform and gear are ready the day before
· Arrive 45 minutes before game time, especially for the early games
· Plan the order and timing of the pre-game field and team inspections
· Take a few minutes to review the soccer rules and visualize game scenarios to be prepared to make good calls
· Introduce yourself to the coaches, team and other referees first. Remembering the coaches names will give you an edge when dealing with them!
· Ask the players if they are ready to have fun and encourage them
· Bring lots of water, sunscreen
· Have fun! Seriously

Team Parent Volunteers

Organize field setup/teardown
Organize post-game field clean up
Team site (Shutterfly / TeamSnap)
- Post the game and practice schedules to the site
- Communicate and coordinate team photo day
- Communicate “Silent Saturday”
- Schedule post season picnic/pizza party
- Coordinate setup/take down assignments
Bring team tent/shelter and bench to games
Field setup/teardown for first or last games of the day
Design and purchase the team banner and bring it to the games (generally for 10U age groups and younger)
Assist in distributing team jerseys
Organize team events/parties

Division Coordinator

Coordinates all of the teams in each age group / gender
(6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 14U, 16-19U)Uniforms and equipment
Communicates to the coaches
Fills in when needed
Field setup / Knaack boxes

1. Organize and chair team formation night with all coaches and assistant coaches to review evaluations and modify as necessary;
2. Separate players by age and skill levels and form BALANCED teams;
3. Ensure each team has a coach, an assistant coach, a team representative;
4. Generate complete team rosters (players, coaches, assistant coaches);
5. Ensure uniforms are properly distributed;
6. Schedule divisional games and fields;
7. Collect scores and standing to distribute appropriate plaques and trophies to teams for tournaments and regular season play;
8. Organize and schedule any make-up games if necessary;
9. Ensure all coaches complete player evaluation forms and collect forms by end of regular season;
10. Ensure evaluations fairly reflect demonstrated abilities of players;
11. Turn in player evaluations to regional commissioner; and
12. Serve as a liaison between regional commissioner, coaches, referees and parents regarding any questions, problems, or general information throughout the season.

Board member positions

Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Registrar
Secretary
Treasurer
Auditor
Safety Director
Coach Administrator
Referee Administrator
Child & Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA)

PHMSA Volunteering Stories (see below)

Other Volunteer Resources
MY AYSO STORY
https://ayso.org/get-involved/volunteer/

VOLUNTEER STORY - REFEREE AND COACH

Nancy Gerber
National Referee, Intermediate Coach, Referee Instructor

What made you become a referee?
At the team meeting for my son’s first year in 8U, the coach stated that we needed referees and wouldn’t move on to the next item in the meeting until we had two referees. I volunteered even though I knew nothing about soccer. Over the years I upgraded my certification as my son moved up in age groups until I had reached the highest level of AYSO referee certification.

Why do you keep refereeing? Most referees only last three games.
I’m not sure why I kept up with it, other than I’m too stubborn to quit and I hate it when people don’t follow the rules, players included. As I got more experienced, I started to enjoy it. There’s both a mental and a physical component that I like, and I’ve learned so much about soccer over the years. I also like that I’m contributing to the league and taking a burden off of someone else.

What was your biggest challenge?
Confidence at first. Since I came in knowing nothing about soccer, it was easy for me to feel that I didn’t know what I was doing, and I was very susceptible to criticism from parents and coaches. The game seemed to go by so quickly and my brain always seemed a step behind. Now that I’m more experienced much of the basics come naturally and I can focus on more subtle aspects of refereeing, which makes it mentally more satisfying. At the younger ages, I really enjoy helping the kids learn the rules and develop of love of the “beautiful game.”

Volunteer Story - Coach

James Plato
Coach

What made you become a coach?
I got into coaching because, after playing AYSO (PHMSA to be specific) for my entire life, I felt as though I could give back to the league. Not having any kids in the league, it was rewarding to give back to all the parents and volunteers throughout the league.

Why do you keep coaching?
I look forward to continuing to coach because it is so rewarding to see the kids enjoy playing a game that I am so passionate about and to help shape the youth for the future.

What was your biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge I came across was ensuring that referee time slots were filled. I wasn't the best with checking the ref scheduler each week. If the time slots weren't filled, it could add some last minute stress to the weekend.

VOLUNTEER STORY - COACH AND DIVISION COORDINATOR

Robyn Sekel
Coach

What made you become a coach?
I had played soccer starting at age 5 and played until my kids started school. When my son started playing 6U, I never dreamed of coaching but wanted to help out so I signed up to referee and did that through 8U. I enjoyed being a referee and learned a different aspect of soccer that you don't get when just playing. Then my daughter started playing 8U and had two wonderful coaches that made coaching look fun, so I started to get the itch. The following year, my daughter moved up to 10U and I decided to coach her team. Then the call came from my son's 12U Division that they needed coaches, so I coached his team as well. I thought "I might as well jump in all the way" and I haven't looked back since.

Why do you keep coaching?
I enjoy being on the field teaching these kids, not just soccer skills, but what it takes to play on a team, how to get joy, not by scoring, but when players can string together multiple passes, when they lead each other on the field and hold their heads up high, even when they lose. It's so rewarding to see how they improve from the first practice to the last game and how excited they get when on the field.

What was your biggest challenge?
If practices and game line-ups are prepared ahead of time, then there aren't too many challenges. When your goal is to have fun on the field and know that the kids just want to play, then it's great. There are going to be days when the players (at any age) are not going to listen and are restless but there are going to be the fantastic days when it all clicks. I guess if there is a challenge, it's the parents who get a bit too competitive when it's really to just develop the kids and have fun.

VOLUNTEER STORY - REFEREE AND COACH

Mike Borges
Intermediate Referee and Coach

What made you become a referee?
There was a points system in our first year of soccer where the parents were required to volunteer for various roles and referee seemed to be something I could do and fit my need for a flexible schedule.
Why do you keep refereeing? Most referees only last three games.
It started to grow on me. I didn’t grow up dreaming to become a referee, but I realized that I could do it after a few 8U games. After a while, I realized that I was learning to communicate more confidently, clearly and decisively which helped me at work and with my kids. Learning to manage games helped me understand the value of being more organized. I could feel a difference when I was not as prepared and it made me realize that games are better and everyone wins when you are prepared. It was a personal challenge to up my game in that area. You know that what you are doing is really worth it when parents, kids and coaches genuinely thank you after games.
What was your biggest challenge?
Center refereeing my first 10U game. It was actually an accident, as I signed up to be an assistant referee for a 10U girls game. There was no center referee so I stepped up. 8U and below games are simple and fun and the parents and coaches are going to be happy as long as the kids are having fun and not getting hurt. However, there is a clear step up in the expectations for knowing the rules when you do 10U games. I must have done okay as no one yelled at me. Doing more games and sticking with it, even when there are tough moments, is the key. It takes practice, repeatedly seeing game action, to identify correct calls and understanding the flow of the game. Figure out your pace, such as doing more games as an assistant referee and observing experienced referees vs. jumping right into a center referee role can help build your confidence.