Welcome Coaches

To 1508 and to the Spring 2026 Season!!

1508 Staff

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Introduction of Board Members

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Who Does What, Who Do I Call, and

How Can I Become Involved?

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FOLLOW THE CHAIN OF COMMAND:

Division Coord.> Coach Admin> RC

Coaching Requirements

AYSO National Child Protection regulations requires all coaching staff to:

• Complete the Safe Haven Program training
• Complete relevant Coaching Courses (both online and in person before the season starts)

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In Addition

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California HSC, AB-25/379/588/1639/2007/2127, and the Safe Sport Act require that all volunteers who have oversight of athletes:

• Complete CDC Concussion training
• Complete Sudden Cardiac Arrest training
• Complete California Safe Sport training
• Authorize a Background Check
• Complete Live Scan Fingerprinting

Region 1508 Policies & Procedures

Please make sure to review our region policies and procedures prior to the season start date. You can find them by going onto our website: www.ayso1508.com ; Coaches Corner; scroll down to Division Guidelines. They will also be emailed out to all coaches.

If you have any questions regarding any of our policies please reach out to your Division Coordinator

Training

The Best Places for Coach Training are:

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• AYSO Sponsored Training Events
• Coaching Curriculum on the 1508 Website
• Reach out to a Board Member to coordinate a Coach Mentor
• LET THEM PLAY

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Coaches Curriculum

Located on coaches' tab, select coaching curriculum

Coaches Curriculum cont’d

• Each week is broken down, by division
• Complete, downloadable coaching manuals are available on the same page on the right.

Communicating with Teams

• Group Texts
• Gamechanger
• Slack
• Sports Connect

• Update teams on practice schedules.
• Remind teams of important dates.
• Allow teams to communicate with you and each other.

Importing your Team from Sports Connect to GameChanger

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Spring 2026 Important Dates

• February 7: Meet the Coaches Event (9:30 AM -11:30 AM at Butterfield Park)
• Week of February 16: Practices Start
• February 21: Uniform Distribution (Time & Location TBD)
• February 23: Virtual Team Manager Zoom Mtg (6:30PM)
• March 7: Spring Season Opening Day
• March 21: Region Picture Day (Sheffield Park)

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• March 27-29: AYSO Expo. Region is dark. No Games this weekend.
• April 4: Spring Fling at Sheffield
• April 18: Let them play day!
• May 2: End of the Core season
• May 9: French Valley Cup &

8U French Valley Bash

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*All Important Dates for the season can also be found on the 1508 Website

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US Soccer Federation Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP)

US Soccer Federation Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP)

AYSO National Policies have been amended to adopt the US Soccer Policy 531-9 by incorporating the policy and penalties into AYSO’s pertinent governing documents:

• Section E. Duties and Responsibilities of Coaches, Referees, Officials, Other Volunteers, Spectators, Team Members and Other Participants.

o Prohibit and abstain from making negative comments and complaints about officiating. Any abuse, assault and/or

gross misconduct directed at any match official will be disciplined in accordance with U.S. Soccer Policy 531-9

Misconduct Toward Game Officials in Amateur Matches, which policy is effective March 2025.

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• Penalties/sanctions would range from a number or years to lifetime ban depending on the severity of the offense. • Offenses conducted against youth officials will be punished at 3x the penalty against an adult

US Soccer Federation Referee Abuse Prevention (RAP)

Sideline Behavior

As a coach, you are responsible for your sideline behavior. It is important to remember who the game is for and that every adult on the field is a volunteer

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Practice Parks

• Emerald Park 6U/8U/10U
• Butterfield 6U/8U/10U
• RBV2 10U/12U
• Upper Spencer’s Crossing 12U/14U/16U
• Lower Spencer’s 10U/12U
• Victory Park 12U/14U
• Abelia Park 14U/16U

You must have your player medical forms and roster with you at every practice & game - and remember to avoid the Three L’s

Weekly Practice

• 6U - 8U Practice should be 1 hour once a week.
• 10U -12U Practice should be 1 hour, twice a week.
• 14U- 16U Practice can be up to 1 ½ hours, twice a week.
• Be considerate of those around you. Don’t take more space than necessary.
• Stick to your grid.
• Stick to your time.

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Spring ‘26 French Valley Cup

10U - 12U Divisions

• Qualifications:
• Referee points (min. 20 points)

FOR 10U Matches:

• 2 pts. Referee (per match)
• 1 pt. Assistant (per match)

FOR 12U Matches:

• 3 pts. Referee (per match)
• 1 pt. Assistant (per match)

FOR 14U & 16U Matches*:

• 4 pts. Referee (per match)
• 2 pts. Assistant (per match)

*Must be an Intermediate Referee for 14U & an Advanced (or AC) for 16U matches. AR’s can still be Regional at this division

FOR 8U Matches:

• Only YOUTH Refs may ref these matches for points
• 2 pts. Referee (per match)
• 1 pt. Assistant (per match

French Valley Cup Cont.

Sportsmanship points

9 available points per match:

Coaches =3 Players =3 Spectators= 3

• Min points needed to qualify = 62

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Volunteer Points

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• Offering more volunteer point opportunities this season
• Sign up link will be available
• The max is (6) volunteers points per week, per team
• Volunteer point minimum is (24) points for the season

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*Additional Qualification:

Player ratings turned in for ALL players

Qualifications Cont.

French Valley Cup Summary

What is needed to qualify:

• Referee Points = 20
• Sportsmanship Points= 62
• Volunteer Points= 24
• Submit your player evaluations before the end of the season

Sportsmanship Points�

Don't run up scores!

Loss of sportsmanship points may result in your team being denied entry in the French Valley Cup.

Each 10U-12U team will be required to earn at least 62 Sportsmanship points to enter the French Valley Cup.

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Teams can earn 9 points per game.

Common ways teams lose points

• Caution or send-off to a player or coach
• Yelling at the referee
• Zero tolerance regarding Youth Referees
• Sideline/Spectator poor sporting behaviors
• Referees may deduct Sportsmanship Points for unacceptable behavior from the coach or sideline at their discretion
• Not offering fair playtime to all players

8U Division End of the Season

French Valley Bash!

For the first time, we are introducing an end of the season bash for 8U! The top teams that qualify will play extra matches at the end of the season and will participate in a Color Powder Party!

To Qualify:

• Earn a minimum of 15 referee points
• Earn a minimum of 20 volunteer points
• Turn in player evaluations before the end of the season

Referees please!

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Once you get your referees, send them to the region website where we have step by step instructions on how they can sign up to referee. GET 2-3 REFEREES!

Referee Requirements

• 10U – 12U:
• Each team will provide referee for game before or after
• Each team will provide AR for their game

(Club linesmen do not get points)

• 14U – 19U: Provide two AR’s for Every Game
• Board will provide center at minimum

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U.S. Soccer’s Player Development Initiatives (PDI’s)

• 6U kick or throw in; No Goalkeepers
• 6U-8U Indirect Free Kicks only (No PK)
• 10U Build Out Line - No Offside between buildout line and halfway line
• 10U No Keeper Punting
• 12U and Below No Heading
• Select divisions may have a brief meeting to further explain

Check in Procedure/Best Practices

• Must have properly completed game card - Can be found under Coaches tab on AYSO1508.com
• Check in at board tent prior to match to receive end of game pin (one player from each team will be given a pin after the match for the theme of that week). Themes may include: Lockdown Defender, Team Spirit, Maximum Effort, etc.
• First teams of the day are responsible for field setup.
• Last teams of the day are responsible for field take down.
• Make sure you sideline is in the correct position (ask your ref).
• Stay in the Technical Area unless called out by the referee.

Game Card

Fill out game cards completely before check in.

(team number, player first and last names)

Schedules & Statistics

• Schedules will be in one location on the website
• We will be keeping stats and posting them each week
• Standings
• Referee Points
• Sportsmanship Points
• Changing sportsmanship medals to weekly pins

Be Prepared…

• Know the Laws of the Game (become a referee)
• Be Respectful of the Referees
• Know Your Players Health Conditions
• Minimize Coaching During the Game
• Coach at the half not between quarters
• One minute between quarters clock runs!!
• Every Player plays ¾ of the Match
• Keeper Rule
• ½ of the Game for 10U (must play ¼ on the field)
• ¾ of the Game for 12U (must play ¼ on the field)

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Team Manager

Get a Team manager at your first team meeting.

They will be responsible for:

• Ordering the team Banner
• Preparing and monitoring a Snack Schedule
• End of the season party
• Assisting the coaches as needed
• Team Manager Meeting
• Monday, February 23 @ 6:30PM (Virtual)

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Picture Day

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Saturday, March 21, 2026

• Sheffield Park
• THOP- The House of Portraits
• We will schedule your pictures around your game time
• NO MAKEUP PICTURE DAY - Families can drive to THOP to take pics the week of 3/23

Social Media - We’d love to see your teams!

• Send all pictures to SMC@ayso1508.org

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Meet the Coaches Event

• Saturday, February 7
• 9:30AM - 11:30AM
• Butterfield Park
• Mandatory for coaches to attend
• Players & families are excited to meet you!

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• COACHES NEED TO BRING:
• EZ Ups
• Table & Chair(s)
• Sign with your division and name
• Tape to put up sign
• **PLEASE BE SETUP BY 9:00 AM**

Uniforms

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*UNIFORMS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED ON SATURDAY, 2/21

• Make sure all players are present when passing out
• Line players up by size before passing out uniforms
• Lowest number is the smallest uniform
• Coaches are responsible for requesting replacement uniforms*
• Please try to exchange within your team first. Email purchaser@ayso1508.org if you need to request an exchange.

What to Do After This Meeting

• Get Rosters & Player Waivers
• Contact Team
• Hold Team Meeting
• Complete All certifications

• Recruit
• Assistant Coach
• Team Manager
• Referees
• Complete your Team Info. sheet

• Have fun
• Develop players
• Great sportsmanship
• Positive coaching

Have a great season!

Thank you for volunteering!