Safe Haven 
Information and Links

AYSO Safe Haven is designed to address the growing need for child and volunteer protection through volunteer training, certification and continuing education policies. 

Safe Haven Online Training

The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997

In order to receive the maximum protection provided under this law, AYSO volunteers must: 

1.       be properly trained and certified (Safe Haven plus job specific)
2.       be properly authorized to do their job
3.       be performing their duties as laid out in their volunteer position descriptions
4.       act within the scope of Bylaws, Rules & Regulations, Standard Regional Guidelines/Policies and Protocols and Policies. 

AYSO provides a continuing training program for all jobs at all levels.

Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA)

The AYSO volunteer position of Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA) supports the Regional Commissioner (RC) with the promotion and implementation of the AYSO Safe Haven program, including the 4 main elements of volunteer protection.

The CVPA is familiar with the National Child Protection Act of 1993, the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997, "Good Samaritan Laws", reporting of child abuse and maltreatment, and Child Online Protection Act (COPA). 

AYSO recognizes five types of abusive behavior: emotional, physical, sexual (Megan's Law), neglect and ethical.

Click here for information on the Background Check Policy

Click here for information on the Collection of Social Security Numbers on Volunteer Applications

VERB™, It's what you do

VERB™ is a national, multicultural, social marketing campaign coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The VERB campaign encourages young people ages 9–13 (tweens) years to be physically active every day. The campaign combines paid advertising, marketing strategies, and partnership efforts to reach the distinct audiences of tweens and adults/influencers.

Concussion Info

Soccer Accident Insurance (S.A.I.)
Players, Coaches, Referees and other volunteers are only insured when registered with the National Office. SAI is a supplementary insurance only, with a $200 deductible. Claims should be filed within 90 days of the date of injury. 

The AYSO Incident Report Form is to be used in the event of Injury, Incident or Property Damage. The region will keep it on file, with a copy of the completed SAI. If parents do not want to use AYSO's SAI, a note to that effect will be placed with the incident report into a file. These reports need to be held for 7 years, just like the player forms, etc. If a legal issue comes from the injury then National will contact the region for the completed form.


Injury Prevention

• Proper warm-up (create good habits for younger players) and stretching
• Sufficient physical conditioning (especially over age 11)
• Correct soccer techniques (e.g. tackling and heading)
• Knowledge and proper application of the spirit and Laws of the Game: Fun, Fair, Safe 
• Sufficient rest and plenty of fluids 
• Equipment (shin-guards are mandatory for practices and games (inside the socks), soft-cleated soccer shoes are recommended (or sneakers; no baseball or metal cleats) 
• Players should not wear anything that can be dangerous to themselves or other players: any kind of jewelry, earrings or ornamental hair items are strictly prohibited for practices or game. Should a medical bracelet be necessary, it should be taped down against the skin with adhesive bandage.
• Maintained facilities - check field for debris, holes, rocks etc.; do not allow playing with/on goals; report problems to the safety director
• Common Sense (set the example, don't be the example)

Sideline Safety Reminder

Everyone (other than players in the game and the referee) should remain at least one yard away from the touchlines (the field boundaries running along the sides of the field), and no one is permitted to stand behind the goal lines. Any chairs, coolers and other items should remain at least several yards from the field. There are several reasons for this, including:

• Player Safety
• Assistant referee safety and function - The assistant referees (formerly known as linespersons) need to have an unobstructed view "down the line" to perform their duties during the game. Also, they need to run along the field while watching play, which could create collisions if spectators are in their way. Assistant referees should not enter the playing field.
•  Interfering with play - The position of the ball, not of the players, determines when play stops due to the ball leaving the field. Players may be outside of the field while playing the ball. Spectators too close to the field unfairly impede or discourage players from playing the ball as it nears the boundary. And players throwing the ball in after it has left the field should be given extra room, including room to step back and run up to the field.
•  Hindering the referee - Spectators and players not participating in the game who are too close to the field make the referee's job harder by obscuring part of the field, blending with players and restricting the assistant referee's movement and position. The Laws of the Game do not permit anyone other than the active players and the referee to enter the field without the referee's permission.

AYSO's Criminal Background Check Policy

Revised: March, 2017

Since January 1, 2001, all American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Regions, Areas, and Sections are required to comply with the AYSO policy on criminal background checks. AYSO acts as the criminal background requesting entity unless specific arrangements have been approved in writing by the AYSO National Executive Director. 

Any person wishing to volunteer in AYSO must complete an AYSO Volunteer Application Form in AYSO's official member registration system each year and submit an esigned copy to the Region and consent to a criminal background check. The application form includes a Criminal Background Check Release. All requested information must be provided by the applicant, including Social Security number, driver license number (or other government issued photo I.D. if the applicant does not drive) and date of birth.

The Region must send the original copy of any handwritten/signed Volunteer Applications to the Safe Haven Department at the AYSO National Office in a timely fashion such that the most sensitive criminal background checks can be completed prior to the start of any playing season.

Criminal background checks are performed on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The responses on the AYSO Volunteer Application Form must coincide with background check results. Failure to answer honestly may be grounds for disqualification.

Each Region must designate at least one person as the Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA) who must act as the liaison between the Region and AYSO for purposes of enacting this policy. Regions may appoint more than one CVPA as needed to expedite the screening process at the Region level.

To ensure compliance with all applicable laws, the AYSO Safe Haven staff members at the AYSO National Office are the only people authorized to initiate, review or have access to criminal background reports (unless sanctioned in writing by the National Executive Director). In all cases, the results of any criminal background check must be kept strictly confidential. These reports must be kept in a locked, secure location. 

The Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record process is initiated by the Safe Haven Department of AYSO. When a negative determination is made, a copy of the criminal conviction report received by the Safe Haven Department must be sent to that volunteer applicant in an envelope marked “Confidential – to be opened by addressee only,” along with the Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record cover letter.

If a conviction is disclosed or discovered, the AYSO Safe Haven Department must make a decision on whether or not the applicant may be used based on the following guidelines and partial Table of Convictions and advise the Region of its decision.  As used in this policy, the term conviction refers to a conviction entered after a trial, after a guilty plea or after a plea of no contest/nolo contendere.

Any application form that does not contain honest answers or that misrepresents the number, type or gravity of any such conviction(s) will not be approved irrespective of the nature of the offense or the time that has transpired since the conviction.

Any individual on probation or required to complete a court ordered rehabilitation or other such program following a conviction for a crime appearing on the Table of Convictions will not be considered to serve as a volunteer until all terms and conditions established by the court have been satisfied and proof of completion submitted to AYSO.

Any person convicted of a crime against or otherwise involving a minor at any time in the past will not be approved to be a volunteer.

Most felony convictions will result in a negative determination. Evidence of multiple convictions, either felony or misdemeanor, are likely to also result in a negative determination.  Where a conviction is remote in time or where the applicant’s conduct since the conviction(s) indicates rehabilitation or lack of risk to the membership and the program, some leeway may be provided, but only with the concurrence of the RC and CVPA. 

Persons convicted of a crime of violence or other serious crime against a person within the prior 20 years will be disqualified from any volunteer position.

Persons convicted of sex offences will be disqualified from volunteering in AYSO.

Persons convicted of a theft related crime or fraud within the prior 15 years will be disqualified from any position involving the handling of funds, property or personal identification information.

Persons convicted of a serious substance abuse crime within the past 10 years will be disqualified from any coaching position, referee assignment or any position that leads children's activities.

Persons convicted of less serious crimes of violence, substance abuse or one of the listed miscellaneous crimes within the past 5 years will be disqualified from any coaching position or any position that leads children's activities.

In certain limited instances, AYSO will disqualify volunteers who have been arrested for a crime, even if the arrest later results in no charges being filed.  While AYSO casts no judgment about any of the allegations and/or accusations in these instances, AYSO’s overriding and compelling interest is to provide a safe, fair and fun environment for children.

DUI: Persons convicted of driving while under the influence or other traffic/conduct related crimes within the preceding 3 years will be disqualified from holding the position of team coach or assistant coach.  Persons convicted of driving under the influence within the preceding 3 years may be accepted for other volunteer positions with the understanding that they are prohibited from driving any child or AYSO volunteer other than immediate family members to or from an AYSO activity.

If any discretion is exercised in the application of this policy, it must be exercised in a uniform manner, so that substantially similar convictions and circumstances result in substantially similar treatment of potential volunteers. The CVPA or Regional Commissioner (RC) will be immediately notified when a negative determination is made, or if there are issues related to an application. The specific results leading to a negative determination must remain confidential unless the applicant is willing to reveal the results to the RC or CVPA.

Because of the serious implications to the entire AYSO organization, all Regions, Areas and Sections must comply with the decisions made by the Safe Haven Department of the National Office under this policy.

Individuals disqualified or restricted by Safe Haven are not entitled to due process at the Region, Area or Section level. Their right of review is conducted in conjunction with their Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Background.

Table of Convictions

This is a partial list only.

Aggravated Battery w/ Firearm
Armed Robbery
Arson
Assault
Attempted Murder
Battery
Blackmail
Cruelty to Animals
Domestic Battery
Extortion
Hate Crime
Home Invasion
Hit and Run Causing Injury/Death
Kidnapping
Murder
Possession of Explosives
Preventing a 911 Call
Terrorism
Reckless Homicide
Robbery
Second Degree Murder
Stalking
Solicitation for Murder
Tampering w/ Food or Drugs
Threatening Public Officials
Treason
Unlawful Restraint
Vehicular Car Jacking
Vehicular Endangerment
Violation of Order of Protection

Bad Checks
Bid Rigging
Bid Rotating & Kickbacks
Bribery
Burglary
Computer Hacking/Trespass
Embezzlement
Fencing of Stolen goods
Forgery
Grand Theft
Identity Theft
Industrial Espionage
Interference with Public Contracts
Looting
Money Laundering
Misuse of Credit Card
Petty Theft
Possession of Burglary Tools
Receiving Stolen Property
Tax Evasion
Theft of Intellectual Property
Ticket Scalping

Deceptive Sales
Fraudulent Advertisement
Fraudulent Use of Access Card
Insurance Fraud
Mail and Wire Fraud
Odometer Fraud
Public Aid Fraud
Retail Fraud
Welfare Fraud

Abuse of Prescription Medicines
Criminal Drug Conspiracy
Distribution of Alcohol to Minors
Illegal Transportation of Controlled Substances
Possession of Marijuana, more than one ounce
Possession of Illegal Substances
Sale or Manufacture of Illegal Substances