"Safe Haven" Child & Volunteer Protection
We take safety seriously. AYSO's Safe Haven program protects AYSO players and the volunteers who serve them.
Under the rules of this program, AYSO requires that each volunteer complete and eSign a volunteer application each and every year, including agreeing to background checks and to abide by the philosophies and policies of AYSO.
Our volunteers are also asked to complete Safe Haven courses and job-specific training in order to become certified. AYSO in-person and online training focuses on the best ways to work with children and important safety protocols.
Additionally, every AYSO Region is required to designate a volunteer to act as the Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA). A CVPA helps implement Safe Haven policies at the local level.
The AYSO Safe Haven program was the first of its kind in youth sports, most notably in soccer. We continually strive to create a safe environment for our players and volunteers, so they can enjoy a happy and healthy soccer experience.
The 2017 SafeSport Act has expanded its Mandated Reporters to include adults authorized to interact with children. Effective, January 1, 2022, U.S. Soccer has mandated SafeSport training. AYSO complies with the federal SafeSport training requirements to include the U.S. Soccer Education and Learning Center as well as their Player Health and Safety courses.
Our extensive training includes the full course in the first year and repeated courses every three years, followed by annual updates in the in-between years.