1. Division Coordinator
While setting up the room and checking over the lesson plan put up this slide. It has the workshop title on it.
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2. Division Coordinator
This workshop fulfills the training requirement for the Division Coordinator
Let participants know that this workshop is the training requirement for the Division Coordinator position. AYSO’s Safe Haven® is the workshop they should take to become certified.
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3. Has everyone signed the roster?
Course Credit
Has everyone signed the roster?
Please use your legal name, home address and phone, and birth date.
Course Roster Slide; Make sure all participants have signed the roster with their LEGAL first and last names; address, home phone number and birth date. Birth date is one of the fields used to ensure that course credit is given to the correct person; i.e. “John Smith, Los Angeles, CA”.
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4. How many attendees in this workshop are Division Coordinators?
Recently volunteered to become a Division Coordinator?
Do a quick survey and ask how many participants are Division Coordinators.
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5. What other Regional Board Members or volunteers are in attendance?
Cross training is a good thing. Other Regional Board Members or volunteers in the Region need to support the efforts of each Division Coordinator in order for the Region to be successful.
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6. Who is the most experienced Division Coordinator in this workshop
Who is the most experienced Division Coordinator in this workshop? Who is brand new to the position?
At this point survey the experience level of the participants. How many have been a Division Coordinator for more than one year? It is always beneficial for instructors to mentally note one or two participants who have the most experience and one or two who are brand new and have no experience at all in this position. This will help the instructor when asking and answering questions.
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7. What are some other titles that are used for this position?
Girls/Boys
Coordinator
Age Group Coordinator
As you mention the titles below, click on the next screen for animated slide that shows the titles from different parts of the United States.
Age Group Coordinator
Girls Coordinator
Boys Coordinator
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8. Team Management Administrator
Southern California
Division Representative
Hawaii
Age Group Coordinator
Rhode Island
Division Director
Tennessee
Age Group Coordinator
New York
Division Coordinator
Florida
Team Management Administrator
These are some of the regional terms used.
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9. Understand the role and responsibilities of the Division Coordinator.
OVERVIEW
Understand the role and responsibilities of the Division Coordinator.
Review the resources available to help a Division Coordinator be successful.
Overview of the course. We hope that at the end of this course, you will understand the responsibilities of the position as well as the resources available to help you succeed.
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10. But first…
The Mission of AYSO is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on our 6 philosophies:
Read the mission statement and segue into the six philosophies.
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11. Everyone Plays® Balanced Teams Open Registration Positive Coaching
Good Sportsmanship
Player Development
Briefly discuss the six core philosophies of AYSO.
Note: Ask a question about how the philosophies apply to a Division Coordinator and how the Division Coordinator applies these to his/her job.
AYSO prides itself on striving to create a SAFE, fair, fun and positive environment in which all children and their families can enjoy the game of soccer.
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12. AYSO volunteers are required to:
Complete and submit a Volunteer Application EVERY YEAR.
Be authorized to perform their jobs by their Region, Area, Section or other AYSO authority.
Act within their job descriptions and the AYSO policies, procedures and guidelines.
Complete AYSO’s Safe Haven® certification and be properly trained to do their jobs.
Review these four requirements that all AYSO volunteers must comply with.
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13. Why do Regions need Division Coordinators?
Regional Commissioner
Regions use Division Coordinators in different ways so unless you hear something that goes against AYSO’s philosophies or rules and regulations there are many answers to this question. Put answers on a flip chart. (10 minutes)
Typical answers:
Coordinate team formations.
Organize and schedule any make up games.
Generate complete team rosters.
Form balanced teams, separating players by age and skill level.
Ensure uniforms are distributed in a timely manner.
Ensure that player evaluations fairly reflect the abilities of the players.
Turn in evaluations to the Regional Commissioner.
This discussion may elicit different topics depending on the duties and responsibilities within each Region.
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14. Divide into three groups.
Discuss the responsibilities of the Division Coordinator:
Before the season starts.
During the season.
After the season ends.
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15. Let’s discuss the responsibilities of the Division Coordinator:
Before the season starts.
Before the Season:
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16. Before the Season Starts
Attend all registrations.
Recruit coaches, referees, team parents, etc.
Identify field assignments.
Assist or complete scheduling.
Distribute uniforms.
Use Shutterfly for team management.
Before the Season:
Attend all registrations.
Recruit coaches, referees, team parents, etc.
Identify field assignments.
Assist or complete scheduling.
Distribute uniforms.
Use Shutterfly for team management.
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17. Before the Season Starts
Ensure all volunteers are trained and Safe Haven® certified.
Create rosters in eAYSO for courses, if part of your duties.
Delegate responsibilities.
Balance teams.
Develop team rosters.
Before the Season:
Ensure all volunteers are trained and Safe Haven® certified.
Create rosters in eAYSO for courses, if part of your duties.
Delegate responsibilities.
Balance teams.
Develop team rosters.
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18. Responsibilities during
the season:
During the Season:
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19. During the Season Implement Kids Zone®.
Handle difficult situations that might arise involving coaches, referees, parents and players.
Find coaches for teams without one.
Recognize and thank volunteers who are helping you.
Serve as liaison between Regional Commissioner and coaches.
During the Season:
Implement Kids Zone®.
Handle difficult situations that might arise involving coaches, referees, parents and players.
Find coaches for teams without one.
Recognize and thank volunteers who are helping you.
Serve as liaison between Regional Commissioner and coaches.
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20. During the Season Attend Regional Board meetings.
Watch practices/games to ensure Safe Haven guidelines are followed and provide feedback to coaches.
Make sure teams thank referees, not just the other team.
Set up a process for, and encourage coaches to do, player evaluations.
Collect scores.
During the Season:
Attend Regional Board meetings.
Watch practices/games to ensure Safe Haven guidelines are followed and provide feedback to coaches.
Make sure teams thank referees, not just the other team.
Set up a process for, and encourage coaches to do, player evaluations.
Collect scores.
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21. Responsibilities after
the season:
After the Season:
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22. After the Season Turn in player evaluations.
Debrief the season with the RC.
Reward, recognize and retain volunteers.
Evaluate coaches.
Prepare for the next season.
Attend Section Meeting.
Re-evaluate team balancing techniques.
After the Season:
Turn in player evaluations.
Debrief the season with the RC.
Reward, recognize and retain volunteers.
Evaluate coaches.
Prepare for the next season.
Attend Section Meeting.
Reevaluate team balancing techniques.
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23. A Team Management Tool Release of team information set by Region.
Free site for every team.
Manage practice and game schedule.
Create snack schedule.
Contact list including jersey numbers.
Availability information – added by parent.
Shutterfly allows team management.
Release of team information is set by the Region.
Free site for every team registering in eAYSO. This is an important point to make.
Allows scheduling of games and practice sessions for all parents to see.
Team parent can create a snack schedule.
Contact list includes child’s name, jersey number, parent’s phone and names.
Availability information to list when child will be absent from practice or game, edited by parent.
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24. How many of your Regions have implemented Kids Zone®?
Ask for a show of hands.
Ask why Kids Zone® has not been implemented in all Regions.
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25. Fun – not winning – is everything Fans only cheer, only coaches coach
Kids are #1
Fun – not winning – is everything
Fans only cheer, only coaches coach
No yelling in anger
Respect the volunteer Referees
No swearing
No alcohol, tobacco products or other controlled substances
No weapons
Leave no trash behind
Set a proper example of Good Sportsmanship
Kids Zone® tenets
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26. As a Division Coordinator how could you help to support the Kids Zone® philosophy even if your Region hasn’t implemented it?
These are some possible answers:
Have a pre-season coach meeting and set up positive coach behavior expectations.
At this meeting give coaches a list of scenarios and ask how they would handle these in a positive manner.
Ask that each coach in your division set the same positive expectations of their players and parents.
Reinforce that the referees decisions should always be supported – they are volunteers.
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27. The Division Coordinator job description contains additional information.
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28. The Division Coordinator job description can be found on The latest version of was updated in December Your Region may have a more specific job description.
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29. To be a successful Division Coordinator, you must be a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
To be a successful Division Coordinator, you must be a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. The answer is in the Word Jumble. E O A I T M R D
Make this fun. Maybe a competition among the participants to see who can solve the word jumble fastest.
Ask participants to unscramble the word and hold up a hand when they figure it out.
ANSWER - MEDIATOR
DO NOT CLICK TO THE NEXT SLIDE UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A CORRECT ANSWER FROM A PARTICIPANT.
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30. Mediator
Click screen for answer to appear.
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31. Mediator
What kinds of situations would a Division Coordinator have to mediate?
Describe a difficult situation and how you handled it?
If time allows ask two or three participants for scenarios that happened in their Region that they needed to mediate.
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32. Coordinators hold a very important position within a Region because they act as an intermediary to the Regional Commissioner (RC), Regional Coach Administrator (RCA) and Regional Referee Administrator (RRA) in handling problems from coaches, teams and/or parents as they arise.
A Division Coordinator may need to deal with teams that do not have a coach.
A Division Coordinator may need to deal with a problematic coach or parent.
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33. Dealing With Confrontation
Let’s discuss some ways to deal with confrontation.
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34. Dealing With Confrontation
Make sure the right person is handling the problem.
Validate the person’s anger/frustration.
Focus on the problem, NOT the person.
HEAR their side; keep an open mind.
Summarize what you heard; find a nugget.
Strike a win-win agreement; get buy-in.
End on a positive note.
Go over these quickly. It may not be the DC who has to handle all problems. Give examples as you go through the above points. You can go refer back to some of the comments that the DCs have just made.
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35. The Region toolkit on www. ayso
The Region toolkit on has many tools for the Division Coordinator. The Compliance icon has information about the Volunteer Protection Act which explains why the volunteers must be trained and certified. Soccer Field Development contains information on grants and how to build your own fields as well as other information. There are other icons which will assist the Division Coordinator in their normal duties.
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36. Resources Division Coordinator Job Description
Division Coordinator Manual
AYSO’s Safe Haven® Manual
AYSO Reference Book
Play it Safe newsletter
Region Toolkit
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37. What are some of the qualities that a Division Coordinator should possess?
Ask attendees to give some qualities they think are important for a Division Coordinator
Make a list of the qualities on a flip chart.
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38. Attributes of a Mediator
Big ears for listening.
Clear eyes for seeing.
Big heart for empathy and compassion.
Small mouth to focus on listening rather than talking.
Ego contained.
A good mediator has:
Big ears for listening. Clear eyes for seeing. A small mouth to focus on listening. A big heart. Has his ego contained and feet planted firmly on the ground.
Big feet planted firmly on the ground.
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39. What qualities of a Division Coordinator do these pictures represent?1 2
What qualities of a Division Coordinator do these pictures represent?
Make a list of the qualities on a flip chart. This slide may bring out some of the qualities not mentioned in the previous discussion. A Division Coordinator is a leader, juggler, listener and mediator. 3 4
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40. Qualities Patient Optimistic Organized Energetic Happy Confident
A Hard Worker
Tolerant of Others
Be Persistent
A Leader
A Manager
An Administrator
Open-minded
Spontaneous
An Active Listener
A Team Player
Thorough
Be a Time Manager
Which of these qualities do you think you possess?
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41. Let’s take a short quiz. Hold up the “True” or “False” card in answer to the questions.
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42. 1. Division Coordinators should be men because some situations require a strong assertive decision.
FALSE
FALSE
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43. 2. It is only necessary for. Division Coordinators to
2. It is only necessary for Division Coordinators to communicate with other Division Coordinators.
FALSE
FALSE
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44. 3. Even small Regions can benefit from appointing a Division Coordinator.
TRUE
TRUE
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45. 4. One of AYSO’s six philosophies is Fair Play.
FALSE
Good Sportsmanship
Open Registration
FALSE
Everyone Plays®
Balanced Teams
Positive Coaching
Player Development
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46. 5. A Division Coordinator is an AYSO leader.
TRUE
TRUE 1 2 3
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47. 6. One of the roles of the Division Coordinator is to meditate.
FALSE
FALSE - This is a trick question so have some fun with it. Maybe Division Coordinators need to MEDITATE in order to get through some difficult situations.
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48. Thank participants for attending and sharing their knowledge and experiences.
Suggest that the participants attend Introductory Management to help them understand the inner working of AYSO.
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