The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) is a volunteer organization from the National Level all the way down to the local level.  Every referee, every coach, assistant coach, and team parent donates hours of their week because they believe they can make a difference not only in their own child's life, but in the lives of all the children in the region.  Our regional board members spend multiple hours every month of the year planning out the season, organizing teams, registering players, recruiting coaches, answering questions, and making sure everything runs smoothly.  Our regional and area trainers spend countless hours receiving advanced training themselves in order to pass on that training to all the other volunteers in our organization, rather it be in Coaching, Refereeing or Management disciplines.  Our Area staff (Iowa and Missouri) and Sectional Staff (Midwest US) facilitate training, answer difficult questions, organize inter-regional activities such as the AYSO Expos, Sectional Games and National Games as well as being a point of contact before contacting National.  Our National Board of Directors volunteer for what amounts to a full time job - running the largest soccer club in the world!!!

The fact that we are a volunteer organization is both a blessing and a curse.  Everyone has apprehensions about volunteering for something new and different for the first time.  If you talk to our current volunteers however, I don't believe that any of them regret the time they have given.  The chance to make a difference in so many children's lives is super rewarding.  

AYSO provides ALL training necessary to any volunteer.  No soccer knowledge is required - only a desire to enrich children's lives.  If you have time in the evenings and weekends, consider coaching, assistant coaching, or team parenting.  You will be able to work directly with the kids assigned to your team on a weekly basis.  Having a team of volunteers makes the job significantly easier, so please don't step back just because your team may have a coach already; step up and help to make that coach all the more effective.

If you do not have time during the week, but are able to attend your child's games, consider volunteering as a Referee or Assistant Referee.  Again, AYSO will provide all the training necessary, and the only thing you would need to do is watch your child while standing on the sideline rather than sitting in a chair.  Having trained Assistant Referees (ARs) at games is a KEY ELEMENT to players becoming more effective on the pitch by learning the rules and tactics of the game.

If you are not comfortable in any of the roles already mentioned, consider volunteering for field maintenance.  Painting fields, hanging nets and even minor field repairs are going on every week throughout the season.  All that is necessary to help out is a little time and initiative.

If you want to have an even bigger impact, consider volunteering on our regional board.  We have several positions available.  Our board meets once a month through the year and organizes the entire region, including...

• Recruiting and Registering Players
• Organizing Teams and Coaches
• Securing Field Locations and Training Locations
• Organizing Field Maintenance and Concessions
• Scheduling Games
• Organizing Training Events
• Contacting Local Schools and DayCare Facilities
• Contacting Local Businesses and Sponsors
• Organizing Local Tournaments, and organizing traveling tournament teams
• Answering questions from parents, players, and volunteers
• Updating the Regional Website and Social Media
• Communicating with coaches, referees, and players
• Organizing secondary programs like VIP, Playground (4U), Schoolyard (5U), Indoor, Select and 19U