New Season Waivers

Overview

Each year, as part of the player registration process, AYSO requires every participant—players, parents, and volunteers—to review and electronically sign a set of legal agreements. These agreements are not simply formalities; they serve critical legal, safety, and programmatic purposes that protect players, families, volunteers, referees, and the organization as a whole.

Beginning with MY26 (Mebership Year 2026), AYSO has streamlined its registration agreements into two consolidated documents, reducing complexity for families while maintaining comprehensive coverage of all required disclosures and commitments.

Why Annual Agreements Are Required

AYSO collects new signatures every program year for several important reasons:

• Policy Updates: AYSO policies, U.S. Soccer guidelines, and applicable laws can change year to year. Annual agreements ensure participants are always acknowledging the current rules—not a version from a prior season.
• Legal Validity: Liability waivers and releases are generally enforceable only when they reflect actual, informed consent at the time of participation. Stale signatures from prior years may not offer the same legal protection.
• Health & Safety Disclosures: State law requires youth athletes and their parents to receive up-to-date health information (e.g., sudden cardiac arrest, concussion protocols) before each season.
• Participant Accountability: The code of conduct commitments—covering sportsmanship, referee respect, and Safe Haven standards—are renewed annually to reinforce their importance and hold participants to current standards.
• Roster Changes: New players, new parents, and new volunteers join every season. Annual collection ensures every active participant has personally agreed to the terms.
• Safe Haven & Referee Abuse Prevention: U.S. Soccer's Referee Abuse Prevention Policy (531-9) and AYSO's Safe Haven protocols require documented acknowledgment by all program participants.

Agreement Contents

The two current agreement documents are described below. Each document is embedded for review and available for download.

AYSO Standards of Conduct

This document consolidates three behavioral agreements into a single acknowledgment, covering how all participants—parents, players, coaches, and spectators—are expected to conduct themselves throughout the program year.

• Code of Conduct Pledge – A broad commitment to player development, fair play, sportsmanship, positive communication, and AYSO Safe Haven protocols.
• Referee Abuse Prevention Program Agreement – Incorporates U.S. Soccer Policy 531-9, defining four levels of unacceptable behavior toward referees (verbal taunting through physical abuse) and affirming that referees deserve respect and protection.
• Kid Zone Pledge – A parent-specific pledge covering punctuality, positive sideline behavior, redefining "winning," avoiding negative commentary, and prohibiting alcohol, tobacco, and weapons at AYSO events.

   Download AYSO Standards of Conduct Waiver

Player and Parent Agreement & Liability Release

This document covers the legal and health-related aspects of participation, including risk acknowledgment, liability release, emergency authorizations, and media consent. It also fulfills state-law disclosure requirements for youth athletes.

• Health & Safety Disclosures – State law mandates that participants receive and acknowledge information on sudden cardiac arrest, concussion symptoms, and prescription opioids before each season.
• Assumption of Risk – Acknowledges the inherent physical risks of soccer (contact injuries, adverse conditions) and infectious disease risks including COVID-19.
• General Liability Release – Releases AYSO, its employees, volunteers, and officials from liability for injury or damages arising from participation, to the extent permitted by law.
• Emergency Treatment Authorization – Authorizes AYSO coaches and officials to consent to emergency medical treatment on behalf of the participant.
• Media & Contact Consent – Grants AYSO permission to use photographs and recordings of players consistent with its Privacy Policy.
• Consent to Electronic Signatures – Confirms the participant's agreement that electronic signatures are legally binding and equivalent to physical signatures.

   Download AYSO Player and Parent Agreement & Liability Release Waiver

Electronic Signatures

AYSO collects agreement signatures electronically through the registration system. Electronic signatures are legally recognized under the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (E-SIGN) Act and applicable state laws. The Player and Parent Agreement explicitly includes a consent-to-electronic-signatures clause, which means participants are confirming that:

• They agree to use electronic signatures in place of handwritten ones.
• Any physical or electronic copy of the signed form is treated as an original.
• They have read and understood the terms before submitting.

Regions should direct participants to complete their agreements through the official AYSO online registration portal. Paper copies may be retained for reference but the electronic record is the binding agreement.

Region Compliance & Enforcement

Regional Commissioners and registrars are responsible for ensuring that all participants—players, parents, and volunteers—have completed the MY26 agreements prior to the start of participation. The following applies:

• Coaches should verify that their roster players are fully registered before the first practice.
• Violations of the Standards of Conduct may result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from the program, consistent with AYSO guidelines and U.S. Soccer Policy 531-9.
• Parents are responsible for ensuring that all guests they bring to AYSO activities are also aware of and agree to abide by the codes of conduct.
• Safe Haven training and reporting obligations remain in effect independent of the agreements—the agreements reinforce, but do not replace, mandatory Safe Haven compliance.