Safety Director

The Regional Safety Director position is one of the seven required Regional Board positions including the Regional Commissioner, Treasurer, Registrar, Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate, Coach Administrator and Referee Administrator; as stated in the National Bylaws, 1.04 (n).

The Regional Safety Director’s role is intended to be responsible for all aspects of the Region’s safety, to help the Region protect players and volunteers from known safety hazards and serve as the Region’s focal point for safety awareness and AYSO Insurance plans.

Regional Safety Directors play a vital role in AYSO’s promise to provide a safe, fair, fun, positive family environment for youth soccer. In return, AYSO wants to ensure all its volunteers receive the maximum protection under the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 and therefore requires that all volunteers:

• Sign and submit a Volunteer Application every year.
• Consent to Background Checks.
• Be authorized to do their jobs by the Region, Area, Section or other AYSO authority.
• Act within the scope of their Position Descriptions, AYSO Policies, Procedures and Guidelines.
• Complete Safe Haven Training and be properly trained in their jobs.

Safety Director Job Description

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

The Safety Director is responsible for the development and supervision of the Region’s safety program, playing an essential role in advising and educating Region staff on aspects of safety. Some of the duties required of this position include:

1. Attend regional board meetings.
2. Provide, educate and maintain Soccer Accident Insurance (SAI) information and forms for all AYSO participants for the distribution of AYSO’s information flier on the SAI plan to each player’s family.
3. Provide volunteers proper medical release forms in order for players to return to play after injuries or concussions.
4. Maintain Certificate of Insurance (COI) yearly for all locations used by regions.
5. Evaluate need for regional equipment insurance.
6. Inspect all field equipment to ensure it is in safe condition.
7. Ensure that all goalposts are properly anchored and do not have net hooks.
8. Ensure that a reasonable number of first-aid kits are available at all playing sites.
9. Be responsible for advising regional participants of dangerous weather and other potentially unsafe conditions.
10. Manage incident reports forms for Injuries and Incidents with volunteers, players and spectators.
11. Provide concussion training materials to both players and volunteers.
12. Evaluate all environmental hazards and determine with the Regional Commissioner that it is safe for all participants (coaches, referees, players).

Qualifications and Desired Skills

To be considered for the position of Safety Director, the applicant should:

1. Annually submit an AYSO Volunteer Application form.
2. Pass the AYSO screening and background check.
3. Keep current on Safe Sport Certification per federal law.
4. Keep current on CDC Concussion Training per state law.
5. Complete AYSO Safe Haven Certification.
6. Complete Safety Director Training.
7. Be organized.

Supervision Protocols

While performing as the Safety Director, the volunteer is:

1. Subject to the bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines of AYSO.
2. Under the overall authority of and directly supervised by the regional commissioner.

Time Commitment

Time commitment will vary depending on Region size and length of playing season(s). For the typical AYSO Region, the Safety Director will devote about 5 - 8 hours per week per playing season.

Orientation, Certification, Training, and Continued Education Provided

To prepare a volunteer for the position of Safety Director, AYSO will offer the following educational opportunities that the Safety Director is expected to take advantage of and participate in, as appropriate:

1. Orientation by the Regional Commissioner - 1 hour.
2. AYSO"s Safe Haven Certification - 30 minutes.
3. Safe Sport Certification - 2 hours.
4. CDC Concussion Training - 30 minutes.
5. Safety Director Training - 1 ¼ hours.
6. Dispute Resolution Training - 1 ¼ hours.
7. Due Process Training 1 ¼ hours.
8. Various workshops at the annual EXPO.

To access instructions to the training (AYSOU) above click here