PlayMetrics Volunteer Positions and Compliance
AYSO’s new compliance tiers match volunteer requirements to the work each person performs. This organization-wide change respects volunteers’ time and makes it easier to help without completing training unrelated to their duties.
PlayMetrics makes this possible by assigning requirements based on each volunteer’s role.
Two steps to remember
- Enable volunteer positions in the Club System. This allows people to express interest in volunteering. Training 1 showed this under Programs → Leagues → More Actions → Volunteer Positions.
- Assign the appropriate staff title in the Governing System. This creates the requirements associated with the volunteer’s role.
Enabling a position or collecting volunteer interest does not by itself complete compliance setup. Regions will receive access to the Governing System in 2027.
Compliance tiers
| Requirement | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayMetrics Title | Coach, Board Member, Admin, Referee | Team Manager, Game Day Support, Field Operations, Marketing | Player Support |
| Member photo | Required | Required | — |
| AYSO Expected Conduct | Annual | Annual | — |
| AYSO Registration, Waiver, and Release | Annual | Annual | — |
| Background screening | Required | Required | — |
| SafeSport | Required | — | — |
| AYSO Safe Haven | Required | Required | — |
| Concussion Awareness | Required | — | — |
| Sudden Cardiac Arrest | Required | — | — |
| Job-specific AYSOU training | Required | Required | If applicable |
All roles receive region-provided orientation. Volunteers complete job-specific AYSOU training when a course exists for their position.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 are adult-only. Tier 3 can include youth.
Use approved role mappings. Never assign a lower tier to bypass requirements.
For help connecting and verifying your SafeSport training, see PlayMetrics SafeSport Verification and U.S. Soccer Learning Center.
Volunteer positions and staff title mappings
Choose the staff title that matches the volunteer’s actual duties.
| Previous AYSO Title in Sports Connect | PlayMetrics Title | Tier | AYSO Positions and Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coach | Coach | 1 | Head and assistant coaches for 10U and older divisions |
| Board Member | Board Member | 1 | Regional Commissioner, ARC, Treasurer, Registrar, CVPA and Safety Director |
| Clerical | Admin | 1 | Coach and Referee Administrators, Division Coordinators, Instructors and Auditors |
| Referee | Referee | 1 | Adult referee volunteers |
| Team Manager | Team Manager | 2 | Team Parents, Team Managers, head and assistant coaches for 6U/8U, and KickStart Leaders |
| Concessions | Game Day Support | 2 | Concessions, Welcome Tent and Parking Lot Attendants |
| Field Prep | Field Operations | 2 | Setup, lining, teardown and maintenance |
| Fundraising | Marketing | 2 | Social media, website management, sponsorships and fundraising |
| — | Player Support | 3 | Positions without unsupervised player contact, plus designated youth referees, youth coach assistants and EPIC buddies under adult supervision |
Player Support and youth volunteers
Player Support covers positions without unsupervised player contact. It also includes designated youth referees, youth coach assistants and EPIC buddies because they assist under adult supervision, are accompanied by an adult and are not in charge.
Player Support volunteers complete job-specific AYSOU training when a course exists for their position. The region provides orientation.
Do not assign Player Support to anyone whose duties require Tier 1 or Tier 2 compliance. Doing so creates the wrong requirements for their work.
Youth referees must complete the appropriate referee training and certification. Game assignments should be appropriate for their age, experience and maturity.
Former Blue designation (Youth Volunteer)
The former Blue (Youth Volunteer) designation in Sports Connect is no longer available in PlayMetrics. It is replaced by Player Support — Tier 3.
Assign Player Support only when the volunteer’s actual duties fit the approved Tier 3 mapping. Do not use it for anyone whose duties require Tier 1 or Tier 2 compliance.
How volunteers receive their requirements
When a staff title is assigned in the PlayMetrics Governing System, the system creates the requirements for that role. Volunteers see what they need to complete when they log in to PlayMetrics under their Member Profile.
Staff title changes may affect membership verification status. A title may also be unavailable for editing while the volunteer is rostered on a team with that title. Contact PlayMetrics support if a roster assignment prevents a needed title change.
PlayMetrics applies the requirements for all staff titles assigned to a volunteer. When a higher-tier role is added, the volunteer receives the additional requirements immediately.
For example, a volunteer who is verified as Player Support and is later assigned a Coach title will become unverified until they complete the additional requirements for that role.
Background screening provider and transition
JDP is AYSO’s new background screening provider, replacing Sterling Volunteers. JDP will apply the U.S. Soccer adjudication matrix.
Sterling Volunteers will stop accepting new AYSO background screening requests on March 31, 2027.
Regions will begin using JDP after Governing System access opens in 2027.
Regions can prepare their JDP accounts now by completing the onboarding form linked in PlayMetrics Background Screening and JDP Transition. Account setup does not activate screening. Non-pilot Regions must wait for AYSO’s cutover instructions before submitting screenings through PlayMetrics.
For details about JDP, screening results, SSN requirements and renewals, see PlayMetrics Background Screening and JDP Transition.
Background screening clearance
Compliance tiers determine which requirements apply to a volunteer. Background screening adjudication is a separate result.
- Green — Cleared
- Red — Not Cleared
Yellow, orange and brown screening statuses are being retired.
A Cleared background screening result does not by itself mean that all membership and training requirements are complete.
The AYSO office will continue notifying the Section Director, Area Director, Regional Commissioner and CVPA when a volunteer is Not Cleared.
Watch Training 4
Cohort 1 Training 4, held October 28, 2026, covers volunteer management and compliance, including how volunteer interest in the Club System connects to the Governing System.
Watch Session 4: Volunteer Management.
Need help
For PlayMetrics system questions, email success@playmetrics.com.
For AYSO policy or AYSOU questions, email support@ayso.org.