Support the AYSO National Safe Haven Program in both specifics and in
spirit;
Support the regional commissioner in the promotion and implementation of
the AYSO Safe Haven Program, including the three main elements of
volunteer protection;
Be familiar with the Child Protection Act of 1993, the Volunteer Protection Act
of 1997, the Good Samaritan Laws of the State of California, and that state’s
provisions for the reporting of child abuse and neglect;
Work to see that all volunteers complete, date, and sign the AYSO volunteer
application form and its authorization to perform applicant screening, and be
the screening liaison with the AYSO National Safe Haven Department;
Ensure all AYSO volunteers are duly registered in BlueSombrero;
Check references for all new coaches, referees, board members, team
parents, and others who have direct supervision of players. Random
reference checks for everyone else;
Be aware of AYSO’s definitions of levels of risk, inform prospective volunteers
that they are screened at a level appropriate to the level of risk, and maintain
a copy of AYSO’s screening policy;
Enforce AYSO protocols to protect privacy and privileged information,
Subject to the bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines
of AYSO;
Under the overall authority of and directly supervised by the regional
commissioner;
To maintain the recommended adult to child supervision ratio of 1:8 or less;
that is one adult for every eight or fewer children and two adults (one of whom
may be the coach and one of whom should be of the same gender as the
group) present at all times. For the protection of both the children and the
volunteer, no volunteer should permit himself or herself to be alone with any
child or group of children (except his or her own) during AYSO-sponsored
activities.
Present to the regional board a motion to accept the list of coaches, referees,
and other volunteers each membership year at a board meeting;
Ensure that the region keeps on hand the written position descriptions for
each volunteer filling a regional position;
Serve as a resource and/or a facilitator to the region’s members on the
requirements for good faith reporting of abuse and molestation to law
enforcement agencies and child welfare agencies;
Assist with the ongoing evaluation of volunteers;
Meet with the head coach of each team, either individually or in a group with
the coach administrator, to review child protection and supervision
responsibilities prior to each membership year;
Meet with the referees, either individually or in a group with the referee
administrator, to review child protection and supervision responsibilities prior
to each membership year;
See that the region’s supervision ratio is enforced; and
Promote the region’s standards of behavior and conduct as laid out in the
child and volunteer protection policies, procedures, and guidelines of the
AYSO Safe Haven program.