AYSO’s Safe Haven: Keeping AYSO Players and Volunteers Safe

We take the safety of our athletes seriously. Precautions are taken on the field to prevent physical injuries, and precautions are taken off the field to ensure children and volunteers are safe in their interactions with each other.   Safe Haven is a program that has been put in place to protect AYSO players and the volunteers who serve them. It requires that each AYSO volunteer agree to a background check and take in-person or online training that’s focused on the best ways to work with children and important safety protocols.

Every AYSO volunteer must apply, complete Safe Haven training and earn certification every year. Becoming Safe Haven certified takes some time, but AYSO volunteers know it’s worth it.

Also, did you know that every AYSO Region is required to designate a volunteer to act as the Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA)? A CVPA helps implement Safe Haven policies at the local level. Next time you see your local CVPA, stop and say hello! 
Simi Valley's CVPA is Liz Reiter

AYSO is so proud of our Safe Haven program – it was the first of its kind in youth sports, most notably in soccer. It creates a safe environment for players and volunteers to have a happy and healthy soccer experience.

It takes a lot of dedicated people to make AYSO possible, and volunteers are always needed. If you are interested in participating, apply in person at a registration event or go to www.eAYSO.org.

AYSO’s Safe Haven Program for Parents

Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 This law grants immunity from certain types of prosecution for volunteers who meet its requirements. In order to receive full protection under the law, AYSO volunteers need three things.

• They must be properly trained and certified.
• They must be performing duties as laid out in a position description.
• They must act within the scope of AYSO's Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines.

AYSO Certification AYSO's goal is to provide certification training for all its volunteers. Certification offers the hope that every AYSO child will be treated with understanding, compassion, and respect.