What is Safe Haven®?

AYSO's Safe Haven® program is designed to address the growing need for Child and Volunteer Protection in youth sports. The components of the program help create a safe, fun, fair and positive environment - "safe haven" - for all participants.


What are the Safe Haven® Program components?

Registering and Screening All Volunteers

AYSO requires all volunteers to complete a volunteer application every year and agree to background investigations. References are checked for all brand new volunteers and every volunteer is subject to screening for sex offender registration and criminal convictions according to AYSO's National Criminal Background Check Policy.


Training and Certification

In order to ensure the fulfillment of AYSO's vision and the protection of volunteers and players, every volunteer is required to take AYSO's Safe Haven training and be properly trained for their jobs (job training). AYSO's in-house certification program provides every volunteer with the highest level of training at the lowest possible cost and features child-centric curriculum, age and developmentally appropriate activities and AYSO certified instructors.


Child and Volunteer Protection Guidelines

AYSO's protection guidelines are designed to prevent opportunities for abuse to occur while minimizing opportunities for volunteers to be misunderstood or falsely accused. The guidelines hold coaches responsible for all players, for maintaining supervision protocols and maintaining appropriate adult/child boundaries.


Safety and Injury Prevention

All volunteers are asked to help promote safety and injury prevention by recognizing common emergency medical conditions, risks associated with environmental hazards, weather conditions, field conditions and equipment.

SAFE HAVEN PARENT VIDEO