Regional Commissioner FAQ
Why does AYSO need Regional Commissioners (RC)?
The local Regions are the front line of the program and they require dedicated and thorough leadership. There are many other volunteer Region board members - it is the RC who brings them all together to make the program work.
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Why do I need to be trained?
Training and Certification ensures that volunteers understand the available resources and the responsibilities of their positions. It also offers the best hope that every family will receive the best possible AYSO experience.
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How do I become an RC?
RCs serve as a volunteer Region board member for at least one year before they are nominated by their Region board or Area Director for appointment to a three-year term.
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What are the responsibilities of an RC?
RCs are required to perform duties outlined in their position description and complete Board and Staff Introductory Certification (BASIC), Introductory and Advancement Management training.
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What training is offered to an RC?
AYSO offers orientation by the Area Director, Introductory Management Training, Safe Haven™ Program training, eAYSO training as well as additional training during Section meetings/conferences/events.
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What tools are available to help an RC manage the job responsibilities?
AYSO provides tools to help the RC understand her job responsibilities as well as the responsibilities of the Region board members. Various publications are also provided including the Standard Regional Guidelines, the RC Manual, the Reference Book and the RC and Board Orientation Manual. Other tools include job descriptions, the RC Checklist, www.ayso.org, www.eAYSO.org, RC & board orientation by the Area Director, the Regional Assessment Program, and Kids Zone™.
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How can the RC Checklist help me get started?
The RC Checklist is a tool to help new RCs determine what needs to be done. It will also help RCs determine the duties of each board member and ensure those duties are carried out.
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What is the mission of an RC?
The volunteer position of the RC has the responsibility and authority to manage the day-to-day business of the local AYSO Region. The RC is chartered with ensuring that the AYSO mission and vision, as well as the duties and responsibilities of the Region are fulfilled.
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Why do people volunteer to be RCs?
When asked why they became a RC, the top responses ranged from "No one else would do it" to the most common reason, "I wanted to make a difference." RCs do make a tremendous difference in the lives of many families and young children. It is a challenging position with great opportunities for personal growth and satisfaction.
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What are the other required Region Board positions?
The other required Region board positions are Registrar, Treasurer, Safety Director, Coach Administrator, Referee Administrator, and Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate.
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How does AYSO protect its volunteers and athletes?
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Safe Haven™
Safe Haven™ is a program designed to address a growing need for child and volunteer protection. There are four elements in the Safe Haven™ intervention cycle: Create Policies, Screen Volunteers, Train Volunteers, and Promote Education and Awareness. These are intended to stop child abuse and its agents before they get into the program.
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The 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 must: 1. be properly trained and certified; 2. be performing duties as laid out in a position description; 3. act within the scope of AYSO's Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines.
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AYSO Certification
AYSO's goal is to provide training certification for all its volunteers. Certification offers the hope that every AYSO child will be treated with understanding, compassion, and respect.
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Kids Haven™
The national media has focused on the negative, even violent, behavior of players, coaches and parents involved in youth sports. Kids Haven™ is a dynamic program targeted to eliminate negative sideline behavior. Kids Haven™ buttons and signs are distributed throughout the Region and parents are asked to sign the Kids Haven™ Pledge promising to behave within the guidelines of the program.
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What are AYSO's Supervision Protocols?
While performing duties related to an AYSO volunteer position, the volunteer is:
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Subject to the bylaws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines of AYSO;
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Under the overall authority of and directly supervised by the Regional Commissioner; and
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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.
