Volunteer Requirements for Soccer Season

Parent volunteers are vital to Westport Soccer. All adults must register each season at www.westportsoccer.org and complete safety training required by the town and state. CJSA mandates a background check and SafeSport for anyone working with youth. The town of Westport requires volunteer coaches to complete coach training.  Some training carries over year to year; others require renewal. Instructions are below—volunteers must be fully compliant before participating.

WSA Parent Volunteer Roles Include: 
Coach (Rec only) • Assistant Coach (Rec or Travel) • Team Manager (Travel)

Thank you for supporting our programs and for getting involved! 

WSA Risk Director, Tara McCarthy,[email protected]
WSA Registrar, Kathleen, [email protected]               

WSA VOLUNTEER COMPLIANCE GOOGLE TRACKER:    CHECK YOUR STATUS HERE
(list is updated every 48 hours).    Questions?  [email protected]

IMPORTANT: 

• All training must be completed before the season begins in order to coach or manage a team.
• First-time volunteers should allow up to 4 hours to complete all steps. Start early.
• Returning volunteers must renew SafeSport, Background Check (CJSA), and NAYS Membership each year.
• Once you register as a volunteer on the WSA site, your compliance status will appear on the Volunteer Tracker (see link above)
• The sooner training is completed, the sooner we can finalize team rosters.

Volunteer Requirements, Step-by-Step:

STEP 1:  REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER  ON THE WSA WEBSITE
(duration 5-10 minutes)
- Log into www.westportsoccer.org
(new users must create a new account)
(current users log in to your existing account)
- Hover over your account Profile Image> select Account (or go to "manage account" >"view account" )
- Click  Volunteer on the left menu
- Click Find Volunteer Roles
-Select the role(s) and complete the registration form
- Upload any training certificates you have (optional).

STEP 2:  SUBMIT A CJSA BACKGROUND CHECK (RISK STATUS) ONLINE
(duration 5-10 minutes) | expires every 2 years.
- Log into your account on www.westportsoccer.org
-Go to Account > Volunteer to display My Roles&Certificates
 - Select the box next to Risk Status and then click Renew & Update
 - Follow prompts and answer required questions and SUBMIT 
                 - Still confused?  Follow these instructions


STEP 3: COMPLETE SAFESPORT TRAINING ONLINE
(duration 90 min 1st time or renew 30 min refresher)  All certificates expire August 1 annually

Note: SafeSport will update its courses on March 25.  Any unfinished courses will be reset on March 24. 
Please complete all pending training before March 24 or you will need to restart any unfinished courses on March 26.

How to complete:

1. Log in to your WSA account
2. Go to Account > Volunteer
3. Check SafeSport, then click Renew & Update
4. Log in or register with SafeSport (choose US Soccer Federation as your organization)
5. Complete the required training:
   • New Volunteers: Core Training (90 minutes)
   • Returning Volunteers: Refresher (30 minutes)

Already have a SafeSport certificate dated August 1 or later? 
Upload your certificate to your WSA volunteer account or email it to [email protected]
Visit SafeSport Transcript Dashboard

1. Click the menu icon (top right)
2. Select Transcripts > Certificates
3. Download and send to [email protected]

STEP 4: COMPLETE NAYS COACH TRAINING & MEMBERSHIP 

Applies to Head & Assistant Coaches (not required for team managers)
Duration: up to 2.5 hours to complete 3 components  (training certificates do not expire)
Membership Renewal: $20 annually

New to NAYS?  

1. Go to: www.nays.org
2. Click Register/Login (create an account if you are new
3. Select Westport Soccer Association as your organization
   
4. Register as a Coach
5. Complete all three parts of the training:

• Youth Sport Safety & First Aid ($7.50)
• Coaching Youth Sports ($7.50)
• Coaching Youth Soccer 10 & Under ($5.00)

  6. Upload your NAYS Coach MEMBER card (shows you completed all 3 training components) to your WSA account

Returning Member? 
Log in at www.nays.org and renew your membership for $20

STEP 5: COMPLETE CONCUSSION TRAINING 
Free | Time: 20–30 minutes | Certificate does not expire
Choose one:

• NAYS Concussion Training
• CDC HeadsUp Training

Upload your certificate to your WSA account

STEP 6: COMPLETE online CPR CERTIFICATE (free) - OPTIONAL, one adult needed per team.

Free | Time: 20–30 minutes
Recommended: At least one CPR-certified adult per team

• Complete CPR & Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training

Thank you for your volunteering.  Please contact us with any questions. 

Tara McCarthy, WSA Director of Risk Management, [email protected]
Kathleen Galley, WSA Registrar, [email protected]