The AYSO VIP PROGRAM provides a quality soccer experience for children and adults whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult to successfully participate on mainstream teams. VIP teams may include:



    * Blind or visually impaired

    * Amputees or with conditions that impair mobility

    * Mentally or emotionally challenged

    * Autistic

    * Down Syndrome

    * Cerebral Palsy



These players are Very Important Players (VIP) in AYSO. We recognize that all people need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance. The VIP program offers that acceptance and carries our philosophy of Everyone Plays® to new heights - giving everyone a chance to play.

This program focuses on eliminating verbal assaults on volunteer referees and coaches .gifand places emphasis on nurturing and supporting your player in their efforts. This program also recognizes the importance of the children's health and welfare by requiring that ALL PRACTICES AND GAMES ARE A NO SMOKING AREA. Drugs and alcohol abuse will also not be tolerated.

The child protection aspect is intended to stop child abuse, educate or remove its perpetrators, and screen out predators before they get into the program. It includes proactive steps which provide a medium for positive, healthy child development, precluding the outbreak of child abuse in a weak, unfocused, nonempowering environment.



Volunteer protection comes in to play as a result of volunteer training, certification and continuing education. The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 provides certain legal protections for volunteers who have been trained and certified, and act in accordance with a written job description. Safe Haven has these three elements, giving volunteers the highest degree of protection available under the law.

Every volunteer (coach, referee, board member, team parent) MUST complete a volunteer application each year to assure your child's safety. In addition, each volunteer must attend or take online a SAFE HAVEN CERTIFICATION class that provides specific guidelines and procedures to recognize and deal with abuses and injuries.  You only need to take this course once.