COACHING REQUIREMENTS
Important Questions from Coaches
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US Soccer requires all Coaches and Team Managers to go through the Safe Soccer Clearance Program.
In addition to the now centralized Safe Soccer Clearance Program any coach or manager that will be in the technical area or could be responsible at any time for players are required to undertake the courses in Concussion, and Sudden Cardiac Arrest also located on this page. These must be updated annually to be eligible.
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We ask that all coaches submit to a background check online. Also, please complete a quick Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest training. Bring the certificates from those with you to the coaches meeting. There are also coach specific acknowledgement forms for each which we need to have printed/signed so we can keep on file.
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Below we have included buttons to take you right to the page where you will begin the process.
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The state requires that all coaches and administrators understand the basics about Concussions and Sudden Cardiac Arrest. To that end, free online trainings are offered for both which take 10-15 minutes to complete. We ask that all coaches complete these courses yearly and bring with them their certificates of completion.
Also, although every parent filled out and signed a Concussion and Sudden Cardiac Arrest acknowledgement form, there is a form specific to Coaches and Administrators. Please take a few seconds to fill out those and bring to the coaches meeting as well. Make sure to choose the form labeled “Coach/Manager/Board Member” from our site.
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What is the GSC Team App? How do I access it?
The Gallatin Soccer Club has recently begun using the smart device app “Team App” for communication.Visit this Smart Link to download the App on your chosen device.
Link will take a moment to load as it detects what version of the app you need!
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You should practice on your age division fields. If your fields are full, then you may use an available field from another age division. However if a team shows up from that division, you will need to move.
CHECK THIS PAGE FOR LIVE PRACTICE SCHEDULES ONCE THE SEASON BEGINS.
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The website home page displays a FIELD Status Widget and will show the field closings by noon. If a game is cancelled the website will be updated by 7:30 am.
U.S. Soccer Launches Safe Soccer Clearance Program
A Groundbreaking Step in Proactive Safeguarding Across the Game
( READ MORE )
The Safe Soccer Clearance Program is a comprehensive safeguarding program designed to proactively increase protection for participants—players, coaches, referees and volunteers—while streamlining compliance for the Federation’s member organizations. By establishing a consistent national standard and a “green-light” clearance model, the program will strive to ensure that only individuals who meet stringent safety criteria are cleared to participate in the sport. This marks a shift from a more reactive response structure to a more proactive approach intended to strengthen prevention.
Key Features and Benefits:
Centralized Safeguarding Solution: Combines SafeSport training, safeguarding education, annual contact verification, and a USOPC-compliant background check into a single platform.
Streamlined User Experience: Seamless single sign-on and integration with major registration systems make access and compliance easier than ever.
Administrative Ease: Custom dashboards and bulk payment options give organizations real-time oversight and flexibility in managing their participant base.
Purpose-Built Education: Interactive modules deliver consistent, clear, and engaging safeguarding education to all participants.
Guided Member Onboarding: A structured onboarding process and comprehensive toolkit support organizations in adopting and promoting the program effectively.
*The button below should only be used by those in roles that require these steps to be taken such as; active or prospective team coaches that have been prompted to complete the Safe Soccer Clearance Program to be cleared by US and TN Soccer. If in doubt please contact GSC leadership to confirm that you are required to complete the 3rd step in this process which is a Background Check requiring a subsidized payment process.
*GSC reserve the right to invoice for payment from those that undertake the background check within the Gallatin Soccer Club’s USSF group without prior consent from GSC club leadership. Please only complete this process if you are directed to do so. - THANK YOU
Prior to coaching in a game or practice, there are several requirements that have to be completed annually to satisfy US Soccer Federation / US Youth Soccer / Tennessee State Soccer policies, and Federal and State Laws. These are required of all coaches whether recreational or competitive.
*NOTE* – THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE BASED ON THE TSSA SOCCER SEASONAL YEAR AND RESET EVERY JULY
Items Needed
Background Check – Required (See above)
Concussion Training – Required (See Below)
SafeSport Training – Required (See Below)
Uploading Certificates – Required ( Automated if via USSF Soccer)
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training – ***Recommended***
More info on annual COACHING REQUIREMENTS
Concussion Training (Required)
To satisfy the concussion training requirement, choose ONE of the below approved courses – either is acceptable. Please make sure to SAVE your completion certificate at the end so that you may upload it into Affinity (same system used for background check). You will need to create an account, but the training is FREE.
SafeSport Training (Required)
SafeSport is a new initiative in player safety. As a member of the US Soccer Federation, this is a required training for all coaches and administrators. When registering if you use the same name and email as you used for your background check your certificate should import automatically BUT, please make sure to SAVE your completion certificate just in case.
Cardiac Arrest Training (Recommended)
Gallatin Soccer Club currently RECOMMENDS but does NOT REQUIRE Sudden Cardiac Arrest training for Recreational coaches. Board Members and Directors are expected to complete this training however.
Upload Your Certificates
When you have completed your trainings for Concussion Awareness and SafeSport, you will have received a certificate of completion for each. Affinity, which is used to track background checks as well as player registrations is the repository used for storing these certificates. This simplifies the process and means that paper copies no longer have to be stored.
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE USSF SITE, THIS PROCESS MAY BE AUTOMATED AS YOU COMPLETE YOUR COURSES.
