In order to serve as a coach, assistant coach, manager, or work in any capacity with CSA or a CSA member club, one must complete a background check, a concussion test, and SafeSport training. Below is a chart of the risk management requirements for each role and how frequently they need to be completed.

Completion of these requirements is tracked by CSA through the PlayMetrics software. Please contact your club to create a PlayMetrics account.

Role	Background Check	SafeSport	Concussion Test
Coach or Asst. Coach	Required every two years	Required every year	Required every year
Manager or Chaperone	Required every two years	Required every year
All Club Staff	Required every two years	Required every year	Required every year
Board Member	Required every two years	Required every year

COLORADO SAFER YOUTH SPORTS BILL

The Colorado Safer Youth Sports Bill (Safer Youth Sports | Colorado General Assembly) must be implemented by July 1, 2025. The legislation requires coaches to comply with a code of conduct and to complete a background check, including screening for sexual offenses and screening for felony child abuse before they can work with teams or children. CSA and CSA’s member clubs comply with these requirements by ensuring that all coaches and referees complete the risk management requirements listed above.

Under its Safeguarding framework, U.S. Soccer and its affiliated associations and clubs enforce a model prohibited conduct policy, which includes specific codes of conduct that all participants – including coaches – must follow. This policy outlines what constitutes prohibited behavior (like harassment, bullying, discrimination) and mandates clear reporting and disciplinary steps. This policy can be viewed and download at https://www.ussoccer.com/safeguarding.

CSA has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and misconduct. All participants in the soccer community must play an active role in creating an environment free from emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. In that regard, the CSA Safe Soccer Policy was developed to help all participants detect and report abuse, respond to it and to help prevent future occurrences.

As CSA receives further information from the Colorado Attorney General’s office about the requirements of the bill, all clubs will be notified.

Coaching Education Overview

CSA offers a variety of coaching courses within the Coaching License Pathway through US Soccer, as well as offering diplomas through United Soccer Coaches, with each diploma focusing on a different aspect of the game.

Please read the sections below to learn more about each course and click the link in the section to view upcoming courses.

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Introduction to Grassroots Coaching

The Introduction to Grassroots Coaching is a FREE online course that is run through the US Soccer Learning Center. In order to enter the US Soccer Coaching Pathway and take further courses, this introduction course is a requirement. It only takes 20 minutes to complete and will set you on your way to becoming a licensed coach!

Click here to access the Introduction to Grassroots Coaching course in the US Soccer Learning Center.

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Grassroots Modules

Each of the Grassroots Modules focus on a different playing size: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11. After completing the Introduction course, you can take as many of the Grassroots Modules as you wish. The course can either be taken online or in-person.

Click here to read more on the Grassroots Modules and view upcoming courses in Colorado.

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US Soccer Coaching Licenses

The D License and C License are the courses offered and run by CSA and are the first licenses that can be taken after completing the prerequisite courses (Introduction to Grassroots Coaching & two Grassroots Modules).

The higher-level licenses (B, A-Youth, A-Senior, and Pro) are offered and administered by US Soccer at different locations across the country.

Click here to read more on the US Soccer Coaching Licenses and view upcoming courses in Colorado.

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United Soccer Coaches

United Soccer Coaches offers a variety of courses across the spectrum of youth soccer, with each course focusing on a different aspect of the game. The courses are aimed at both developmental and advanced coaches, with some courses being run online-only and others being in-person courses.

Click here to read more on United Soccer Coaches and the education courses they offer.

Boys and Girls Coach of the Year (1987-1998)

1987
Boys- Dan Huber (Fort Collins Arsenal)
Girls- Rob Malmsten (Riverside Renegades)

1988
Boys- Larry Hopkins (Northglenn Thunder)
Girls- Roland Struk (Club Denver)

1989
Boys- Al Lisi (Aurora SC)
Girls- Gary Gustafson (Littleton)

1991
Boys- Mike Haas (Northglenn Thunder)
Girls- Bill Schulmeister

1992
Girls- John Wray (Northglenn Thunder)

1993
Boys- Carl Crayton, Sr.
Girls- Duane Van Vleet (Littleton United)

1994
Boys- Jay Southern (FC Boulder)
Girls- Ed Shaw (Lakewood Fury)

1995
Boys- Ben Oswald
Girls- Ed Gonzales

1996
Boys- Dave Hughes (Club Columbine)
Girls- Gordon Vellotta (Northglenn Thunder)

Al Ashton Boys & Girls Advanced Coach of the Year and Wilmer Vermilye Boys & Girls Recreational Coach of the Year (1999-Present)

1999
Boys Adv- Al Lisi (Colorado Rush)
Girls Adv- Todd Gette (Arvada SC)
Boys Rec- John Thompson (Littleton)
Girls Rec- Bill Heffernan (Colorado Rush)

2000
Boys Adv- Frank Kohlenstein (Douglas County SC/Real Colorado)
Girls Adv- Phil Vigil (Table Mountain)
Boys Rec- Dan Daugherty
Girls Rec- Mike DeChadenedes

2001
Boys Adv- Kelvin Norman
Girls Adv- Hossein Kazemi
Boys Rec- Marcus Mullis
Girls Rec- Lisa Dozier

2002
Boys Adv- Kim Perez
Girls Adv- Todd Morris
Boys Rec- Kaira Haycock
Girls Rec- Larry Friend

2003
Girls Adv- Stuart Sinclair

2005
Boys Adv- Krzysztof Myszkowski (Pride SC)
Girls Adv- Rick Dressel (Arvada SC)
Boys Rec- Jim and Candy Temby (Douglas County SC/Real Colorado)
Girls Rec- Layne Corbin (Aurora SC)

2006
Boys Adv- Mike Roark (Arsenal Fort Collins)

2007
Boys Adv- Tony Minatta (Arsenal Fort Collins)
Girls Adv- Ed Montojo (Riverside)
Boys Rec- Dan Georgopulos (Colorado Rush)
Girls Rec- Theresa Echtermeyer (Littleton)

2008
Boys Adv- Arturo Hernandez (Chivas)
Girls Adv- Scott DeDycker (Colorado Storm)
Boys Rec- Nick Erlenburg (Real Colorado)
Girls Rec- Curtis Rueter (Colorado Edge)

2009
Boys Adv- David Proctor (Colorado Fusion)
Girls Adv- Tracy Tate (Arsenal Fort Collins)
Boys Rec- Cathie Vitro (Pride SC)
Girls Rec- Nicole Annest (Colorado Edge)

2010
Boys Adv- Steve Martin (Pride SC)
Girls Adv- Carisa Bendico (Pride SC)
Boys Rec- Bob Boyle (Colorado Fusion)
Girls Rec- Clint Eccher (Arsenal Fort Collins)

2011
Boys Adv- Chad Lauber (Pride SC)
Girls Adv- Heather Solar (Boulder County Force)
Boys Rec- Greg Sumlin (Littleton/Colorado United)
Girls Rec- Tom Widera (Westminster)

2012
Boys Adv- Terrance Gunnells (Colorado Fusion/Rapids)
Girls Adv- Paul Garcia (Colorado Rush)
Boys Rec- Dennis Brooks (Arsenal Fort Collins)
Girls Rec- Desiree Vasquez (Pueblo Rangers)

2013
Boys Adv- Chico Lara (Real Colorado)
Girls Adv- Roby Monroe (Colorado Rapids)
Boys Rec- Cole Sweetser (Durango SC)
Girls Rec- Derek Starkey (Northern Colorado SC)

2014
Boys Adv- Jeff Carroll (Colorado Storm North)
Girls Adv- David Castro (Broomfield SC)
Boys Rec- Pete Stuart (Skyline)
Girls Rec- Dan Zur (Colorado Rush)

2015
Boys Adv- Tony Mortenson (Arsenal Fort Collins)
Girls Adv- Travis “Tito” Ward (Littleton SC)
Boys Rec- Ryan and Shanna Henkel (FC Boulder)
Girls Rec- Levi Applegate (Basalt)

2016
Boys Adv- Brett O’Connor (Colorado United)
Girls Adv- Daniel Nestor (Colorado Rapids)
Boys Rec- James Wurth (St. Vrain FC)
Girls Rec- Joanna Tucker (Durango)

2017
Boys Adv- John Calhoon (Colorado Storm Castle Rock)
Girls Adv- Luis Dominguez, Jr. (Arsenal Fort Collins)
Boys Rec- Kon Apostolopoulos (Westminster AFC)
Girls Rec- Lindsey Hollingsworth (Boulder County SC)

2018
Boys Adv- Timothy Laxson (St. Vrain FC)
Girls Adv- Ryan Henkel (Real Colorado Edge)
Boys Rec- Darren Kelly (FC Boulder)
Girls Rec- Sean Seery (St. Vrain FC)

2019
Boys Adv- Salvador Avalos (CASA)
Girls Adv- Rob Hilbert (Pride SC)
Boys Rec- Avery Ball (Colorado Rapids Fort Collins)
Girls Rec- Dan Giles (Broomfield SC)

2021
Boys Adv- Benjamin Sandoval (CASA)
Girls Adv- Phil Cooper (Arsenal Colorado)
Boys Rec- Rimini Hickey (Colorado Rapids Fort Collins)
Girls Rec- Scott Barlow (HRSA)

2022
Boys Adv- Scott DeDycker (Skyline SC)
Girls Adv- Amber Bender (Colorado Ignite)
Boys Rec- Nate Trussell (Steamboat SC)
Girls Rec- Rachael Knable (Roaring Fork Valley SC)

2023
Boys Adv- John Hillman (Real Colorado)
Girls Adv- Jayme Beamer Halsey (Arsenal Colorado)
Boys Rec- Bobby Aldighieri (Steamboat Soccer Club)
Girls Rec- Brian Haag (Telluride Youth Soccer)

2024
Boys Adv- Mike Oldcorn (Avalanche SC)
Girls Adv- Clint Shade (CO Rapids North)
Boys Rec- Josh Malman (Skyline)
Girls Rec- Riley Moore (Albion SC Boulder)