Coaching Requirements Descriptions

All individuals who coach in the MYAA Program must meet the following requirements.

Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Certification - This is a three-hour course which is conducted by a Rutgers Certified Trainer.  It teaches player safety and coaching liability.  It is highly recommended that a coach completes this course prior to stepping on the field to coach at any level. The Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. Clinic (Sports Awareness for Educating Today's Youth ™) is a three-hour program that meets the "Minimum Standards for Volunteer Coaches Safety Orientation and Training Skills Programs" (N.J.A.C. 5:52) and provides partial civil immunity protection to volunteer coaches under the "Little League Law" (2A:62A-6 et. seq.). More information is available by clicking this link.   Link to Schedule Page 

Positive Coaching Alliance - Positive Coaching Alliance is a national non-profit developing “Better Athletes, Better People” by working with coaches to provide all youth athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience. Learn more in this short video.  MYAA Requires every coach to be certified in the one Double-Goal Coach class offered each year.

1 - Double-Goal Coach®: Coaching for Winning and Life Lessons (Current offer course for the 2023-24 Sports Year – Aug-July – see website for next class offer or ask your sports commissioner)
2 - Double-Goal Coach®: Culture, Practices and Games (Coming Soon)
3 - Double-Goal Coach®: Coaching the Mental Game (Coming Soon)

We, MYAA, have been a partner with PCA for many years and these courses have become part of our coach training as well as a coaching discipline program.  Each class offered annually needs to be completed by all person who wish to coach any of our teams.     Additional information about PCA can be found by clicking on this link.

All classes will be offered on-line.  Notification of open classes will be posted 30 days prior.  2 sessions will be offered prior to each sports season. 

Questions email – [email protected]

Background Checks - MYAA has partnered with Sports Engine to conduct Criminal Background Checks on coaches and volunteers. Sports Engine’s screening platform is “Gold Standard” and in compliance with the National Center for Safety Initiatives.

Commissioners will communicate how to complete the background check online prior to a season starting. The system automatically re-screens these individuals annually and then every two years if the individual continues to coach within MYAA.

Disqualification Criteria for MYAA Background Check Screenings

Reportable convictions, pending dispositions or registrations, for any of the following criminal offenses or registrations will prompt a determination that a registrant ‘does not meet’ the End-User’s initial criminal background screening criteria and a Review notation will be indicated as a result of the Screen.

1. All sexual offenses, regardless of the amount of time since the offense.

Examples include, but are not limited to: Child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sodomy, prostitution, solicitation, indecent exposure.

2. All felonies that constitute offenses against the person, regardless of the amount of time since the offense.

Examples include, but are not limited to: Murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, and aggravated burglary.

3. Any crimes involving children, regardless of the amount of time since the offense.

4. All felony offenses other than those against the person or sexual within the past 7 years.

Examples include, but are not limited to: Drug offenses, theft, embezzlement, fraud.

5. All misdemeanors that constitute offenses against the person within the past 7 years.

Examples include, but are not limited to: Simple assault, battery, domestic violence, hit & run, reckless endangerment, harassment, and menacing. Includes domestic “issues” such as order of protection violations, restraining orders, etc.

6. All misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses within the past 5 years or multiple of such offenses in the past 7 years.

Examples include, but are not limited to: Driving under the influence, simple drug possession, drunk and disorderly, public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, and providing alcohol to underage persons.

7. A current sex offender registrant

Abuse Awareness Training – Coaches and volunteers will be required to take a 45-minute Abuse Awareness Training concluding with a quiz that must be passed through Sports Engine. This training is to make coaches and volunteers aware of what to look for and protocols on what to do if an incident is reported.

Code of Conduct – Coaches are required to read and agree to MYAA’s Code of Conduct Agreement. Reviewing this agreement makes coaches and volunteers aware of what behavior will and will not be tolerated, as well as the consequences for bad behavior.