Volunteers

Every practice, every game, every lesson learned happens because parents and community members step up as volunteers. Our programs are community-powered because:

• It keeps the community at the heart of every decision.
• It ensures flexibility, creativity, and local insight in every program.
• It allows us to focus resources on players, keeping programs affordable while maintaining high-quality experiences.
• It fosters a sense of ownership, pride, and connection among families, creating a stronger, more supportive soccer community.

We start each Core Season with a Program Kickoff, an open and fun meeting for key administrators and anyone interested in helping. This replaces traditional operational board meetings and is designed to inspire volunteers, assign pre-defined tasks, gather last-minute ideas, and get buy-in and ideas for the next season.

From there, the heart of our volunteer community comes to life in three key roles: Coaches, Referees, and Captains. These positions are essential to making youth soccer run smoothly and ensuring every player has a fun, safe, and meaningful experience.

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As a coach, you'll guide a team of players through a season of growth, skill-building, and fun. You don't need to be a soccer expert, you just need to show up, be encouraging, and help kids fall in love with the game.

What you'll do:

• Lead one to two practices per week (about 1–1.5 hours each)
• Manage substitutions and provide inspiration during games
• Teach basic soccer skills and help players grow
• Create a positive, supportive team environment
• Communicate with families

Time commitment: About 3–4 hours per week during the spring core season, and 5–7 hours per week during fall core, United, or Select seasons.

We'll provide:

• Free coaching certification
• Practice plans and activities
• All the equipment you need
• Support from experienced coaches and a Slack channel to communicate
• Training on age-appropriate development

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Referees keep the game safe, fair, and fun. You'll learn the rules, earn your certification, and officiate games. It's a great way to stay involved without the weekly practice commitment.

What you'll do:

• Officiate games in Davis
• Enforce rules and ensure player safety
• Help younger players learn the game
• Work with other referees and coaches

Time commitment: You can referee your own player’s game in the core program instead of spectating or most games are about an hour and you choose the ones that work for you!

We'll provide:

• Free referee certification course
• Referee shirt and equipment
• Mentorship from experienced referees
• Clear guidance on rules and positioning

Refereeing is also a great option for high school students looking to gain experience and give back! Our referee program also has a pathway to paid games.

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Soccer doesn’t happen on the field alone. Every picture day, uniform handout, field setup, special event, and tournament like the Davis World Cup relies on volunteers who step up behind the scenes. Volunteer Captains often do work on the computer at home and sometimes on or near the field. Just bring your energy, organizational skills, and community spirit!

What you could do:

• Coordinate one-off or seasonal events like Picture Day, uniform distribution, or community tournaments
• Serve as a Field Adopter, helping maintain and organize your assigned soccer field
• Support special events such as the Davis World Cup, team celebrations, or volunteer appreciation days
• Act as a point of contact for families, helping communicate logistics, directions, and information
• Ensure events and activities run smoothly, safely, and on time

Time commitment: Flexible! Volunteer Captains are perfect for parents or community members who want to make a difference without a weekly practice or game commitment. Most roles are one-off or occasional, ranging from a few hours for an event to a couple of hours per month for ongoing duties.

We’ll provide:

• Clear guidance and checklists for your role
• Support from program staff and experienced volunteers
• Access to all equipment and materials needed for events

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