The Role of the Risk Manager

Mass Youth Soccer requires each member organization to have a Risk Manager.

Massachusetts Youth Soccer and all affiliated organizations adult participants MUST adhere to all laws and policies as they relate to:

Adult Registration – Criminal Background Checks – SafeSport Abuse Prevention Training – Concussion Awareness Training – CORI Verification – MA Safe Soccer (Child Abuse and Misconduct Reporting) – Required Safety Policies


The role of the Risk Manager requires implementing and enforcing all adult risk management requirements and policies designed to help keep our children safe.

The adult registration link and risk management requirements for Fall 2023–Spring 2024 soccer year are found on the Adult Registration Process webpage; click HERE to access the webpage.

Sports Connect Login – use this link to log into Sports Connect to manage your adult member’s risk management requirements and update and review your registration information (“My Account”).

REGISTRATION ISSUES:  For registration issues/duplicate accounts contact Sports Connect by clicking HERE and submitting a ticket (first priority service); scroll down to find the SUBMIT button. Second option call (855) 703-2558 during the hours listed below.

  • Monday and Friday from 10 AM – 4 PM EST
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 AM – 6 PM EST

ADULT CREDENTIALS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE FALL 2023 – SPRING 2024 SOCCER REGISTRATION YEAR 

Printing of adult credentials along with Risk Management requirement verifications/approvals are completed at the Association Level in Sports Connect. If you do not have Association User Permissions, please review the “How to Obtain Administrative User Access” document located on the right-hand side of this page, or contact the Mass Youth Soccer CORI/Risk Administrator at CORI@mayouthsoccer.org

A link to how to print your adult members mass youth soccer adult credential is located at the bottom of this page


Every adult member of all organizations affiliated with Massachusetts Youth Soccer are required to have a current Mass Youth Soccer Adult Credential.

The primary purpose of the Adult Credential is for all parents of children to feel comfortable that all adults involved with their training, safety, well-being, coaching, etc. have been properly background checked, completed required course trainings, and are in good standing (registered and affiliated, thus insured) by Mass Youth Soccer.  Initially we are relying on each member organization (towns, clubs, and leagues) to act as an SRO (Self-Regulatory Organization) in making sure their adults comply by displaying and possessing the credential as described next.

When arriving at the field the adult must have in their possession and should have their credential worn around their neck.  Then, in order not to hamper their activities (coaching, lining fields, running, etc.) they may, if necessary, store the credential with their personal belongings during that activity.   Some leagues will require referees or other league officials to inspect for adult credentials and take specific actions if a credential is not present.  If a coach has lost or misplaced their credential and has not secured a replacement in time for a sanctioned soccer activity, the league may permit them to show a saved photo of the credential on their phone or other electronic device (i.e., iPad) and have the referee submit this information in their game referee report.

In addition, as you prepare for the new soccer year, we ask all adults that will continue to coach/volunteer to reuse their plastic sleeve and lanyard from the previous year.  The town or club, will then issue the adult a new credential insert/photo.

The Credentials are universal.  If a coach has a valid credential, is registered and affiliated with Mass Youth Soccer and all organizations he or she is participating with and has met all Risk Management requirements, that adult can work with any of his or her listed member organizations.  It is required that they also meet the requirements of the league (i.e., having a valid coach ID Pass Card).

Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association has no expectation that a referee will have any responsibilities for checking, managing, dealing with, or handling any issues related to adult credentials.


Adult credentials are issued by a person designated by a member organization (i.e., risk manager or registrar) who has access permissions in Sports Connect to print them.

Adult Credentials – Printing Checklist (in Sports Connect):

  1. Verify you are working in the correct registration year.
  2. Verify the adult has completed their annual Mass Youth Soccer Adult Registration for the current registration year.
  3. Adult must have a risk status of approved and a risk expiration date that is valid through the complete registration year. The Under 18 Approved risk status is the only exception. For more information, see “How to Credential an Under 18” drop down below.
    1. Under 18 Approved Risk Status Information
  4. SafeSport Abuse Prevention Training must show as approved/verified in Sports Connect.
  5. Concussion Training must show as approved/verified in Sports Connect.​
    1. Preferred training is through the U.S. Soccer Learning Center; if registered correctly, the adult’s Mass Youth registration will be auto approval/verified.​
  6. Ensure that the head shot photo is of passport quality.
    1. If not acceptable, delete photo and inform the adult a new photo must be uploaded.

IMPORTANT:  A credential will only print if all risk management requirements above are met.


Adult Credential Supplies:

Massachusetts Youth Soccer will supply you with the plastic sleeves and lanyards for your organization’s adult credentials.  We recommend that you purchase perforated paper for the printing of credentials; you may purchase the correct size paper from any vendor you choose.

How to Order Credentials Lanyards and Plastic Sleeves

Please click the link below for directions for ordering lanyards, plastic sleeves, and printing your organizations credentials.

How to Order Credentials Lanyards and Plastic Sleeves

Lanyards and Plastic Sleeves Order Form

Below is the information for ordering the blank name tag insert for the credentials.

https://www.pcnametag.com/3-5-8-x-5-1-2-vertical-paper-name-tag-insert-blank-pack-of-500-inserts-n4vmeb.html​

PC/Nametag can be reached at 888.354.7868

Adult Athlete = Player 18+

Who is considered an adult athlete?  A player who is 18 years of age or older.

SafeSport and U.S. Soccer Adult Athlete Requirements

SafeSport Abuse Prevention Training is U.S. Soccer and Mass Youth Soccer Policy
As required under Federal Law
Who must take the SafeSport Abuse Prevention 90-minute Core Training?
Players/athletes who are 18 years of age or older or will turn 18 during a current playing season, and play on a team with minor athletes (regular contact) are required to take the SafeSport Abuse Prevention 90-minute Core training to participate.  For example, for the spring season, if the player is 18 years old prior to April 1, or turning 18 after April 1, but before June 30, they are required to take the training.
  • Players who are currently 17 years old may get a head start on this requirement and take the training with parental consent prior to their 18th birthday.
    • Players (adult athletes) must NOT register as adults with Mass Youth Soccer; Mass Youth Soccer will not process national or CORI background checks on adult athletes.
    • To avoid confusion, an adult athlete is not an under 18 coach/assistant coach; thus, the process is different.  For more information on the under 18 coach/assistant coach see the How to Credential an Under 18 tab below.

Player and Parent Responsibilities:

  1. Contact your club’s administrator to request the U.S. Soccer SafeSport Training Link and Enrollment Key.
  • WHY?  For players to connect the training to U.S. Soccer, and access the required SafeSport Abuse Prevention 90-minute Core training for free, the club administrator will need to provide the player/parent with the U.S. Soccer SafeSport Training Link and Enrollment Key.
  • Players that are 17 years of age must have parental consent prior to taking the SafeSport Abuse Prevention training.
  1. Players will create a SafeSport account and take the SafeSport Abuse Prevention 90-minute Core training.
  1. Upon completion of the training, the player will receive a certificate which needs to be sent to the organization’s registrar (see below for further instructions).

​In addition, Adult Athletes are now considered Mandatory Reporters. If you know or suspect child abuse, you are required to report it to law enforcement and the Center for SafeSport, and to follow any additional state law requirements.

How to Manage the Requirements as an Organization’s Risk Manager:

  1. Advise all players and their parents in this age range of the new requirement.
  2. Provide the player/parent with:
  3. The organization will be responsible for ensuring players who are 18 years of age or older or will turn 18 during a current playing season while playing on a team with minor athletes, take the SafeSport Core Abuse Prevention training.
  • Upon successful completion, the player will be issued a certificate.
  • This certificate must be presented to the organization’s registrar or other person designated by the organization. This can be sent directly from the player, or through their coach, via hard copy paper or electronic (pdf) versions.
  • The organization’s registrar or designate must maintain these certificates in a file subject to review by Massachusetts Youth Soccer.
    • Towns/Clubs using Sports Connect as their primary registration system can upload the SafeSport Certificate of Completion into the player’s registration account in Sports Connect.
    • Organizations that upload the player’s certificate into Sports Connect can use the Player Credential Dynamic report to monitor this requirement.  Click HERE for the report help guide.
  • Any players who are or will turn 18 during the current playing season may not be rostered on a team unless they have provided this certificate.
  1. All organizations will be required to acknowledge and attest to compliance with this requirement when completing their Mass Youth Soccer Annual Leadership report​.

How to Register/Credential an Under 18 as an Adult Participant

This guide shows step by step instructions on how to help an under 18 with player registration data in Sports Connect complete their Mass Youth Soccer Adult Registration.

This is a two step process:

  1.  Administrator creates the initial parent account.
  2.  The parent/guardian registers the player as an adult.

​NOTE: Under 18 coaches must always have a credentialed adult (i.e. an adult who is in fulfillment of ALL Mass Youth Soccer adult risk management requirements) on the sideline.

  • A participant that is under the age of 18 and who is registering as an adult participant must be registered in the registration year they will be participating in as a player with the club or town.​
  • The under 18 participants should be accounted for on your club/town’s fee submission form as a player, and payment for the under 18 adult participant should be included in your player registration payment.
  • Mass Youth Soccer Required Prevention Policies must be followed. Visit the Safe Soccer webpage to review this policy.
  • The under 18 participant contact information must not be listed on a roster or on any front facing website.

SafeSport- Under 18 Approved – upload/verify this document into the under 18 participant’s account in the SafeSport certificate spot.

How to Credential an Adult with Player Registration Data in Sports Connect

This guide shows step by step instructions on how to help an adult with player registration data in Sports Connect complete their required Mass Youth Soccer Adult Registration.

This is a two-step process:

  1. Administrator creates the initial parent account.
  2.  The adult proceed with the adult registration process.