Introduction

Dear AYSO Volunteer,

The AYSO National Support and Training Center has developed over 120 position descriptions for volunteers. These descriptions cover specific duties and responsibilities, qualifications, skills, time commitment, training, certification requirements, and activity locations. Keeping within the limits of the position description protects the volunteer and assures that he or she maintains appropriate certification standards.

It is important that each volunteer receives a copy of their position description prior to assuming their volunteer role. At the bottom of every position description there should be a date. If you encounter any position description more than a couple years old, they may be out of date and you should check with the National Support and Training Center for an up to date version.

American Youth Soccer Organization
12501 S. Isis Ave., Hawthorne, CA 90250
800-872-2976

Ellisa Hall
Education Department Coordinator of Certification and Advocacy
@ ext. 350

Annie Kil
Education Department Coordinator of Certification and Advocacy Associate
@ ext. 304

Volunteer Protection Act 1997

What It Means To You

1. The purpose of the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 is to provide certain protections to volunteers in lawsuits based on the activities of volunteers. No volunteers shall be liable for harm caused by the act or omission of the volunteer if ...
   1. The volunteer was acting within the scope of their responsibilities;
   2. The volunteer was properly licensed, certified, or authorized to undertake the activities in question;
   3. The harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the right or safety of the individual(s) harmed; and
   4. The harm was not caused by a volunteer operating a vehicle that requires an operator's license or insurance.
2. The VPA prohibits the recovery of punitive damages unless the injured person proves by "clear and convincing evidence" that the volunteer caused the harm by an act constituting willful or criminal misconduct or by conscious, flagrant indifference to the person's safety or rights. This "clear and convincing" standard raises the burden of proof, making it more difficult to recover punitive damages from a volunteer.
3. A volunteer's liability for noneconomic damages will be limited to the proportion of harm for which that volunteer is found liable.
4. The VPA limits the liability of volunteers, but not the liability of the organizations that they serve.
5. The limitation on liability for volunteers does not extend to:
   1. Crimes of violence or international terrorism for which the volunteer has been convicted by a court;
   2. Hate crimes;
   3. Sexual offenses;
   4. Misconduct that violates State or Federal civil rights laws; or
   5. Misconduct while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.