Risk Management & SafeSport Training
Everything required to participate with NCYSA — background checks, SafeSport training, photo, and more. All completed through your PlayMetrics account.
All Adult and Minor Participants — coaches (paid and volunteer), assistant coaches, substitute coaches, team managers, club and association staff, board members, and all volunteers — must register with NCYSA and fulfill certain required elements every seasonal year. NCYSA seasonal years run from Fall to Spring.
Registering with NCYSA is how NCYSA knows exactly who is on the field with our registered minor athletes each seasonal year and ensures that everyone has gone through the proper vetting and training process.
Effective with the 2026–27 seasonal year, all Adult and Minor Participants will first need to be added to their local club’s PlayMetrics account. Once your account is created, you will receive an email link to verify it. Once verified, you will be prompted to complete the required elements for participation. Please reach out to your local club if you have not received your email with the link to your PlayMetrics account.
Required Elements for Participation
Background Checks
In accordance with Federal Law S.534 – Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, every Adult NCYSA Participant is required to have a full criminal background check performed every two seasonal years (at a minimum).
You will be required to provide your full current home address and your full Social Security Number if you are a US Citizen or if you have been issued one by the US Government. If you do not have a SSN, you can use 123-45-6789. NCYSA background reports will search back as far as legally possible, which is more than 7 years in most instances.
Minor Participants do NOT have a background check performed on them. A Social Security Number is NOT required, and they are only screened through the US Center for SafeSport’s Disciplinary Database.
SafeSport Training
In accordance with Federal Law S.534, every Adult NCYSA Participant is required to complete the initial SafeSport Trained Core course their first seasonal year, with a refresher course required each following seasonal year. NCYSA also requires all Minor participants (not minor athletes) to complete the SafeSport course appropriate for their age each seasonal year.
NC Youth Soccer Risk Management utilizes the US Center for SafeSport, recognized by the US Olympic Committee, to provide training and education to our membership concerning incidents regarding sexual abuse of minors, bullying, and other misconduct issues.
Instructions and the Enrollment Key link to the appropriate course are included within your NCYSA PlayMetrics account in the SafeSport section under “Click here for more information.” If you already have a US Learning Center account, you will be able to connect it to your NCYSA PlayMetrics account.
Adult Participant (18 & older) — Coaches, Managers, Board Members, Staff & Volunteers
Complete the free ADULT SafeSport Trained – US Soccer Federation course. Instructions and the Enrollment Key are in your PlayMetrics account under the SafeSport section.
Minor Participant (17 & younger) — Coaches, TOPSoccer Buddies & Volunteers
Complete the free MINOR age-appropriate training. Instructions and the Enrollment Key are in your PlayMetrics account under the SafeSport section. A background check is not ordered for anyone under 18 years old.
Adult Athlete (17 and older) — Registered Players
Complete the free ADULT SafeSport Trained – US Soccer Federation course. Instructions and the Enrollment Key are in your PlayMetrics account under the SafeSport section.
Parent and Minor Athlete
The U.S. Center for SafeSport has a FREE Parent and two age-appropriate Minor Athlete Training modules available at safesporttrained.org. These courses do NOT meet the requirements for Adult Participant and Adult Athlete SafeSport training.
When creating your SafeSport account, leave the “Membership ID” blank and enter NCYSA under “Name of Sport or Community Organization.”
Photo
You will be required to upload a photo of yourself if one is not already attached to your account. Adult photos are valid for 5 seasonal years. Your photo must meet the following requirements:
- From the shoulders up — face forward and include your whole head from top to bottom
- In color
- Only you in the photo
- Taken within the last 6 months
- No hats, sunglasses, or anything blocking your face
- Well lit so your features are clearly visible
Personal Information
You will be required to provide all your personal information to set up your PlayMetrics account, including your email address, gender, date of birth, cell phone number, and current home address.
Waivers
All participants will be required to agree to the NCYSA Code of Conduct. Other waivers may be required based on the role you are assigned within your local club.
Questions?
Contact Wendy Burns for any questions regarding NCYSA Risk Management and SafeSport Training.