CYO Coaches' Workshops and certification

- "Everything you say and do, the way you say it and the way you do it becomes a lesson for your athletes and will leave an indelible mark in their lives, for better or for worse."
  
  – Pope Francis, 2019
- Why CYO Coaches' Certification?
  
  In the Diocese of Oakland, all coaches who lead and interact with young people must be trained and screened to volunteer in this important ministry.
  
  At CYO Coaches Workshops, coaches gather in prayer, discuss and reflect on coaching children with an emphasis on sharing Gospel values, and receive policies and information about coaching. in CYO.
  
  Diocesan Safe Environment Training and Screening helps to ensure that adults will safely interact with young people.
  
  Download the "Job Description for a CYO Coach" to learn more about this important ministry to youth!
  
  Download "Job Description
  for a CYO Coach"
Cyo Certification workshops Information
- What Are CYO Coaches' Certification Workshops?
  
  THERE IS A NEW PROCESS FOR CERTIFICATION FOR 2022-2023 SEASONS ONLY:
  
  IF YOU ARE A RETURNING CYO COACH, (ceretified 2021-2022 school year) YOU MUST:
  
  REGISTER: Register on a form linked on this website – form will be linked on this page when available;
  
  SAFE ENVIRONMENT: Be current with diocesan Safe Environment requirements.
  
  DOWNLOAD: Download and be familar with the CYO Athletic Manual and CYO C.
  
  ATTEND: Attend a scheduled information Meeting hosted by your league or parish/Catholic school CYO
  
  IF YOU ARE A NEW CYO COACH (not CYO Certified for the YOU MUST:
  
  ATTEND: Attend a CYO New Coaches Certificaiton Workshop (details posted on this page when available;
  
  SAFE ENVIRONMENT: Be current with diocesan Safe Environment requirements.
  
  New Coaches Certification Workshops are scheduled prior to the beginning of each CYO sport season. To be certified to coach in CYO, a NEW coach must attend a Coaches' Certification Workshop while meeting other program, safe enviroment training and screening requirements.
  
  Attendance is mandatory for all NEW coaches and assistant coaches. Without a certified coach, a team may not participate in CYO.
  
  Announcements of dates, times, and locations of workshopsare posted on this web page, prior to each sport season.
  
  Each workshops will be about two hours long and will include prayer, CYO philosophy, rules, policies and safety procedures.. Attendace for the entire workhop is required for certification.
  
  All CYO coaches must be currently in compliance of Virtus Safe Environment Training and have been cleared through Livescan fingerprint screening prior to workng with children. See the Diocesan Safe Environment Training section below.
- How Do I Get a CYO Coaches' Certification Card?
  
  For New Coaches, Certification cards presented at the end of each workshop to coaches who have completed program requirements.
  
  Returning Coaches will receive a certification card in the mail following registration and safe environment compliance.
  
  Coaches must have their certification cards with them at all games and be prepared to present them to game referees or gym monitors. Only CYO certified coaches (in addition to a scorekeeper) may be on the team bench or be activiely coaching players. An uncertified coach will result in a forfeit of that game. Any person on the team bench (excluding team members and scorekeepers) must have a valid CYO certification card.
- Who can coach in CYO?
  
  Coaches must be selected and approved to coach by their parish or Catholic school.
  
  Coaches must complete certification requirements including diocesan Safe Environment Virtus Training and be screening and cleared for the Diocese of Oakland thourghLivescan fingerprinting.
  
  Coaches must agree to follow the "Diocesan Safe Environment Code of Conduct Involving Interaction with Minors" and the Oakland Diocese CYO Code of Conduct.
  
  CYO certified coaches must be of high school age or older. Minors may not be a head coach or solely responsible for a team.
- Coaches under 18 Years of age
  
  Young people under 18 years of age, and in high school, are welcome to coach in CYO! As minors, they are not allowed to be in charge of a team but assist the adult coaches.
  To be a CYO coach and be certified, the minor coach must meet the following requirements::
  
  Be in high school and of high school age.
  
  Be approved to coach by the parih/school CYO and minor's parents.
  
  if a new coach, attend a CYO Coaches Certification Workshop
  
  Agree to and sign, along with parents the "Diocese of Oakland Code of Ethical Conduct for Minors Volunteering or Working with Young Children."
  
  The minor should NOT take a Virtus Training Course and should NOT be fingerprinted due to their age.
- NEW COACHES Workshops & returning coaches registration Details
  
  UPCOMING NEW COACHES WORKSHOPS
  
  CYO Basketball and Girls' Volleyball New Coaches Workshop Information
  
  RETURNING COACHES REGISTRATION LINKS
  
  Link to Returning CYO Cross Country Coaches Registration.
  
  Link to Returning CYO Basketball Coaches Registration
  
  Link to Returning CYO Volleyball Coaches Registration
  
  (NOTE: Only for those who were certified to coach CYO in the 2022-2023 season. Register ONLY for the sport you are coaching when link is available.)
  
  WHAT TO BRING TO A WORKSHOP
  
  Print a copy of your TRAINING REPORT
  from the Virtus Website by selecting the "Training History" box or be prepared to show it on your smart phone.
  On your Virtus Homepage (www.virtusonline.org) , select the box "Training History." The "Training History" should show your Virtus Training completion and your screening clearance. AND
  
  A PHOTO ID
Virtus Safe Environment Training & Live Scan Fingerprinting
- What are the Diocesan Safe Environment Virtus Training Requirements?
  
  ALL COACHES, NEW AND RETURNING, are required to have completed the VIRTUS Safe Environment Training (SET) Course after September 1, 2020. Volunteers must complete the training every three years.
  
  Voluteers can complete the Virtus training "on line" or attend a "live training" if offered in their parish or Catholic School
  
  Virtus training within three years must be completed prior to attending a CYO Coaches Certification Workshop. The "Training Page" or the "Summary Page," indicating course completion and Fingerprint Clearance, must be printed and brought to workshop registration.
  
  • To take the Virtus Course on line: > Log on to the Virtus Website, www.virtusonline.org > Complete registration (be sure to indicate “Oakland Diocese” and then select your parish/Catholic school) and then take the course, “Protecting God’s Children Online Awareness 4.0.” Coaches who previously completed Virtus Training before September 1, 2020 should take the “Keeping the Promise Alive 3.0” course. Virtus Training must have been completed after September 1, 2020
  
  Coaches who are under 18 years of age - must attend a coaches workshop, and review and complete the "Code of Conduct for Minors Volunteering or Working with Younger Children." They should not complete Virtus Safe Environment training nor are they required to be fingerprinted.
  
  Link for More Information on Oakland Diocese Safe Environment Training
  
  Link to Virtus Online Safe Environment Training
- What are Fingerprint Screening Requirements for Volunteers?
  
  All CYO volunteers working with children - coaches, athletic directors, track/cross country coordinators and cheerleader moderators - are required to be fingerprinted and cleared. Volunteers must be Live Scanned for the Diocese of Oakland.
  
  Coaches who have previously been successfully fingerprinted and cleared for the Diocese of Oakland (e.g. CYO, a diocesan parish ministry or another diocesan agency) do not need to be fingerprinted again. See the sidebar to the right for details on Fingerprinting Opportunities, or contact your parish/Catholic school.
  
  If you need assistance, email Diana Bitz, diocesan Safe Environment Coordinator
- Fingerprint Opportunities
  
  If you need to be fingerprinted:
  
  You can be fingerprinted a parish, Catholic school or at a CYO fingerprint opportunity.. CYO New Coaches Workhshops (see above) will offer fingerprint opportunities OR
  
  You can be fingerprinted at one of our Oakland Diocese Fingerprint Vendors. OR
  
  You can be fingerprinted by another fingerprint agency. If you go to an agency other than the diocesan vendors, you must print and bring a copy of the Request for Live Scan Service form. Click here for "Request for Live Scan Service Form." There may be an additional charge by outside vendors.
  
  Click Here for List of Oakland Diocese Fingerprint Vendors and a Link to Information on Other Vendors
  
  Note: the diocese must receive the fingerprint clearance from the California State Department of Justice for a volunteer to be cleared. The time to receive the clearance from the DOJ may vary greatly!
Other resources and training for coaches
- New to coaching in CYO or want to sharpen your coaching skills?
  Available Resources include:
  
  Coaching tips,
  
  On Line Coaches Skills Courses, and
  
  Helpful links to other coaching resource organizations.
  
  ... all on the on the Coaching Resources & CYO Philosophy Page.
  
  Go to the Coaching Resources & CYO Philosophy Page
Contact CYO
- Catholic Youth Organization
  Diocese of Oakland
  
  2121 Harrison Street , Oakland CA 94612
- CYO Staff
  
  Bill Ford
  
  Director, CYO Athletics & Scouting
  
  510-628-2187
  
  bfordoakdiocese.org

CYO Coaches' Workshops and certification

"Everything you say and do, the way you say it and the way you do it becomes a lesson for your athletes and will leave an indelible mark in their lives, for better or for worse." – Pope Francis, 2019

UPCOMING NEW COACHES WORKSHOPS

WHAT TO BRING TO A WORKSHOP

"Everything you say and do, the way you say it and the way you do it becomes a lesson for your athletes and will leave an indelible mark in their lives, for better or for worse."

– Pope Francis, 2019