CYO Coaches' Workshops

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.  In CYO Coaches Workshops, ooaches gather in prayer, discuss and  reflect about coaching children with an emphasis on sharing Gospel values, and receive policies and information about coaching in CYO. Diocesan Safe Environment Training and Screening requriements help ensure that adults will safely interact with young people.

What Are CYO Coaches' Certification Workshops?

• Workshops for certification are held prior to the beginning of each sport season. Coaches must attend a Coaches' Certification Workshop annually and meet program,  safe enviroment training and screening requirements to be certified to coach in CYO.
• Annual attendance is mandatory for all 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 is about two hours long and includes prayer, CYO philosophy, rules, policies and safety procedures.. Attendace for the entire workhop is mandatory.
• It is required that each coach complete Virtus safe environment training and is 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?

• Certification cards are presented at the end of each workshop to coaches who have completed program requirements.
• 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.

Additional CYO Certification Requirements

• Coaches must be selected and approved to coach by their parish or Catholic school.
• Coaches must complete 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 Dicoese 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.

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 July 1, 2018. 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.
• 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