MA Safe Soccer

MA SafeSoccer

As mandated by federal law, Westwood Youth Soccer follows a comprehensive Adult Registration and CORI/SORI security background check procedure, as well completion of a mandatory abuse prevention course, concussion training, and required policy review requirements for all adults working with children.

The process is called MA SafeSoccer and is required even if you recently did a CORI for WYS or another organization. The system Mass Youth Soccer is using is called U.S. Soccer Connect.

MA SafeSoccer Multi-Step Process:

Some helpful tips BEFORE STARTING:

  • Be sure to use the same email address and password for ALL of your MA SafeSoccer components.

  • Strongly recommend that you complete the registration on a computer as it gets involved.

  • Be sure to use your full LEGAL first, middle, and last name.

    • If you have a preferred name that you would like to have displayed on your printed credential, let the registrar know, as there is now an exception process
      that can be used to print out credentials that depict preferred names instead of legal names. It is an easy switch, but needs to be manually done.

  • You need to have your driver’s license number and expiration date.

  • You need to have a color head shot photo (under 1 MB in size) on the device you are using that can be uploaded (initial registration only, returning users' photos are stored). You will also need a photo to upload within the initial Abuse Training course.

    • The selected photo must be a CLEAR, HEAD Only color picture of you with NO other people in the picture, no sunglasses, no hats, and sufficiently well lit and CLOSE enough to clearly see your face. Parts of other people, including faces, arms, hands, etc. are also not allowed.


STEP 1: Annual Registration with Mass Youth Soccer, including authorization for your CORI/SORI checks and collection of fairly extensive profile information.

  • Annual Registration link in US Sports Connect: Click Here

  • Returning users, to ensure that you link to the account that holds all your adult registration history choose "Login with Username" when registering. Just click on the forgot password link if you do not remember your password.

  • New Coaches: Click the Create Account box if you have never coached with WYS before.

  • Season is Fall 2022 - Spring 2023.

  • If two accounts show up, choose the one the has your chosen USERNAME instead of your email if that is presented as an option.

  • If you get the message: "Cannot register this duplicated record" Go back to the link above and try using the Login with Username option. If that still doesn't work, contact the registrar.

  • Go through the steps. You basically will be filling out forms and then choosing the green buttons to continue. If you need a help guide click: HELP GUIDE.

  • When completed, you will get an email confirmation from Mass Youth Soccer immediately upon registering titled: Thank You for Registering, Your Name.

  • Strangely, to continue on, you have to log back in using the link in the email, or the link below, to complete the other steps.


STEP 2: Complete SafeSport Abuse Prevention online course

  • U. S. Center for SafeSport training cycle includes 90+ minutes for Year 1 core initial training which is followed in Year 2, Year 3, or Year 4 by shorter, 30 minute Refresher courses before starting over with the core training in Year 5. The SafeSport site will let you know which training course you are on if you use the login information below. It will be the one labeled START instead of Re-enroll or Completed. You can stop and resume if necessary.

  • For the initial course only, you will need a head shot photo to upload within the Abuse Training course (<1 MB in size is key!).

  • MA Youth Soccer now provides direct access to the SafeSport training with a specific, restricted enrollment key:

    • Your SafeSport Training Enrollment Key is found in your Mass Youth Soccer Adult Registration account in U.S. Soccer Connect (see above)

    • Login to your Sports Connect account: https://mayouthsoccer.sportsaffinity.com/Foundation/Login.aspx?sessionguid=

    • Click your “Certificates” tab and then click on the live link posted under the SafeSport Training Enrollment Key Link:

  • If you already have a SafeSport account from a prior year, use the SIGN IN button on the top right of the page to sign in to your existing account.

  • Your login enrollment key should pre-populate if you used the link from your Soccer Connect account to allow you to login.

  • U.S. Soccer will be your organization and is preselected.

  • Select the training called: SafeSport Trained - U.S. Soccer Federation or your next up Refresher Course if you have already done some of the SafeSport training in the past. It will be the one labeled START instead of Re-enroll or Completed.

  • If the system is unusually slow or has technical difficulties, you may want to try at a different time. Chrome browser seems to work the best.

  • If you used the same login email to register with Sports Connect and SafeSport, your course completion status should be updated electronically, and you will see the verified check mark in your Sports Connect account.

    • If this does not happen, you may be directed to log back into https://safesporttrained.org/#/login to download a PDF of your certificate and then upload it into your Sports Connect account directly.


STEP 3: Complete online Concussion Training Certification.

  • There are now two concussion training courses accepted by Mass Youth Soccer

    • The 45+ minute CDC Heads Up to Youth Sports: Online Training for Coaches. You must have or create a CDC Train account before taking the course. See link in pink below and read all the instructions listed below carefully:

    • The U.S. Soccer Learning Center Safe Healthy Playing Environment course training is also accepted. If you are a referee, you may have already taken this course, and it should link over. To register with USSF, if not a member, click below:

  • Concussion training is good for up to two soccer years. Certificate must be dated JUNE 2021 or later for the current 22/23 soccer year.

  • Instructions for CDC TRAIN: Tips for CDC Train account setup are listed below or your can review the more detailed instructions in the PDF linked here as it gets complex and is not very clear:

    • Group: Other

    • Region: Region 4B lists Westwood; If you live in a different town, search the regions for your town)

    • You have to fill out your profile before you can register for a course:

      • Organization Name: Westwood Youth Soccer; Dept: Soccer; Title: Coach

      • Professional Role: Volunteer

      • Work Setting: Other; then type in Youth Sports Organization

  • Once you have a profile, or if you have previously taken the course, click on the Course Catalog tab

    • Search for: HEADS UP to Youth Sports: Online Training for Coaches

    • Click on the Green ? Pre-Assessment button (it is 31 questions long!) to START the course

  • After the pre-assessment, you will be able to launch the course. The site will save any incomplete progress.

  • SAVE your completion certificate PDF to your computer.


STEP 4: Verify in your Sports Connect Account that you have successfully completed all three requirements. Full completion is required before working with the kids.

  • Login here: https://mayouthsoccer.sportsaffinity.com/Foundation/Login.aspx?sessionguid=

  • Go to the Certificates tab

  • You do NOT need to upload your Driver's License.

  • If Check Marks show in all three boxes (SafeSport, Concussion, CORI Verified) you are all set!

  • If missing any of the three completion check marks:

    • SafeSport: try clicking on the Get SafeSport updates or upload your certificate.

    • Concussion Certificate: The date on your Concussion Training must be after June 2021 to meet WYS bi-annual soccer year requirement.

      • If you took the CDC Concussion Course, you will need to upload your current Training Certificate.

      • If you took the USSF concussion training, you may have to click the Licenses tab in your SoccerConnect account and then hit the Get Learning Center Update button or upload your certificate directly.

    • CORI Verified: If you are a NEW coach, or one who does not have a check mark in the CORI Verified box in your Certificates tab, there is a one-time validation of identification required by the Commonwealth of MA. This can be done after applying for your CORI and does NOT have to wait until your CORI is processed.

  • Click on the Print Documents link under your picture in your Sports Connect account then select Receipts & Forms on the line that says ADULT/CORI Registration to print out a copy of the two page CORI Acknowledgement Form.

  • Your signature on the CORI Acknowledgement Forms must be verified. There are two ways to do that:

      1. Contact the registrar to verify your printed, signed form vs. your driver's license over Zoom or Facetime: registrar@westwoodsoccer.org

      2. Take the forms and your driver's license to a Notary Public to sign there and get your signature NOTARIZED.

  • DO NOT upload the notarized Acknowledgement form into the system. You send it to the Registrar and they need to upload a separate CORI Verified form. Once that is done, you will see a check mark in this box.


This is what the CORI Acknowledgement Form looks like


U.S. Sports Connect Tech Support

If you are having issues with this system or downloading your forms, please contact tech support immediately. This system is not run by WYS, and we cannot help you with account set up or password issues.

Help line number: (855) 703-2558 or (800) 808-7195