Thank you for considering coaching with FC Richmond this season! The easiest way to register to coach your child's rec team is to volunteer while registering your child for rec soccer season through PlayMetrics -- make sure the person volunteering to coach is added as a Family contact (see below) with correct email address -- you can volunteer to Head coach the team (will be expected to be at each practice and game throughout the season, as well as communicating with the team) or as Assistant coach for the team (will support Head coach in practices and games and will be present when they can't be in attendance)

STEP 1: Whether you have already registered your child for the season with FC Richmond or not:

Make sure your name (person volunteering to coach) and contact information is entered as a family contact in PlayMetrics. You may need to have the person who registered your child Add you as a Contact rather than set up a new account for yourself in PlayMetrics. This will make it easier to link your name as coach to your child’s schedule in PlayMetrics.

The contact info you add in PlayMetrics will be the email/phone number where you receive FC Richmond notifications (schedule changes, weather cancellations, etc) and will also be the email address you use to log in to GotSport to complete your online requirements to coach with us. Make sure your Communication Preferences are set in PlayMetrics so that you will receive notifications/emails from us

*If you don’t have a child playing rec soccer this season, but are still interested in coaching, email recreation@fcrichmond.com for more info!

STEP 2: If you haven't already, register your player! You will have the option to Volunteer to Head Coach or Assistant Coach in registration, and discount will be directly applied to registration fees and your offer to volunteer will be tied directly to your child's registration -- make sure the parent who is planning to COACH is the parent (and email address) connected with the VOLUNTEER TO COACH response!

STEP 3:  Please complete the list of requirements below. Please reach out to us at recreation@fcrichmond.com if you hit any obstacles and we will figure it out together.

1. Coaches Clinics - offered twice each year, in February and August! Please attend one clinic minimum per year, preferable each season. For coaches signing up just to coach Rec Futsal, clinic attendance is not required as we will have professional referees overseeing the Laws of the Game (see below)

Coaches Clinics for Feb 2026 (will be ~9:30am-1pm with exact times for each age group TBD soon!)

Saturday, Feb 21, 2026 SOUTH coaches at Robious Middle School fields, Times TBA

Saturday, Feb 28, 2026 NORTH coaches at Robious Middle School fields, Times TBA

*if you cannot attend on the date assigned for your division (NORTH or SOUTH), you may attend on the alternate date/time!

**if either or both dates are missed due to inclement weather, our RAIN DATE/MAKEUP Clinic will be held Sunday afternoon, Mar 1 at Robious Middle School!

2. SafeSport training/USYS background check -- All coaches will need to log into GotSport using the same email address registered to coach in PlayMetrics (enter your DOB to unlock "Requirements" tab!) and check that your requirements are “Fulfilled” and up-to-date through May 2026. 

(SafeSport is notoriously the most time-consuming requirement, but is required by our governing body (VYSA). 

Log into GotSport (update DOB if necessary) and check your requirements for SafeSport training and GotSport background check -- if necessary, complete SafeSport training (90-minute webinar) and enter your name and DOB for background check.

3. Chesterfield County Coaches Card -- All coaches must have a current Chesterfield County Approved Background Check / “Coaches” card valid through May 2026.

Download, print and fill out the Chesterfield County Police Dept. Release of Information -- forms will need to be notarized this season, and there will be forms available and a notary on-site at Police HQ during the following times:

Appear in person to be fingerprinted at the Chesterfield County Police Headquarters (10001 Iron Bridge Rd. Chesterfield, VA 23832) at one of the following dates/times:

November

• Saturday, Nov. 15, 8-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 19, 5-7 p.m.

December

• Wednesday, Dec. 3, 5-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 13, 8-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Dec. 17, 5-7 p.m.

January

• Wednesday, Jan. 7, 5-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 17, 8-11 a.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 21, 5-7 p.m.
• Saturday, Jan. 31, 8-11 a.m.

4. Onboarding with Soccer Parent Resource Center -- 

This membership is free because FC Richmond leadership values parents who are engaged with and educated about the soccer experiences of their child -- you'll have access to hundreds of articles, interviews, courses, all created specifically for youth soccer parents!

In order to access the Sideline Project link you FIRST have to create your free membership/account available to FC Richmond families -- then, once you log in to Soccer Parenting Resource Center, you have to complete their onboarding process (takes about 10 minutes) before you can access the 15 minute course, The Sideline Project 

at https://soccerparentresourcecenter.com/courses/the-sideline-project-parent-platform/

1. Log in to GotSport - HERE – using the SAME email you used when you completed your coaching request in PlayMetrics

2. Click “Edit” in the top right of your Dashboard screen and add your date of birth. IF YOU DO NOT ADD YOUR DOB, YOUR REQUIREMENTS WILL NOT POPULATE

3. Click “Save” in the bottom left corner

4. Scroll to the top and click “Dashboard” – the far left menu choice

5. Scroll to the “Requirements” section of your Dashboard

You will need to complete the requirements listed for USYS – if you have requirements listed for US Club, you do NOT have to complete those – only the requirements for USYS. The requirements should be:

•  Safe Sport – if you coached within the last year, you should only have to do a 15 minute refresher Safe Sport course. You should not have to re-take the 90 minute course. When you log in to your account in the US Center for Safe Sport (instructions below) it should automatically populate your next course. If you are a NEW coach, you will start with the 90 minute Safe Sport course.

• Background check – If you coached in the Fall, you should not have to repeat the background check. If it says “Required” next to “Background Check” you will need to complete it. ALL new coaches will need to complete the background check.

Directions to complete the Background Check LINK 

Directions to complete Safe Sport LINK