CPR & AED Requirements for California Youth Soccer

There are two important implementation dates.

Beginning January 1, 2027, youth sports organizations must ensure coaches are certified in CPR and AED operation and recertified at least every two years, and must maintain a written cardiac emergency response plan.

Beginning January 1, 2028, organizations must ensure athletes have access to an AED during every official practice or match.

These are separate requirements with separate implementation dates.

Beginning January 1, 2027, youth sports organizations must ensure their coaches are certified to perform CPR and operate an AED. Cal South will incorporate CPR/AED certification into its coach registration and compliance process so Member Organizations can track completion through their Cal South Profile.

No. Cal South does not require coaches to use a specific CPR/AED training provider. Coaches may complete training through another accredited provider that satisfies the applicable California requirements. The resulting certificate can be uploaded into their Cal South Profile and reviewed by the Member Organization’s Registrar.

Cal South recommends the NFHS CPR & AED Training course as an affordable and convenient option for our coaches and Member Organizations.

The course will cost $10 per coach, providing our members with a low-cost option for meeting the new requirement.

Coaches choosing the NFHS course can register and complete the training online here:

Complete the NFHS CPR & AED Training Course

After completing the course, the coach will receive their certificaiton documentation and can upload it into their Cal South Profile for approval.

NFHS is recommended, not required. Coaches may submit qualifying certification from another accredited provider.

Our goal is to provide Member Organizations with a solution that is affordable, accessible, and easy to administer.

At $10 per coach, the NFHS course provides a very low-cost option compared with many other CPR/ AED training programs.

The online format also makes it easier for volunteer coaches to complete the requirement without needing to attend a scheduled in-person class.

At the same time, we recognize that some coaches may already hold qualifying CPR/ AED certifications through their employer, another sports organization, or another accredited training provider. Coaches must upload certificate that has 13 months left prior to expiration onto profile.

Yes. California law permits CPR/AED certification training to be conducted online or in person, provided the training satisfies the applicable requirements. This is one reason Cal South recommends the NFHS online course for volunteer coaches.

You do not need to complete the NFHS course. A coach who already holds a current CPR/AED certification from an accredited provider may upload it into their Profile for review. The Club Registrar is responsible for reviewing the documentation and confirming that it satisfies the applicable requirement.

Once a coach completes their CPR/AED training, they will upload their certificate into the applicable CPR/AED requirement within their Cal South Profile account.

This applies whether the coach completes the recommended NFHS course or another qualifying accredited CPR/AED course.

Once the certificate has been uploaded, the requirement will move into Pending status for review by the Club Registrar.

The Registrar will then review the certificate before approving the requirement.

The Registrar should:

1. Open the coach's pending CPR/AED requirement and review the uploaded certificate.
2. Confirm that the certification is from an acceptable provider and satisfies the applicable requirement.
3. Identify the actual certification/completion date shown on the certificate.
4. Enter that date as the Submission Date on profile.
5. Click Save to save the corrected submission date.
6. Change status to Approved in the dropdown menu and click Update.

The Submission Date should reflect the date the coach actually entered the certification—not simply the date the document was uploaded into their Cal South Profile.

New certifications will operate on a rolling 24-month cycle based on the coach’s actual certification/completion date.

However, if entering from another organization, with less than 24 months remaining, enter date taken. This should be 1 month from presentation.

This is why Registrars must verify the date printed on the certificate rather than relying on the date the coach uploads the document.

Beginning January 1, 2028, organizations must ensure athletes have access to an AED during official practices and matches. That does not necessarily mean every individual field must have its own permanently installed AED, but an AED must be accessible to athletes during the activity.

If a facility already has an AED, determine its location, confirm that it will be accessible during practices and matches, and include that information in your cardiac emergency response planning. If an AED is not accessible at the facility, the organization will need to ensure appropriate AED access another way. Cal South recommends that Member Organziations begin reviewing their facilities well before the January 1, 2028 implementation date.

Beginning January 1, 2027, youth sports organizations must maintain a written cardiac emergency response plan consistent with nationally recognized, evidence-based standards.

The plan addresses important elements such as:

• AED locations and procedures during a sudden cardiac arrest.
• Responsibilities during a cardiac emergency.
• How coaches, administrators, and athletes are informed about the emergency response plan.
• Required annual communication to parents or guardians.
• Annual review of the plan with coaches and staff.

Cardiac Emergency Response Plan Template

Cal South will be using the US Soccer Response plan template.

Each Member Organization should review and edit the template to reflect its individual circumstances, including the facilities it utilizes, AED locations and accessibility, emergency procedures, organizational policies, and assigned roles and responsibilities.

The template is intended to provide members with a strong starting point while allowing each organization to develop a plan specific to its operations and facilities.

California law provides certain Good Samaritan protections related to the good-faith emergency use of AEDs. These protections should not be interpreted as blanket immunity from every potential claim. Member Organizations remain responsible for following applicable requirements related to AED access, maintenance, testing, emergency planning, and other obligations.

Clubs should also review their insurance coverage and consult their insurance provider or legal counsel regarding organization-specific liability questions.

No.

The requirement concerns appropriate access to an AED, not purchasing a particular AED through Cal South.

Member Organizations should evaluate the facilities they use, determine what AED access already exists, and identify locations where additional access may be necessary.

Cal South will continue providing guidance and resources as the January 1, 2028 requirement approaches.

Need Additional AEDs?

If your organization determines that additional AEDs are needed, we recommend reaching out to local hospitals, healthcare providers, medical facilities, and physician offices to explore potential donation opportunities.

Be sure to highlight your organization’s nonprofit status, service to youth, and commitment to providing a safe environment for children in your community. Some healthcare organizations may be willing to donate AEDs or connect your organization with programs that provide them at reduced or no cost.

We have already seen Cal SouthMember Organizations successfully secure donated AEDs through local community partnerships, so we strongly encourage clubs to explore these opportunities before purchasing additional equipment.

The first deadline is January 1, 2027, so Member Organizations should begin preparing their coach certification and cardiac emergency response processes now.

Cal South recommends that clubs:

• Begin educating coaches about the upcoming CPR/AED certification requirement.
• Determine which coaches already possess qualifying certifications.
• Familiarize Registrars with the GotSport approval workflow.
• Begin developing their written cardiac emergency response plan.
• Inventory facilities and identify existing AED locations and accessibility.
• Begin identifying facilities where additional AED access may be needed before January 1, 2028.

Cal South will continue providing additional resources and guidance as implementation approaches.

Cal South's goal is to make this transition as straightforward and affordable as possible while helping our Member Organizations create safer environments for players.

For any further questions please contact Cal South Member Services at administrativeservices@calsouth.com.

Member Organizations are also encouraged to review the legislation directly to better understand the requirements and implementation timelines. AB 310 establishes the January 1, 2027 requirements for coach CPR/AED certification and written cardiac emergency response plans, followed by the January 1, 2028 requirements for AED access, maintenance, and testing.