A Professional Youth Sports Administrator is a vital component of the youth sports structure. Professional Youth Sports Administrators come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, some of which have no formal training in the field.

To position the Professional Youth Sports Administrator as the ultimate authority overseeing youth sports in a community – it is essential that every community have at least one Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA)  who understanding the core/foundations of positive youth sports so that regardless of locale, youth sports are guided by a similar, positive philosophy.

Similar to the public educational system whereby a superintendent is ultimately responsible for providing a quality education for every child, the professional youth sports administrator is charged with ensuring that every child has a quality youth sports experience. 

It is imperative for these professionals who work for public recreation departments, at military installations as well as community based organizations to be trained and certified. By understanding an in-depth foundation of knowledge, the Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA) becomes the ultimate authority in every community.

The Recommendations for Communities, a blueprint developed for communities to raise community standards in youth sports identifies the professional youth sports administator as the person who is accountable and educated about how youth sports should operate. This professional can also act as a liason between elected officials, various local youth sports program leaders as well as parents and young athletes. 

The Academy for Youth Sports Administrators is the only comprehensive educational program solely focued on youth sports administration and upon successful completion is the only place to earn the CYSA credential. This educational experience is available Online or scheduled Onsite in various locations throughout the US.

JOIN an elite group of professionals from across the nation that are actively improving youth sports for children day after day!

Overview - Academy for Youth Sports Administrators

The Academy for Youth Sports Administrators is a comprehensive certification program that offers cutting-edge information on critical topics for youth sports administrators today. The Academy’s primary goal is to provide attendees with a foundation and tools needed to positively impact the youth sports experience for ALL children in their communities.

Topics covered at the Academy:

Model youth sports program


Upon successful completion of the Academy, administrators will earn the Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA) credential & will become eligible to join the elite CYSA Association.

Currently, almost 2,000 CYSAs have graduated from the Academy.

 The Onsite Academy can be completed at the following location this year:

• DECEMBER 2-5, 2009, ORLANDO FLORIDA - in conjunction with the NAYS Youth Sports Congress/AB Conference & Expo

The Online Academy is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To Register for the onsite or online Academy for Youth Sports Administrators, please click here.

Once becoming a CYSA, administrators are eligible to join the elite CYSA Association. The CYSA Association holds members to a higher standard of youth sports administration & gives members the opportunity to continue networking with other professionals in this field, it also provides access to continued education. Register now for the CYSA Association.

Maintaining the CYSA credential (earning 1.0 CEU's every 2 years) is accomplished by attending the International Youth Sports Congress or by applying CEUs earned at local, state or national trainings/conferences.

"The Academy is an excellent program that is very interesting and helpful. It is an absolute MUST for anyone who cares about kids in sports"

-Jim Cline, CYSA 2004