Coaches Corner
Help! I Volunteered to Coach!
Many first time coaches volunteer or are volunteered to the job. First things first…Relax. Relax and think about how much fun you are going to have with these little soccer players.
- All Coaches Must attend the pre-season meeting
- All Coaches MUST completed a Risk Management forms - See Below
- Contact all players on their team no later then the 3rd week in August at set up first practice
- Should run at least 1 practice (recommend 2 for 2nd grade and up) a week during the season and a few preseason practices.
- Attend the Free Coaches Clinics provided by the league at no cost.
- BE ON TIME to all games and practices.
- Open communication with the league and parents on your team.
- Have FUN. - In order for our players to enjoy them selfs Coaches must enjoy the game as well. This is a intramural league and we are here to have fun and enjoy the game.
Goal: Create a fun, learning soccer environment for your players in training and in games.
How?
- Talk to the Program Director and request helpful coaching materials and coaching aids.
- Talk to other Soccer Coaches in the program or in your community who have worked with these age groups before.
- Call your State Youth Soccer Association and request helpful coaching materials and coaching aids.
- Call your State Youth Soccer Association and ask to speak with the State Director of Coaching about specific age appropriate coaching courses and age appropriate training materials.
- Call US Youth Soccer at 1.800.4SOCCER or visit their web site at www.USYouthSoccer.org and request and/or order helpful coaching materials and coaching aids.
Team Management:
Prepare a list of simple and clear rules for your players and their parents. Conduct a preseason meeting to review these rules and to go over other important information and to complete important administrative paperwork.
Consider the following:
- Schedules and locations for training sessions and games.
- Drop off and pick up times for training sessions and games.
- Player responsibilities and behavior at training sessions and games.
- Parent responsibilities and behavior at training sessions and games.
- Player equipment (soccer ball, shin pads, soccer shoes or sneakers, water, appropriate clothing).
- Coaching equipment (soccer balls, 25-30 cones, basic first aid kit, small cooler of ice and zip lock bags).
- Fill out program registration forms and medical release forms.
- Discuss the procedure for canceling training sessions and games.
- Discuss your philosophy of coaching…it’s about player development, not winning and losing!