Highland Groveland Recreation Association HGRA Soccer 2015 Coaches Meeting

Agenda Welcome & Introductions Soccer Program HGRA Soccer Coach Expectations (game/practice) Practice Space Sign-up Weather Related Issues Equipment Requirements Equipment Distribution Rosters & Schedules Equipment Reuse Program & Goalie Clinic Soccer Season Field Location & Condition Communication/Contacts/Resources Next Steps Concussion Action Plan Brief Concussion Training

Introductions Soccer Committee Jean Bannick Bill Driver Gary Findell Euan Kerr Rick Macpherson

Small Sided Soccer Leagues 5U Tuesdays or Sundays HGRA led (professional coaches) No parent involvement No practice

Small Sided Soccer Leagues 6U & 7U Partnership with Blackhawks Soccer Club Parent coach/referee and lead scrimmage Practice for the first 30 minutes followed by scrimmage against another team for 30 minutes Small sided soccer 4 v. 4 Sub on the fly No goalies Respect the arc! Each team will have two portable goals to keep for the season Practice once per week

Small Sided Soccer Leagues 8U (Coed) Small sided soccer 4 v. 4 Parents coach & referee Teams split into two each week to play against another team which is also split into two teams Games consist of 25 minute halves- take more breaks during hot days or when you have less or no subs Sub on the fly No goalies Respect the arc! Each team will have two portable goals to keep for the season One game and one practice weekly

HGRA Soccer Leagues 10U, 12U & 14U (gender specific) Full HGRA field Parents coach HGRA referee officiate games (No off-sides for 10U) No slide tackling 7v7 Halves consisting of 25 minutes 18U, 35U & Premier (coed) Full HGRA field No coaches HGRA referee officiate games No slide tackling 7v7 Halves consisting of 30 minutes for 18U, 40 minutes for 35U & Premier

HGRA Soccer Highland Groveland Recreation Association Here for fun! HGRA does not keep score (most of the players do!) No standings and no trophies Focus on soccer skills, sportsmanship, and fun Okay to be competitive

Coach Expectations Hold one practice per week for 60 minutes Arrive 10 minutes early to practice and games to set up and get team ready Be prepared. Know your plan for practice Keep the kids moving / ball to player ratio Search for practice ideas on YouTube Communicate with your team if you need to cancel a practice Ask parents to help if you need a sub

Coach Expectations- Cont. Respect the decision of the referees Many are doing this for the first time If there are major issues, look for one of us on the field or us at your league specific address Don’t confront the referee, fellow coaches or parents on the field Contact the field manager if necessary Kids are watching you!

Coach Expectations Risk Management Background check & concussion training Ask parents to stay at practice and games Need their support in case of emergencies Don’t provide rides to players Ask another parent to stay if there is a player waiting to be picked up so you’re not alone with them

Practice Space Sign-up Limited space available at Carondelet & Talmud Torah fields Available space will be posted on the Soccer section of the website Practice schedules will be ed as soon as possible Use public parks for practice Respect the space!

Weather Related Issues Unless you hear otherwise, assume the game is on and come to the field Games will be played in the rain Games are cancelled when severe weather and/or lightning is present Game cancellation decisions are mostly made on the field Most decisions are made as soon as we have a clear sign of the bad weather Some decisions could be made up to 15 minutes prior to game time Don’t assume that 2 nd game is canceled just because the 1 st game of the night was canceled Check Facebook and website for up to date info Do not or call the HGRA number Make up games may be scheduled when possible

Weather Related Issue- cont. If severe weather occurs during practice, use caution Severe weather or lightning- cancel the practice Different HGRA sports (Baseball, Soccer & Track) have different weather policies Safety first!

Equipment Requirements Must wear HGRA provided shirt to play Must wear shin guards and socks that cover them – remind players/parents that shin guards go under the socks No metal cleats Players should bring their own soccer ball to practice Check the garage at Carondelet fields for items donated through the Equipment Reuse Program Socks and shin guards available for sale at the garage

Equipment Requirements- cont. No Jewelry Jewelry is not allowed during play Earrings or other piercings are not allowed – can’t play with it taped No watches, bracelets, etc. Medical alerts items must be taped down It’s for the safety of the players!

Equipment Distribution All HGRA equipment will be distributed during the each leagues first night(May 11-15). Stop at the garage on Carondelet first to pick up your equipment. Equipment: team shirt, equipment bag: Soccer balls Scrimmage vests Flat cones Tall cones Ball pump Whistle Clipboard Ice pack Portable goals for small sided leagues (6U,7U & 8U) Goal handoff during game nights

Rosters & Schedules Rosters ed to families shortly Changes still possible Coaches will receive a new roster every time a change is made Do not make any roster changes! Confirm players are on your team before giving them a shirt and letting them play. Ask parents to league specific address with any roster issues Schedules almost final Both rosters and schedules will be online

Equipment Reuse Program & Goalie Clinic Equipment Reuse Program (1 st two weeks of season) Turn in any cleats and/or shin guards to the shed at the Carondelet field Pick up cleats/shin guards at the shed- remind families Goalie Clinic - free Jason Kallsen & Euan Kerr Open to players from 10U-18U Coaches welcome Monday, June 8 th (12U, 14U, 18U) and Wednesday June 10 th (8U & 10U), 6:30pm s will be sent to eligible leagues

HGRA Soccer Season Season starts the week of May 11 “Practice week” get to know the team, distribute shirts, communicate practice day, time and location Confirm contact information No games on Sunday/Monday- Memorial Day weekend No games the week of 4 th of July (Tuesday-Thursday) except for on Monday, 10U programs will have their make up game from Memorial day Season end the last full week of July (20 th )

Field Location & Condition Carondelet Field Behind Expo Elementary and Albert Street south of Randolph Ave Talmud Torah Between Hamline & Syndicate and Ford Parkway & Pinehurst Ave CDH is still using the field Fields will be lined as soon as possible Ask a staff for help with field location or team issues No snacks/food on the fields! No treats after games

Communication/Resources Issues with field staff/referee should be directed to or league specific address Look for someone from Soccer Committee on the field Familiarize yourself with the Soccer section of the website and direct parents there for info Check Facebook for most up to date info Website will also be updated with any new information as soon as possible HGRA Emergencies- Call the HGRA cell phone at

Next Steps Practice Space Request Connect with your co-coach Agree on practice day and time Communicate with HGRA Soccer

Next Steps- Cont. Wait for final roster and from Jeremy or me before contacting your players Contact your team (phone/ ) Introduce yourself as the coach Remind them about the first week of games(week of May 11- schedules should be ready by then) Remind them about shin guards/socks that cover them and to bring a soccer ball and water Visit the soccer section of hgra.org for more info.

Thank you for volunteering!