AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting WELCOME! 1

Andrew Lelchuk AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting Regional Commissioner 2

Hosts AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting Andrew Lelchuk – Regional Commissioner Steve Hershkowitz – Coach Administrator Krista Skinner – Coach Mentor Mark Hodson – Coach Instructor 3

Steve Hershkowitz AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting Regional Coach Administrator 4

Agenda Introduction Team Management Referee/Coach Interaction New Training Materials Coach Mentor Program Professional Trainer Support GU6 Breakout Session

AYSO Mission and Vision AYSO's Vision is to provide world class youth soccer programs that enrich children's lives. AYSO's Mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on AYSO's Six Philosophies

AYSO Philosophies Everyone Plays Balanced Teams Open Registration Positive Coaching Good Sportsmanship Player Development

Team Management Make it fun Recruit Help Communicate

The AYSO Team REFEREES PARENTS KIDS COACHES

Development Over Winning “One of my biggest pet peeves is youth team coaches who take winning too seriously. This has always bothered me, and I always tell coaches to forget about winning with young players. They need to create an environment where the kids enjoy playing and are developing their soccer skills. Winning should never be a priority.” – Landon Donovan

Development Over Winning “…If I’m going to do this, it will about the kids and not the results. It has to be about the kids’ development…” “I stress to my coaches to over-communicate with parents … Include parents in your thought process and they’ll understand what’s happening while they’re on the sideline and be more likely to sit back and enjoy it.” – Shannon MacMillan

What is the BEST Teacher of the Game? Learning by Doing What is the BEST Teacher of the Game? The game itself… LET THEM PLAY! HAVE FUN and INSPIRE!

Coach / Parent Interaction Welcome message Team Meeting Weekly Communication

Welcome Message Introduce yourself, your assistant, and team goals “Have fun, learn soccer, get exercise” List the roster Start recruiting help Invite players, parents, siblings to team meeting

Team Meeting Explain your coaching philosophy and expectations. Learn their expectations. Introduce Kids Zone Discuss team goals Recruit assistants, team parents, referees Have activities planned for players

Kids Zone

Weekly Communication Thursday or so: remind your team of the weekend game schedule; ask who anticipates missing any part of a game; mention what the weekend focus will be Sunday or so: summarize what went well in the weekend games and what you’ll work on in the coming week

Coach / Referee Interaction You need to recruit refs Your team will follow your lead during games Make game fun for refs too

AYSO Ref Certifications U-8 Official: CR in U7 & U8 (ARs lightly used) Certified by Region 18 Regional Referee: CR in U10 (AR in U12) Certified by Region 18 Intermediate Referee: CR in U12 (AR in U19) Certified by Area 1D Advanced Referee: CR in U14 & (often) U16 Certified by Section One National Referee: CR in U19 Certified by AYSO National 19 19

Referee Requirements Have a current and accepted AYSO Volunteer Form on file Complete Online Safe Haven Hold an AYSO Referee Certification Classes listed at http://ayso18.org/referee-training 20

Our Youth Referee Program is stronger than ever Youth Referees Youth Referee Regulations CR & AR must be two years older than any player in a match ZERO Tolerance for dissent or abuse of a youth referee Youth Referee Benefits Counts for community service hours Youth Referee Coordinator to mentor Youth Referees on any issue Youth Referee Requirements Same training as adults – including Safe Haven Our Youth Referee Program is stronger than ever 21 21

Referee Scheduling Home Team provides one CR and one AR for the match before to their match. Visiting Team provides the second AR for the match before their match Referee Coordinator All referee assignments are filled via RSS Your team’s volunteers must assign themselves in the RSS so we know the match is covered 22 22

On Match Day The AYSO Team How You Can Help Things to Keep in Mind 23

The AYSO Team REFEREES PARENTS KIDS COACHES

The AYSO Team Team Philosophies Work Together Help Each Other Protect Each Other Do Our Best

Team Responsibilities The AYSO Team Team Responsibilities Coaches Coach Referees Ref Parents Cheer & Encourage

Ref Primary Responsibility is to Keep the Game Fun Fair Safe Exam Version 1010a Question #50

How You Can Help Have your team prepared to play on time Complete Game Card PRIOR to arrival Present and in uniform 10 minutes before kickoff No jewelry, casts or splints Do not delay restarts Substitution breaks are NOT coaching opportunities Avoid dissent with the Referee’s decisions Control your spectators 28 28

Game Card should be filled out by Coach before the match check-in Speaking of the Game Card… Game Card should be filled out by Coach before the match check-in Only One Assistant Coach (must have an AYSO Coach badge too!) Players in NUMERICAL order This error loses sportsmanship points at Area-level matches 29

Things to Keep in Mind Referees are volunteers. They CANNOT be paid New Referees may be nervous during their first few games – Please support them Referees do not see everything and may make mistakes You may will not agree with every decision 30 30

Things to Keep in Mind Coaches and spectators should not enter the field of play unless requested by the referee Have your substitutes entering the game report to the assistant referees The assistant referee will note the above on the game card to insure all players participate in three “quarters” of the match 31 31

Things to Keep in Mind Remain within the Coaches’ Area during the game (maximum of two coaches per team) Limit sideline participation to comments that are Positive, Instructional or Encouraging Parents behavior tends to reflect that of their coach Spectators who persistently abuse Referees will be asked to leave the premises 32 32

Things to Keep in Mind Not all ball-hand contact is deliberate handling A ball is not out of play unless it has completely crossed the touchline or goal line, on the ground or in the air A player getting hurt or falling is not a reason by itself to call a foul “All ball” does not excuse a foul You can play the ball while on the ground, as long as nobody is put in danger by that play Not every “high kick” is playing in a dangerous manner 33 33

We Always Strive to Improve Referee Feedback Forms Forms can be found on the Region 18 website Provide feedback on performance during a specific game Coach Feedback Forms Use the back of the game cards Provide detail regarding the situation, attitude of the coach, player or spectator involved, specific language used, etc. Objective Reviewed weekly for immediate, constructive feedback Used to provide guidance and improve performance 34

Utilizing New Training Material AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting Scott Snyder AYSO Player Development Technical Advisor Utilizing New Training Material 35

AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting Krista Skinner Regional Coach Mentor Training Curriculum Coach Mentor Program 36

Training Curriculum Coaching Consistency Focus on U7/8 and U10 Utilize Training Manual – portable Skills, Drills, Understanding the Game, and Small Sided Matches. Build during 10 week program.

Training Curriculum

Pre-Opening Day Saturday, August 23 BU 7/8 - Village 8-5 GU 7/8 – Marine Turf 8-3 DC’s have schedules. “Practice Day” – first touch for coaches and referees – refresh skills.

Pre-Opening Day OK if not full team – we will combine – sending kids at different time OK. Encourage all referees – new, old and prospective to attend. Coach mentors needed. EVO Coaches

EVO Support Scheduled practice support. Work with the coaches as focus. “Teach a man to fish.” Augment training curriculum with additional drills and suggestions.

EVO Support Goal is 2x practice and 1x game in U7/8 and U10 U5/6 2x weekend games U12+ On Request Additional On Request

Professional Trainer Support AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting Mark Hodson Regional Coach Instructor Professional Trainer Support 43

AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting GU6 Breakout Session Thank you! 44