Spring 2011 Kindergarten Coaches Meeting March 22, 2011

What is WYSA Non profit organization run entirely by volunteers Coaches are the most important resource 1,200+ children in our programs this season –Intown – instructional play for K-8 grades (70 teams, 500+ kids & 125+ coaches) –Travel - competitive & instructional play in the Middlesex Youth Soccer League for kids in grades 3-12 (50 teams 700+ kids & 130+ coaches) –TOPS – The Outreach Program; Soccer for special needs children aged (physically & intellectually challenged children paired with WYSA players ages 8-18 every Saturday at 10:30am)-volunteers always welcome, contact Caryn Goulet or

WYSA Board of Directors PresidentEd Riekstins Vice PresidentCaryn Goulet TreasurerChuck Otis SecretaryEric Fortier Travel CommitteeJon Snider, Chair John Fitzler, Mark Watson Intown CommitteeChris Alberti, Chair Mike Fischer, Jamie Ward NE Revs LiaisonCaryn Goulet, Jamie Ward Coach/Player DevelopmentJoe Haddad Intown RefereesMike Fischer Travel RefereesCaryn Goulet Fields & BuildingStan Souza RegistrarChuck Otis ConcessionsTom Genthner, Chair Marianne Gallezzo Equipment & MerchandiseRay Masiello TOPSCaryn Goulet Interested in helping? There are many opportunities to help improve our program. Join the Board, participate in a committee, volunteer at the fields, and many others. Talk to any BOD for what options exist - catch us on the fields or send an

Your Intown Committee Who is responsible for what: –Chris Alberti, Chairperson Boys & Girls 2 nd grade and Co-ed –Mike Fischer Girls Kindergarten & 1 st grade, Boys & Girls 3/4, Intown Refs –Jamie Ward Boys Kindergarten & 1 st grade –Joe Haddad Player and Coach Development –Caryn Goulet TOPS Questions? We are here to support and assist you. –We’re on the fields every Saturday – us:

Intown Philosophy FUN - Recreational, Developmental, and Instructional For many of players, this is a social event, not an athletic one First time many of them will have played on a “team” It is NOT about winning the game, but rather participating, teaching, encouraging and creating a love for the sport Coaches set the tone and set the example

Player & Coach Development Director: Joe Haddad Objective: To develop age appropriate soccer foot skill through fun small sided games. It’s that simple How will we be doing that –WYSA partners with Challenger for curriculum, player & coach development and clinics for Kindergarten – 12 th Grade –Goals of our partnerships - Staying current with or ahead the needs of the players and coaches. –Saturday Program (Kindergarten) – Observe, Deliver, Play –April & Summer Vacation Clinics Your role in Coach & Player Development –Activity leadership focused on soccer skills –Develop yourself for the next stage

Player & Coach Development Things to keep in mind with kindergarteners (U6) –First and foremost… HAVE FUN with them –See the game from the child’s perspective, not the adult’s –Use positive language – instead of “don’t do it that way” say “that was good, can you try it this way?” –Keep the players moving. Limit standing around to about 1-2 minutes –Priority for this age is ball familiarity and control through dribbling –Encourage players to “get the ball”; get every player engaged Do not give them positions Do not make them stay in a certain spot –Encourage players to use BOTH feet –Let them learn through experience; no long explanations –Keep you focus on the individual player, not the team –Look at the Saturday activities during the week to get familiar with them –Take the ‘G’ course (3/28/11) to help you with coaching this age group –Last but not least… HAVE FUN with them

Coaches Are So Important Create a performance-oriented atmosphere (NOT results-oriented) De-emphasize winning (it is out of a player’s control and is unrealistic) Emphasize controllable, realistic goals (skills development, fitness improvement, learning & fun) Although you have a ‘team’ development is ‘individual’ based Create opportunities for fun & socialization

Communications WYSA Main Number: (978) –General information will be on greeting –ext 1 Intown program mailbox –ext 2 Travel program mailbox –ext 3 Referees and training mailbox –ext 5 President WYSA mailbox Web Site We will communicate by as much as possible. us:

Fields NO weekday practices for Kindergarten Check WYSA website or hotline for game cancellations or field closures (encourage parents to do the same so you don’t have to call everyone separately) Please have your team pick up all debris after themselves Girls Kinders - Have your parents help set-up one Kinder net before 8:00am each Saturday Boys Kinders – Please remove only the inside nets on the field after your game. (TOPs needs outside nets) Field Layout – Next Slide

Kindergarten Game Fields Waiting for updated layout

Severe Weather Policy When you see lightening or hear thunder seek shelter Coach’s Intown Hotline –(877) –Upon hearing tone, dial ext 2604 –Listen for announcement –Not to be distributed to parents – this is an update line for coaches only (phone system cannot handle 700+ phone calls)

Game Schedule Game Date Day 1April 9 th Saturday 2April 16 th Saturday 3April 23 th Saturday *** Town Meeting Day is Saturday, April 30 th – No Intown Games*** 4May 1 st Sunday 5May 7 th Saturday 6 May 14 th Saturday 7 May 21 nd Saturday *** No Games Memorial Day Weekend *** 8 June 4 th Saturday 9 June 11 th Saturday No make-up games unless notified by WYSA

Intown Game Times 8:00 AM – Girl’s Kindergarten, Boy's & Girl’s Grade 3/4 9:15 AM – Boy’s Kindergarten 10:30 AM – TOPS 11:45 AM – Girl’s Grade 1 12:00 PM – COED 5 th -8th 1:00 PM – Boy’s Grade 1 2:15 PM – Girl’s Grades 2 3:30 PM – Boy’s Grade 2 Note: All Kindergarten coaches are required to be at the fields 30 minutes before game time to receive training from our Challenger Group for that days activities.

Kindergarten Game Day Meet your Challenger Instructor 30 min before your time slot Adjourn to you assigned field 10min before your start time 8AM slot - Assign one parent to obtain a Kinder net from the Field House and set it up on your field Introduce yourself to opposing coach Check your players - no jewelry, toe cleats, unsafe clothing (i.e. long strings) On your ½ of the field spend 25 minutes teaching the two Activities 5 min Break Finish with a 25 min 3v3 scrimmage against the other team One coach is allowed on the field to encourage players to “find the ball” Players and coaches shake hands after every game!

Game Day Reports Web based on-line reporting system –Go to Intown Page: –Then under the Intown section – Game Reports –8 different pre-defined reports (4 home & 4 away) Must be completed & submitted by Sunday at 12:00pm noon for submission to the newspaper Town Crier & Wilmington Advocate Please make sure EVERY player’s name makes the paper

Intown Rules of the Game Posted on the WYSA website under the Intown tab Based on FIFA rules (with age-specific adaptations) Ball Size - Spring –(Size 3 – Kindergarten, Size 4 – 1 st -8 th ) Format –Kindergarten 3 v 3 with no goalkeeper (1/4 sized field) –Grade 1 4 v 4 with no goalkeeper (1/2 sized field) –Grades 2 – 4 6 v 6 including goalkeeper (full field) –Grades 5 – 8 (Coed) 8 v 8 including goalkeeper (Full field)

Competition & Success Children DO NOT understand the competition process the way adults do –For adults…SUCCESS = winning –For kids…...SUCCESS = learning, fun improvement, confidence, & friendships –For adults…FAILURE = losing –For kids FAILURE = giving up, not trying hard, poor sportsmanship

Policy on Intown Post Season Awards The Board of Directors wants all children to have a great experience with our Intown soccer program. We respectfully request that no trophies, medals or prizes be given out at the end of the soccer season. The program is developmental and stresses participation as well as fun over competition and individual recognition. To help recognize participation for the players in Kindergarten through 2nd grade we are establishing a patch program. For each season (Fall & Spring) that a player participates they will receive a season specific patch. We will continue to recognize all players (Intown and Travel) with the annual spring awards in addition to the patch program.

Patches for Participation New program starting this year The intent is to provide all Intown players with a patch at the end of the season as recognition for their participation in the program. Each season they participate in they will receive a new, season specific, patch to add to their collection. Sample:

Concessions and Merchandise Stands Open game days 7:00 AM – 6 PM Helps WYSA to defray registration costs w/sales Staffed by volunteers Volunteers should NOT be you or your family You, as a coach, are responsible for: –Procuring five volunteers –Forwarding volunteers’ contact info to the concessions team

Other WYSA Programs and Benefits

New England Revolution WYSA has partnered with the Revs! Chance to win four (4) Tier 1 tickets for each home game via raffle Boston Breakers games, too Free reserved parking Group outings at discounted ticket prices encouraged If interested, please Caryn Goulet at:

Travel Program 750+ players and 50+ teams ages U9-U18 this Spring Playing formats are age-specific and all games are officiated by U.S. Soccer Federation certified referees: –U10 – 6 v 6 for (2) 25min halves –U12 – 8 v 8 for (2) 30min halves –U v 11 for (2) 35min halves –U16 – 11 v 11 for (2) 40min halves –U18 – 11 v 11 for (2) 45min halves WYSA is part of Middlesex Youth Soccer League Single-age groups playing within double age-banded divisions Players may begin playing travel as early as 3rd grade Tryouts take place over 2-days towards end of Spring season for subsequent year (i.e. Spring of 2nd grade, players may tryout to start in Fall of 3rd grade) U9-U14 team assignments are for a two-season commitment: Fall and Spring seasons U15-U18 tryouts take place in the Fall for a Spring-only season (play for the high school in the Fall)

Travel Program Continued Players are evaluated and placed on teams accordingly WYSA does its best to make sure all kids are placed on a travel team. Each season consists of 9 games (generally half played at home, half played away) U10 Post Season play: depending on results of Spring season, may qualify for Commissioner’s Cup (weekend after regular season ends) U12-U14 Post Season Play: depending on results of Spring season, may also participate in Commissioner’s Cup as a playoff process with the possibility of additionally qualifying for Mass Tournament of Champions (MTOC) held the subsequent weekend WYSA awards Commissioner Cup and MTOC eligible-teams gifts, as well as winners

Equipment & Merchandise Merchandise & Equipment Coordinator – Ray Masiello Coach’s bags – after meeting proceed to Field House –Uniform shirt & socks –First Aid Kit w/ extra ice packs –Practice cones –Ball for each player and a game ball Players to provide: –Shin pads (stop 1-2 inches below knee cap, do not “sit” on shoes) –Shorts/warm-up pants –Soccer cleats, only or sneakers (no baseball cleats) –Water for games Merchandise Tent open every Saturday w/ logo items

TOPSoccer The Outreach Program of Soccer 78+ special needs children ages 4-18 from Wilmington and surrounding towns –Autism, Asperger’s, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, Down’s Syndrome, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Multiple Sclerosis, Verbal, Non- Verbal, etc.. Free program for TOPS players (uniform, ball & free concession ticket every week) Fostering physical, mental, emotional (social) growth through play & sport Fun, energy, acceptance & soccer Structure without rigidity

TOPSoccer Continued Coaches - Wilmington players ages 8-18 –Responsibility, companionship, and friendship –Wear coaches shirt –Field set-up –Personally greet all athletes –Focus 100% of attention on athletes –“Control” the experience –Breaks as necessary –Lots of high fives! –Lots of energy –Concession tickets at end If interested, contact Caryn Goulet at

You are not on your own We are here to help… just ask

WYSA Resources Coaching Certification ClassesLined Fields, Nets & Frames Game Reporting – NewspapersTOPS Player/Volunteer Involvement Challenger Online Curriculum New England Revolution Partnership April & Summer Vacation ClinicsCoaching Resources on Website Season Development PlansConcessions & WYSA Merchandise UniformsWebsite Game Balls Hotline for Field Closures Practice ConesFirst Aid Kits Spring Awardsand many more…

Thank You !