1. Coach Meeting
Aug 29, 2016

2. agenda AYSO Philosophies at Work Coach Expectations and Assessment
Challenger Sports Coach Mentorship Program
Assistant Coaches & Certification
Referee Certification and Referee Points
Friday Night / Goalkeeper Clinics
Insurance Coverage Dos and Don’ts
Mid Season Coach Meetings
Player Ratings & All Stars

3. Open Registration AYSO Philosophies at work What it means:
Our program is open to all children between 4 and 19 years of age
What it really means:
No tryouts
No pre-requisite skills
Large variation in player ability and interest
Our job is to provide the best possible experience to every player, regardless of ability or interest.
We are the front line to these families and their main point of contact with our region.
Everything we say and do reflects our region and our community.
“VIP” Type Players and what to do.
AYSO Philosophies at work

4. Balanced Teams AYSO Philosophies at work What it means:
Each year we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible
What it really means:
For every player rated 9 you will likely have a player rated 2
Other teams have a variety of playing levels, too
End of season Player ratings are critical
Our #1 complaint every year is that we didn’t balance teams well
All players grow over the summer, some at different rates
Age makes a difference
Player ratings aren’t perfect – a “7” isn’t a “7”
Soccer is more fun for everyone when it is fair and balanced
Our job isn’t to win, it’s to make it fun, fair and safe
Winning is fun but so is scoring, making a developmental breakthough, and sharing snack with your friends
AYSO Philosophies at work

5. Everyone Plays AYSO Philosophies at work What it means:
Every player on every team must play at least ¾ of every game.
What it really means:
Playing time is NOT based upon skills and ability or attendance
Every player should get the same amount of playing time in a season
The game is the teacher
Our job is to help kids develop in soccer
Kids don’t develop from the bench
Game experience is as important as practice experience
Let the season be about development and the playoffs be about competitiveness
AYSO Philosophies at work

6. Player Development AYSO Philosophies at work What it means:
We believe that all players should be able to develop their soccer skills and knowledge to the best of their abilities
What it really means:
We develop EVERY player from whatever they start from
Development is individual
Our job is to move them forward, not make them all the same
It is up to us to assess each player and develop a program for each one
AYSO Philosophies at work

7. Positive Coaching AYSO Philosophies at work What it means:
Encouragement of player effort provides for greater motivation to learn
What it really means:
Players get to take risks without fear of failure
Create an environment for learning
No yelling at players!
Think about how you feel at work when someone is negative
“You gotta get those”
Calling the play – this isn’t football – trying to teach soccer players how to assess and make decisions – if they don’t make mistakes, they can’t see the outcomes of bad decision-making
AYSO Philosophies at work

8. Good Sportsman-ship AYSO Philosophies at work What it means:
We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win at all costs attitude at all levels
What it really means:
Shake hands after a game
Help players up
No blowouts
No yelling at referees!
Out job is to model citizenship, not win soccer games.
Watch your language
Don’t run up scores
Don’t lie – Westchester situation
Don’t teach dirty tricks – that’s bad for kids
AYSO Philosophies at work

9. Epic coach fails
(don’t be that guy!)

10. What AYSO philosophy does this violate
What AYSO philosophy does this violate? - Good sportsmanship if he is yelling at a referee, positive coaching if he is yelling at a player, not to mention kidzone.
It’s not football, it’s soccer. We need to teach kids to make decisions. Calling every play doesn’t teach kids to think on their own.

11. There’s a difference between not being the last guy, and being totally disengaged. Looking at your cell phone, sitting in a beach chair, chatting with a parent all signals disengagement with the primary duty – the kids on the field. This applies to practices and games. Dress like a coach. Show up on time. Be present.

12. No lines, laps or lectures!

13. Good = Demonstrate skills
Bad = Scrimmage against kids ✔ ✗

14. Do Like This: Wear your coach shirt Wear your coach badge
Wear your smile

15. NEW IN 2016 No heading until U14, limited after that
Zero tolerance referee policy
Challenger Sports replaced UK International for R92
Coach assessment
In U14 and up, use volleyball or tennis ball to train heading to limit potential for injury
Teach proper heading technique – if you don’t know, find out

16. Coach expectations & assessments
Have a session plan and a topic
Transition between phases, build
Always end in a short sided game
Injury prevention
Wear coach shirt
Wear coach badge
Reminder, do not run up scores, do not sit the same kids every game, do not teach dirty tricks, do not yell at referees.

17. Challenger sports mentoring
The Challenger Way (handout)
Challenger’s Competitive Team Training Guide
On-line Signup for Mentorship Sessions (Polly & Pete)
Friday night player clinics, including goalkeeping – Start Sept 16
We will have a coach clinic – Friday, Sept 9th 6pm U6-U10, 7pm U12+

18. RECRUIT Assistant coaches
Requirements:
Signed Volunteer Form & eAYSO ID
Safe Haven
Concussion Awareness
Age Level Certification (& levels below)
Nobody can “just help out at practices”

19. Every team U10, U12, U14 needs Ref Points Donations are limited Referees must be certified
If you are in U8, suggest you get trained in anticipation of next year – be ahead (plus you can help your U8 team)
Referee schedule goes up – rules about refereeing your own games, etc.
Refereeing makes you a better coach
Stop yelling at our referees – one day this will be you – need to create a supportive learning environment for everyone
No video evidence policy
No heading under U12 policy
Hot dogs and drinks for referees on game day
Youth can start as young as 12.
REFEREEs & Ref Points

20. Equipment Balls & cones provided (and under warranty) Pinnies U7+
Return to Jerry Fruchtman at the end of the season
Beware of BALL GNOMES!

21. COACH SAFETY Covered by volunteer insurance AS LONG AS:
Trained for your job
Know your job description
Turn in an incident report when something happens
Some specifics:
Shin guards for all players at all times!
Don’t be alone with kids
Don’t be on social media with kids
Don’t play soccer (“actively participate with the chance of contact”) with kids
Don’t practice on unapproved fields at unapproved times (let your commissioner know where/when you will be at all times with kids)
Don’t drink alcohol when you are coaching (before/during)
Hand out safety guidelines

22. mid season coach meetings
An opportunity for growth:
Compare notes, what works and what doesn’t
Seek advice
New games to shake things up
Problem resolution

23. Player ratings / all stars
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24. agenda AYSO Philosophies at Work Coach Expectations and Assessment
Challenger Sports Coach Mentorship Program
Assistant Coaches & Certification
Referee Certification and Referee Points
Friday Night / Goalkeeper Clinics
Insurance Coverage Dos and Don’ts
Mid Season Coach Meetings
Player Ratings & All Stars

25. Q&A