| 1. Every Player needs a ball. As the coach you should | | | | the league will provide coaches with the vests (also |
| probably have some extras just in case some kids | | | | called pennies, or bibs), or you can buy them at your |
| forget, however the expectation is that each child | | | | local sporting goods store. There a many alternative |
| should bring their own. Many times the league will | | | | ways to identify teams, so you can always use your |
| provide some balls for the coach to use during the | | | | imagination and have some fun with this one. |
| season. You should also have a ball pump and needles | | | | 7. Assistants. Parents will often want to stay and |
| available to keep the balls inflated. | | | | watch the practice. Get them involved as assistants. |
| 2. Shinguard's. Every player should wear shinguards. It | | | | The more active you can keep the kids, the more fun |
| is important to practice with them on so the kids are | | | | they will have. Use parents to shag balls if nothing else. |
| used to them for the games. Many leagues require | | | | 8. A watch or stopwatch. You will need to time your |
| these for both practice and games, so the sooner the | | | | drills and practice sessions. A stopwatch is the easiest, |
| kids get used to them the better. | | | | however any watch will do. |
| 3. Water Bottle. Every player needs a water bottle | | | | 9. An Equipment Bag. Keep your coaching supplies in |
| with their name on it. The coach may want to bring | | | | one place. Keep your clipboard, pennies, cones, etc so |
| some for the kids that forget their own. | | | | your not running around only to find you forgot |
| 4. Small Soccer Cones. There are really two types of | | | | something you needed at practice. You may also |
| cones on the market. Small cones as you traditional | | | | want to keep a supply of band-aids and instant ice |
| picture them and what are called disk cones. These | | | | packs, as these seem to be miracle cures for kids |
| cones are ideal for marking areas for small sided | | | | with bumps and bruises. |
| games. As a rule of thumb, consider having 2 cones | | | | 10. Some type of Goal. This is not essential, however it |
| per player (e.g., 30 cones for 15 players). | | | | is visually satisfying for the players to see the ball hit |
| 5. A Whistle. Save your voice. Whistles are not | | | | the back of the net. There are quite a few portable |
| expensive and are an easy way to teach the kids | | | | mini-goals on the market ranging in price from |
| when to stop and start. | | | | inexpensive to extravagant. However, cones, clothing, |
| 6. A Way To Identify "Teams". The most common | | | | books, anything that identifies two goal posts will work. |
| way to do this is through colored vests. Many times | | | | |