| Congratulations - So you volunteered your time this fall | | | | following information or forms: |
| to coach youth soccer. | | | | - List of all players/parents/ contact numbers |
| You are about to enter a season as a youth soccer | | | | - Practice & Game Schedules - explain cancellation |
| coach that will fill you full of pride, laughter and | | | | procedure if a game or practice is cancelled how |
| sometimes so much frustration you want to scream! | | | | everyone will be notified. |
| The following are some helpful tips as a new coach or | | | | - Coach/Parent/Player Contract - This doesn't have to |
| an experienced coach that will help reduce those | | | | be overdone, just something in writing to explain |
| frustrations and hopefully lead to a successful soccer | | | | expectations for everyone. For instance if a players |
| season. | | | | instigates a fight in practice, what will happen? Or if a |
| The first thing is get that list of players and their | | | | parent becomes verbally abusive from the sideline, |
| contacts. Some of the larger youth soccer | | | | how will that be handled? By confronting these issues |
| organizations now have web sites, that as the coach | | | | now in writing, it will help solve many issues facing you |
| you can just sign on and see all the information for | | | | as the Youth soccer coach during the season. Ask |
| your team already provided. If your not so lucky, then | | | | that every player and parent sign and it gets returned |
| you will need to get that player contact list organized, it | | | | to you. |
| will be your lifeline for the next few months. | | | | - 24 HR Rule - This is how you will handle any youth |
| Get on the phone asap, and get that first practice | | | | player or parent concern after a game. Basically |
| setup. Be sure to speak to a parent, not a child and | | | | stating that if there is an issue with playing time |
| you can leave a message but be sure you get | | | | coaching/any game issue please wait till at least 24 |
| confirmation they received it through a call back or | | | | hrs before contacting the coach. This will help lessen all |
| give them another call. At that first practice you will | | | | emotions and give everyone involved some time to |
| want to spend about 15 minutes before your soccer | | | | clearly think back on the situation. |
| training taking with the parents and kids. This is perhaps | | | | Coaching youth soccer can be fun and exciting, |
| the most important 15 minutes you'll spend all season, | | | | especially when coaching your own son or daughter. |
| spend this time setting the tone for the season for | | | | By following and using the above information, I feel it |
| parents and players. This includes you expectations of | | | | will help lessen many of the common problems youth |
| both the youth soccer parents and youth soccer | | | | coaches face during the season, and will allow you |
| players! | | | | more time to do what you wanted to do, coaching |
| This meeting is a great time to cover and hand out the | | | | your youth soccer team. |