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Coaching FAQs
1) I've never coached before. Am I really ready to coach a team?Any parent can coach. [We also accept non-parents who want to coach.]
We all have to start somewhere. Most of the volunteer coaches had never coached soccer before. Many had never played soccer before. AYSO offers many training classes (see below) and materials to help coaches learn the soccer skills and drills for the kids. The most important coaching skills are: <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]--> organization (simple communication, plan practices and game line-ups <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]--> motivation (ability to reach the kids at their level, create excitement) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]--> delegation (leverage other parents on the team - assistant coaches, team parent, etc.) <!--[if !supportLists]--> <!--[endif]--> teaching (want to watch kids improve as individuals and as a team) Coaches at the U12 and above levels should have some prior coaching or soccer experience. But we have the training and field experience with younger teams to get you there. Our coach trainers and more senior coaches tend to be semi-professional coaches, former professional players or former college players still playing in local adult leagues. So there is a lot of experience that you can draw on as well. 2) What is the time commitment?About 4-6 hours per week. [1-2 hours on a weekday afternoon or evening. 2 hours on a Saturday morning and 1 hour of floating prep time.Most teams (especially U12 and younger) practice once a week for 1-2 hours. Sometimes, before the season, teams may practice twice a week, but this is optional. As a coach, you sign up for field times for practice. You get to choose the day of the week and the time for the whole season. Before going off daylight savings time, most practices start between 5:30-6:30pm. You can actually go until about 7:00pm before it gets dark. It probably takes about 30 minutes to prepare for a practice. Games are always on Saturdays. For the younger kids, games are usually in the morning and last about one hour. Warm-ups usually begin 30 minutes before that. Pre-game prep took about 30 minutes. Depending on the number of teams (even or odd), there may be some BYEs scheduled. 3) What are the benefits of coaching?
Coaching AYSO is very rewarding personally and as a parent. You can make a real contribution to each child on your team. AYSO has five great philosophies that it adheres to rigorously. They are: Everyone plays, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, and Good Sportsmanship. This creates a healthy environment in which to coach a soccer team. The goal is to provide a safe, fun and fair structure for the kids to learn and enjoy soccer. In addition to the quality time with your child, you will be amazed to watch the kids improve individually and as a team. They learn the value of hard work, teamwork, practice, and good sportsmanship. Without the pressure of more competitive soccer leagues to win, the coach and parents can create a positive experience for the players that will bring them back year after year. Selfishly, you also get to control you and your child's schedule a little more. You pick the practice times. You also can potentially negotiate with your opposing coaches to switch game times (within reason). For those of you with hectic schedules for you and you children, this can be a very useful benefit. 4) What about assistant coaching?You can choose or recruit an assistant/co- coach. Otherwise, we will assign an assistant/co- coach to your team.
If you are concerned you are not ready to be a head coach, signing up as an assistant coach could provide a great mentoring opportunity. As coaches, you will be the only people who get to ensure who your child plays with and for (at least for the children of the coaches). All other players on the team will be assigned with the emphasis on team balance and spreading the schools around. Once the players have been assigned to teams, you can recruit any of those parents to assist as coaches at practices or games. In the past, this has been a great way to meet other parents, improve the coach-player ratio, and get a higher level of concentration from the kids whose parents are helping out. The region also appreciates this approach, because it brings out future potential coaches. 5) How old do I have to be? We do require that an adult (or at least someone over 18) be at every game and practice, but AYSO strongly encourages youth coaches. (Rumor has it that AYSO coaching looks really good on your transcript.) 6) What are the training dates? If you have time, Referee Training course are also very useful (but not required) for a coach. It is an opportunity to get intimate with the Laws of the Game and the "spirit" of the sport. You will also build some understanding of the referee's challenge, which leads to better AYSO game and team management. Check out the U8 and Basic Referee clinics on the referee page for more information. 7) What do I need to do now? We are creating an email distribution list to coordinate communication to all coaches. We will let you know about the training classes within Region 1513 and what may available in other neighboring regions. Teams will be created at the end of July. There will be a mandatory general coaches meeting in August (for field sign up, uniform pick-up, rule updates and other coordination). We will update you with the time and location later. See, that was not so bad!
Game CardsIt is the head coach's responsibility to ensure that game cards are completely filled out for each game and returned to the referee for his/her signature as soon as possible after the conclusion of the match (referees often are on their way to another match). The head coach can and probably should ask for help from the assistant coach, team parent, or another parent in filling out the game card. A properly-completed game card includes this information:
The first four of these items can be completed in advance of the game. The last item is especially important for team balancing purposes in the spring. Please note not only players who scored, but also those who had an impact in other ways (e.g. assists, consistent defensive tackles, etc.). Don't be afraid to use all the blanks for impact players and write in additional ones if appropriate.
Need game cards? BELOW ARE LINKS TO THE MAIN AYSO WEB SITE FOR PRINTABLE COACHING MANUALS!
Collection of Coaching Tips and Coach Sites from Other Programs!
Applying the AYSO Philosophies << N/A >>
Basic Goalkeeping << 64 KB >>
Build Up Using Games << 147 KB >>
Coaches and Referees Working Together << N/A>>
Dummying Down << 50 KB >>
Fundamentals of Good Shooting << 70 KB >>
Games for the Advanced Player << 223 KB >>
Go Girl! << 51 KB >>
Heading the Ball Properly << link >>
Injury Prevention and Injury Management << 54 KB >>
Intermediate Goalkeeping << 53 KB >>
Mental Preparation for Match Play << 47 KB >>
Passing and Controlling << 46 KB >>
Player Evaluations << 62 KB >>
Player's forum << 58 KB >>
Principles and Systems of Play << 42 KB >>
Restarts and Set Pieces (Intermediate) << 55 KB >>
Tactical Development << 281 KB >>
Tactical Soccer Situations << N/A >>
Teaching Psychological Skills for the Ages << 54 KB >>
Teaching Soccer Using Games << 308 KB >>
Teaching Speed I << 53 KB >>
Teaching Speed II (Plyometrics) << 67 KB >>
Teaching the Game to Kids << 55 KB >>
Team Building Using Games << 84 KB >>
Team Management << 67 KB >>
The Right Way To Warm Up << 85 KB >>
VIP -- Coaching Players With Disabilities << 75 KB >> Working With Today's Parents << 46 KB >>GADSDEN AYSO 1513 U6 HANDBOOK U6 rules. NEW THIS YEAR - short-sided games. In order to give the youngest players a chance to get a foot on the ball once in a while, we're introducing 3v3 games - three players on a side at any given time. U6 rules
2. Teams: 3 v 3 on the field at any given time; five players on a team. Substitutions at quarters and halftime unless a player is hurt. Equal playing time for all players. Each player must play at least two quarters before any player can play a full game. Ball: size 3. No separate teams for boys and girls. 3. Equipment: soccer shoes (soft cleats, not metal) or tennis shoes. Shin guards mandatory at all practices and games. No jewelry (including earrings or other body piercings), watches, barrettes, etc. 4. Referee: This division is Coach-Refd. The Head Coach for each team will serve on the field as a Coach-Ref. This will promote the nurturing program of how AYSO "grows" and "teaches" their young players. 5. Duration of games: four quarters of approximately five minutes each, each half divided into quarters at approximately the half way point. Call quarters on a natural break in play if possible. Two and one-half minute quarter breaks, and a five-minute break between halves. Make sure the parents have water and snacks for the players during the breaks. 6. Rules: Same as regular soccer (with distances scaled down appropriately), except that there are no indirect free kicks, no offsides calls, no penalty kicks and no goalkeepers. Since the regular rules of soccer are generally in effect, the following rules, among others, apply: Games start with a kick off in the center of the field, with the defending team outside the center circle. A coin toss determines which team starts the game. The winner of the toss selects which side of the field to defend. The loser kicks off in the first half and the winning team kicks off to start the second half. Teams switch ends of the field after the half-time stoppage of play. Defending players must be outside the "penalty area" when the attacking team takes a goal kick, and must stay outside the penalty area until the ball completely crosses the line designating the penalty area. The ball must go out of the penalty area before it is in play. If it does not go out of the penalty area the goal kick is retaken, with no penalty to the kicking team. After the second try, a different player must kick the ball. Opponents must be at least five yards away when a free kick is taken. Ball is out of play only when the entire ball has passed completely beyond the boundary line; i.e., a ball that has any portion on the line is in play and the game continues. This applies to sidelines, end lines, and goals. 7. No player may take up permanent or semi-permanent position within the "goal area" (this is the box in front of the goal which designates where goal kicks are taken from), unless there is active play in that area. Referees should instruct violators to move and in the case of repeated violations should talk to the coach. NOTE: The old rule, in effect before fall 2000 which players could not go into the goal area has been abolished. The purpose of the current rule is to prevent players acting as de facto goalkeepers. Coaches are free to encourage players to stay back on defense. 8. Coaches should remain within 10 yards of the midfield line. Parents and coaches should not coach or instruct the players while the game is underway, but coaches may do so at the half and quarter breaks. Reasonable words of encouragement are fine at all times. 9. At no time will spectators be allowed on the field unless a player is injured. At this point, all other players must take a knee until game resumes. At no time will spectators be allowed to stand behind the goal area. 10. For safety reasons, no jewelry is allowed other than medical or religious medallions (taped down). Youngsters cannot wear earrings nor can they simply "band aid" the earring. GADSDEN AYSO 1513 U8 HANDBOOK U8 rules The following modified rules apply to division U8. For divisions U10 and higher, standard soccer rules apply. 1. Field markings. Same as a full size soccer field (scaled down). This changes the prior rule by instituting a "penalty area." However, the only significance of the "penalty area" would be to designate an area that defensive players cannot be in when a goal kick is taken. There are no penalty kicks. 2. Teams: 5 v 5. Maximum number of players on a team is 10. Substitutions at quarters and halftime. Equal playing time for all players. Each player must play at least two quarters before any player can play a full game. Ball: size 3. No separate teams for boys and girls. Goalies are introduced in this division along with defenders. 3. Equipment: soccer shoes (soft cleated) or tennis shoes. Shin guards mandatory at all practices and games. No jewelry (including earrings or other body piercings), watches, etc. 4. Referee: This division is Coach-Refd. The Head Coach for each team will serve on the field as a Coach-Ref. This will promote the nurturing program of how AYSO "grows" and "teaches" their young players. 5. Duration of games: 2 twenty minute halves, each half divided into 2 quarters at approximately the half way point. Call quarters on a natural break in play if possible. 6. Rules: Same as regular soccer (with distances scaled down appropriately), except that there are no indirect free kicks, no offside and no penalty kicks. Note: This is a change from the prior rule in that it eliminates any penalty kicks. We formerly had a rule providing for a modified penalty kick, but there was confusion about it, and general consensus that there was no need for it. Since the regular rules of soccer are generally in effect, the following rules, among others, apply: Games start with a kick off in the center of the field, with the defending team outside the center circle. A coin toss determines which team starts the game, with the winner of the toss selecting which side of the field to defend and the loser kicking off in the first half and the other team kicking off to start the second half. Defending players must be outside the "penalty area" when the attacking team takes a goal kick, and must stay outside the penalty area until the ball completely crosses the line designating the penalty area. The ball must go out of the penalty area before it is in play. If it does not go out of the penalty area the goal kick is retaken, with no penalty to the kicking team. Opponents must be at least five yards away when a free kick is taken. Ball is out of play only when the entire ball has passed completely beyond the boundary line; i.e., a ball that has any portion on the line is in play and the game continues. This applies to sidelines, end lines, and goals. 7. No player may take up permanent or semi-permanent position within the "goal area" except the player in the goalie position (this is the box in front of the goal which designates where goal kicks are taken from), unless there is active play in that area. Violators should be instructed by the referee to move, and if necessary for repeated violations the referee should talk to the coach. Note: the old rule, in effect before the Fall 2000 season, that players could not go into the goal area, has been abolished. The purpose of the current rule is to prevent players acting as de facto goalkeepers. Coaches are free to encourage players to stay back on defense. 8. Coaches should remain within 10 yards of the midfield line. Parents and coaches should not coach or instruct the players during the play of the game, but coaches may do so at the half and quarter breaks. Reasonable words of encouragement are fine at all times. 9. For safety reasons, no jewelry is allowed other than medical or religious medallions (taped down). Youngsters cannot wear earrings nor can they simply "band aid" the earring. 10. At no time will spectators be allowed on the field unless a player is injured. At this point, all other players must take a knee until game resumes. At no time will spectators be allowed to stand behind the goal area. REMEMBER, THEY ARE HERE TO HAVE FUN! THEY ARE KIDS, NOT LITTLE ADULTS! NO YELLING! ONLY POSITIVE STATEMENTS! MAKE LOTS OF MEMORIES, NOT FROWNS! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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