West Snyder Soccer Club Tools for Great Coaching
Welcome Coaches!
Thank you for donating your time and talents to the West Snyder Soccer Club AYSO program. We have a great organization because of volunteers like you! Whether you are a returning coach or new to the program this season please be sure to read this entire document as it contains important information.
Important Online Resources
This is the National AYSO website and is full of useful information and answers to general questions you may have about anything AYSO.
Use this site to complete your Safe Haven and age-appropriate coach training courses (U6/U8). You will need your AYSO ID (obtained from eAYSO after you register as a volunteer) in order to complete this training. It is all self-paced and should take you 1-2 hours to complete. If you are a U10, U12 or U14 coach you will need to attend a one-time, one day in-person coach training course.
Coach Equipment
Coach equipment is normally distributed the evening of the coach meeting. If you are unable to attend the coach meeting you will need to contact our Equipment/Uniform Coordinator to arrange for pickup.
New coaches will receive a basic coach kit consisting of the following:
- Ball bag
- Team Balls (3-4)
- Practice cones (8-10)
- Practice pinnies (enough for half of your team)
- Basic first-aid kit (gauze, wet wipes, band-aids, cold packs)
- Coach manual
- Whistle
NOTE: Please only take what you think you will need and return anything you aren’t using. Our equipment budget isn’t infinite and only covers the basics.
Team Management
- It is very important to have in your possession a signed registration form for each player at all practices and games. These forms are medical releases for your players and without them you and the Region can be held liable if something serious happened to one of your players. If you receive a form that isn't signed please get it signed asap.
- All newly registered players or players without a team were distributed among the available teams in an effort to create teams of equal numbers, ages and abilities. If a player requested a certain day of the week for practice they may not be assigned to a team and need to be picked up at the coach meeting.
- A coach may not refuse a player because they feel their team is "full". AYSO open registration means every player must be on a team.
- Coaches may not reassign players to other teams without the consent of both their Coach Coordinator and the Regional Registrar. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis.Please remind your parents that coaches are not authorized to make roster changes just because they know you or some of the other coaches. Requests for roster changes can usually be accommodated but for safety and legal reasons it needs to go through the proper channels.
- If a player drops from your team in the preseason/early regular season please let your coach administrator and the registrar know. We may have waitlisted players that would like to play.
- Make sure to contact your players immediately after the coach meeting. Parents start to get nervous if they haven't heard from their coach by mid-August or so. Be sure to take some time during your first one or two practices to conduct a meet and greet with the parents and kids and layout your team rules, practice times, etc. Get them involved with snack duty schedules, field lining or as assistant coaches.
- Have a team meeting and discuss the following:
All players MUST have the following equipment:
West Snyder Soccer Club AYSO-sanctioned uniform (red jersey, black shorts)
Appropriately sized shin guards
Soccer socks...for safety reasons these must completely cover the shin guards.
Shoes (preferably soccer cleats)
It is highly recommended that players bring a drink with them (no soda, kool-aid) to practices and games. You can supply a community water jug/cooler if you want but there will be more mess/cleanup.
The kids are welcome to bring their own soccer ball to practices but it is not required.
Jewelry, hats, sunglasses, etc are not allowed during practices or games. Exceptions are prescription or sport glasses/goggles with a headband and MedAlert bracelets.
If a player is returning they are welcome to reuse their uniform if it still fits and is compliant with regional guidelines. We don’t change uniforms every season.
- Establish a Communication Plan
Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before game time
Bring water/Gatorade/etc..
The kids love a snack after the game. Rotate the responsibility between your families and make sure they know the schedule.
Don’t bring personal soccer balls on game days!
No smoking/drinking during games/practices…go somewhere else!
Have fun but always remember to be respectful of coaches, referees, opponents and spectators.
Winning isn’t everything...have fun and do your best...that is what counts.
Make sure parents understand that you will be rotating players among attacking, midfield and defensive positions during games as it gives them a chance to try out a variety of different skills and to approach the game from a different mindset depending on what position they are playing.
If a player feels strongly about not playing a certain position they will let you know. Goalkeeper is a position that kids either love or hate. Some definitely prefer forward/attacker while others are more comfortable playing midfield or a more defensive position. Do your best to walk the line between rotating them around and playing them where they are most comfortable so that they play their best and have fun. That is ultimately what parents want…for their kids to play their best and have fun.
If a player is involved in multiple sports make sure you know about it and discuss with parents. Players who miss practice but show up on game days aren’t participating as they should.
Make it as easy on yourself as possible…you are the volunteer coach. Don’t try to please everyone all the time because it is impossible. Again, you are the coach…it’s your rules!
Do not openly criticize players, referees, coaches and other parents during practices/games. If a parent has concerns about referees, other coaches, other players or other parents ask that they pull you aside during practice or after games. If their concern is about you and they are not comfortable discussing it in person they can contact the coach administrator of your division.
Temper expectations. AYSO is a 100% volunteer-driven organization. We’re dealing with young kids…some of whom have never played soccer before. AYSO is also open enrollment so you will see players of all abilities. There will be some players/teams that are better than others and even the most skilled players aren't always capable of the kind of teamwork, communication, etc you see at older age groups. If you have competitive parents they will get frustrated at times and that is natural. But do not allow them to take those frustrations out on the players. They are trying their best and having fun even if parents don’t seem to be. The better experience players have as youngsters the higher the likelihood they will want to continue to play and that's what matters.
- Set expectations of yourself…
To be a positive role model for players.
To give players a sense of the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship.
To provide an environment where players feel safe so that they can relax and have fun!
To do your best to help the players develop their soccer skills. If a parent thinks an AYSO coach will transform a player into a superstar then expectations are way too high. We are volunteers not paid coaches. We only practice 2-3 hours a week for a couple of months. Our practices go very quickly and there simply isn't enough time to work with each player 1-on-1 every practice. But the beauty of soccer is that players can practice just about any time anywhere so encourage your players to work on the skills they learn during practices at home or with friends.
- Discuss practice schedule
Practice 1-2 times per week for 60-90 minutes at times convenient for you. Remember, you are the coach volunteer. If you have players who habitually miss practice because of scheduling conflicts they should contact our Registrar so they can be placed on a team that allows them to properly participate.
- Use your coach manual…lots of good info and ideas in there!
- Reinforce basic rules and skills/techniques over and over especially at U6 and U8. Don’t bother with tactics…you are wasting your time. You can get more tactical starting with U10’s.
- Keep them active, especially younger ages. Use games and drills that involve all players as opposed to turn-based activities. Again, your coach manuals have lots of good examples.
- When practice ends make sure all players leave with their parent/guardian before you leave!
Game Day Prep
- Always call the opposing coach at least 24 hours before a scheduled game to confirm the date, time and location. This prevents a team from traveling to an empty field. A complete area coach list will be provided to you and is also available on our regional website.
- If you are scheduled to play another West Snyder team, or you play a team with similar-colored jerseys, the "AWAY" team on the schedule should wear practice pinnies over their red AYSO jerseys.
Prepare this the night before (U8+) so you can quickly sub players during quarter breaks.
- Coaches are responsible for maintaining lines on the fields.
Game Day Etiquette
- Remember the "Everyone Plays" Rule...Each of your players must play at least 2 quarters of each game. All players must play 2 quarters before anyone plays 3 quarters and likewise all players must play 3 quarters before anyone plays 4. Make a point to balance out who starts/finishes games and where they play (attack/midfield/defender/goalkeeper) so that players do not think of themselves as permanent substitutes or “defensive specialists.” As players develop they will have preferences but at the youth level they are still learning and their skills and understanding of the game will develop much faster the more you expose them to different positions and responsibilities. It is certainly tempting to put your best player up front as an attacker but that player is arguably more valuable to your team playing a central midfield/defensive position and ultimately they will become a better overall player in a shorter amount of time.
- Present an attitude of good sportsmanship. Actions and reactions speak volumes. Be a role model for your players and their parents. We want to maintain a positive environment based upon mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude.
- At the beginning of an AYSO match the referee will call all players over for introductions and an equipment check. Please assist the referee and get your team lined up immediately so that we can keep things on schedule. At the end of the match the opposing teams and their coaches shake hands. The coaches, and players if they so choose, shake hands with the referee(s).
If you are coaching at or above the U8 level please make sure you understand proper coach and team conduct during games. Specifically:
- There are no goaltenders at U8. Please do not coach or encourage unsportsmanlike tactics (field-length kicks, planting a player in the rear to act as a “pseudo” keeper, etc). Encourage all kids to get involved and score goals. That is the point of removing the keeper…to get all kids comfortable shooting at goal.
- Do not patrol the entire length of the sideline. Confine your movements to the technical areas (U10/U12/U14) or your bench half of the field (U6/U8). If you look across the field and are beyond your half of the center circle you are out of position.
- Do not position assistant coaches on the goal lines or on the opposite touchline for coaching purposes. All coaches/assistant coaches need to be in the technical area.
- U8+ players not in the game should be instructed to sit on the bench and cheer on their teammates. As harmless as it usually is, it is very distracting for a coach to have to deal with bench players horsing around and potentially causing injury or other issues. U6 kids will want to sit with their parents while not in the game and that is fine but you should encourage good sideline behavior and etiquette beginning at U8.
- Encourage parents and spectators to cheer on the team...not coach! Players should be receiving instruction from you or your assistant coach(es) only. While parent enthusiasm is certainly appreciated those that bark instructions throughout the game usually create nothing but confusion and can be an enormous distraction to everyone. Many times the parents are yelling things that are inappropriate or wrong. If you witness a parent habitually doing this you should politely suggest to them that they register and volunteer to be your assistant coach so that they can get more involved and learn the proper rules and procedures.
- Support the referees. AYSO referees receive a basic training course and must pass a written exam. However, many of them are inexperienced and will miss a foul or misjudge an out-of-bounds from time to time. Be patient, help and encourage them as they, like you, are volunteers. There should never be a time when a parent or spectator is having a "discussion" with a referee about a call. If this happens the coach should always be there to deter it. Remember that the referee has full authority to suspend a match for any reason not the least of which is unsportsmanlike conduct by players, coaches or spectators.
- Games should be played as scheduled. The decision not to play is up to the home team coach. Games and practices should never be held in any kind of severe weather (thunder/lightning, downpours, etc). AYSO guidelines require that you refrain from all activities for 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder strike.