GREATER CLEVELAND SOCCER ASSOCIATION

Coaches Handout – It is very important that coaches read all this information and relay the appropriate information to team parents. Keeping everyone well informed avoids confusion later in the season.

· At the start of the season, be sure and schedule your practice times with your Age Group Coordinator (AGC) to ensure no conflicts with field usage. Game schedules will be provided to you. If a game is postponed due to weather, try and schedule a make-up game during one of your scheduled practice times to ensure no conflicts with field scheduling. U-8 and older must also schedule a referee for any make-up games.

· Expect to be contacted by your AGC at least once (maybe more, depending on the number of teams in your age group) to help with the lining of fields. Each age group is responsible for ensuring that their fields are lined prior the game each week.

· Your team will be assigned one time-slot (usually an hour and a half) during the season to staff the concession booth during Sunday games. Check with your AGC to get the date your team has this responsibility and enlist two parents to take on this responsibility.

· Assign a parent to bring post-game snacks for each game. This should be rotated among all parents on the team.

· Players should bring a soccer ball and water bottle to every practice. Players MUST wear shin guards during all play – both games and practices. U-8 and younger use a size 3 ball. U-10 and U-12 use a size 4 ball.

· Have a first aid kit handy at all times. Stress that there will be no rough play and no charging of the goal keeper.

· Do not argue with the referee. Rather, accept their decisions and make sure both parents and players show them the proper respect. Ask parents to root for the TEAM and not to yell instructions to their children. Only coaches and referees should be providing instruction.

· Stress soccer fundamentals in your practices. Dribbling, trapping, passing, etc. If you are new to soccer and need help, be sure and ask your AGC about free coaches clinics or other forms of assistance. There are numerous coaches in the league with lots of soccer experience and we all want to work together to provide the best quality soccer instruction that we can.

· Tell all parents that if it is raining, or has rained heavily prior to a scheduled game or practice, call 614-GAME to receive a recorded message regarding closure of the complex. Please abide by the message and refrain from practicing on the fields if the complex has been closed. Excessive play when wet can severely damage the fields.

· Each child will receive a medal for participation at the end of the season provided by the league. If the team decides that it would also like to hand out trophies, the cost must be borne by the parents. If the team as a whole decides to do this, please distribute the trophies at a site other than at the soccer complex to avoid the appearance of some getting trophies while others do not.

· Encourage participation of team parents. Enlist them to help with drills at practice and with contacting/phoning other team members when needed. The league is always in need of new coaches and parent participation is essential.

· There is no league winner, nor league standings. PLEASE stress fair play and fun as opposed to which team scored the most goals.

· Coaches should develop player rotations to ensure equal playing time for every player. Remember, this is recreational soccer and every player should feel that they are contributing to team play. Most of all, make practices fun and interesting and the season a great experience for the kids!!!