We appreciate your willingness to volunteer! We hope to make our players’ soccer experience fun and recreational – while promoting sportsmanship, team etiquette, and knowledge of the game.

Potential coaches will be contacted after registration.  Mandatory meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 @ 6:00 p.m. You will receive rosters and equipment at this time.  Any questions, please contact Cathi Cook.

All coaches will be required to complete the following steps and attend the mandatory preseason coaches meeting.

1. Read and become familiar with the Laws of the Game.
2. If you did not complete your volunteer info online, fill out the Volunteer Application and email to Director of Coaches (online preferred).
3. SYS will perform Background Check through RiskAware before anyone works with players.
4. Complete National "F" Coaching License before mandatory meeting of current season (sign up for a user account in the U.S. Soccer Digital Coaching Center, then complete 2-hour online course; includes 1 year access to planning database).  There is a $25 cost for this course, which will be reimbursed to you by SYS.
5. Complete Concussion Training Course (about 45 minutes) and forward copy of course completion certificate to Director of Coaches.
6. Read and sign Coach Code of Ethics and turn in to Director of Coaches.
7. Keep equipment in excellent condition and return in a timely manner at the end of the season.
8. Make shinguard & equipment checks a regular part of every practice and pre-game warm-up (remember: shinguards need to be INSIDE long socks that completely cover them).
9. If your assistant coach cannot be present during a practice or game, recruit another parent to be present with you & the team.

10. Communicate with your players & parents – notify your team of practice schedule & your contact information ASAP.

11. Promote good sportsmanship, so everyone can have a fun time!

Sportsmanship and fair play should be the top priority of SYS coaches. 
All players will have an equal amount of playing time.

 

FUN & HELPFUL DRILLS

To help with organizing games and drills for soccer practices, please consider the following resources.  The first link (Washington Youth Soccer) is especially helpful, as it focuses practice on one soccer skill per session, progressively building on that skill throughout the practice time.  Players learn the skill thoroughly as they work on the skill one-on-one, then in increasingly larger groups to reinforce the skill.  Drills are suggested that are age-appropriate, both in building the skill and in addressing the players at their play level. The last two links (SAY Soccer) are also arranged by age level, outlining each practice session in a progressive manner.

Age Appropriate Training Sessions
Soccer Passing Drills
Soccer Drills/Activities

Skills & Drills
Practice Plans for Ages 13 +

BACKGROUND CHECKS
SYS is organized under the national umbrella of SAY Soccer, through which we have our non-profit status and player insurance. To ensure a safe, healthy soccer experience for players and volunteers alike, SAY requires volunteer screening and background checks.  Any individual that may have unsupervised access to children participating in a SAY sanctioned activity, for the purpose of assisting in that activity, will be screened.  While coaches best fit this description, other volunteers (such as team parent, officials, board members, etc.) shall be covered as well (this does not include parents observing their children during such activities).  All coaches, assistant coaches, and referees will fill out a SAY volunteer application annually.  This is now completed via the online registration process.

CONCUSSION CERTIFICATION

The SAY National Concussion Policy is required for ALL coaches and officials regardless of their age and/or status (i.e. Head coach, Assistant Coach, Head Referee, Assistant Referee, etc.).  These procedures are designed to comply with recently passed legislation concerning concussion in youth sports.  It will be necessary to complete a concussion training course every year.

Free Concussion Training Course

Read Heads-Up Concussion in Youth Sports.
Complete the course & forward copy of course completion certificate to Director of Coaches.

GAMES & WEATHER

Please wait until at least 4:30 before canceling a game if the weather is acting up.  Before then, it's hard to say as the weather can change so quickly. It is best to wait right up until game time to cancel unless it's extremely miserable.  Players concerned about smoke during fire season should be advised to attend practice as their health permits.  SYS will let coaches know if conditions require cancellation of games.