| Strong leaders communicate well; know the milestones of the season |
| Go Westside Warriors! - Communications |
Milestones:
The initial email or phone call should be brief and to the point. It's a good idea to ask for an RSVP at the top of your email
so that you know who did and didn't receive it.. There are many ways to accomplish this, Click Here to download a
sample.
The Team Meeting is one of the most important events of the season. It's one of the only times you will have the complete
attention of all the parents & players at the same time. It's very important to be prepared and organized at this event. Get
your thoughts together, use a check list to make sure everything is covered, and take your time.
You could hold this meeting in the 30 minutes prior to the first practice; however, this time is usually rushed and a lot of
folks might not be able to make it. You may want to consider a quick gathering at your local pizza joint instead. Depending
on the time of year, you could reserve some picnic tables at a local park with a place for the kids to play a quick
scrimmage. Lots of fun!
Items to cover in your meeting:
Player & Parent Conduct discussions needs to be a part of your season and preferably before the first game. It's
important to recognize that some parents and players have already experienced rules concerning behavior while
participating in other sports (baseball, football, basketball). We just need to make sure everyone is on the same page
when it comes to Youth Soccer. Here are some tips:
The First Practice will be a time for you and the team to become familiar with each other. Its also a time for you to set
expectations that will hopefully last for the entire season. Consider the below items carefully and decide if you will
preemptively address them before they come up or wait to deal with on a case by case basis.
The First Game is equally important for tone setting with the parents and players. The efforts you make on this day will
hopefully last the rest of the season.
The End of Season Party can be a fun event for everyone. Some coaches ask for volunteers to organize the event and then
leave it up to the team to settle on the specifics while others like to do it themselves and just ask for volunteers to help in
certain areas. It's pretty much up to you but here are some things to consider:
- Initial Email or Phone Call
- Team Meeting
- Player & Parent Conduct & Sportsmanship
- First Practice
- First Game
- End of Season Party
The initial email or phone call should be brief and to the point. It's a good idea to ask for an RSVP at the top of your email
so that you know who did and didn't receive it.. There are many ways to accomplish this, Click Here to download a
sample.
The Team Meeting is one of the most important events of the season. It's one of the only times you will have the complete
attention of all the parents & players at the same time. It's very important to be prepared and organized at this event. Get
your thoughts together, use a check list to make sure everything is covered, and take your time.
You could hold this meeting in the 30 minutes prior to the first practice; however, this time is usually rushed and a lot of
folks might not be able to make it. You may want to consider a quick gathering at your local pizza joint instead. Depending
on the time of year, you could reserve some picnic tables at a local park with a place for the kids to play a quick
scrimmage. Lots of fun!
Items to cover in your meeting:
- Introduction: Your background and history with Soccer
- Statement of priorities: Safety - Fun - Player Development
- Confirm practice day, time & location
- Review equipment needs -- no shin guards = cannot play
- Review the league's No Jewelry policy
- Game arrival time = 30 minutes prior to kickoff
- Practice Arrival time = 5 minutes before kickoff
- Review game seating requirement -- opposite side of field
- Highlight and review a few of the items included in the "Parents Code of Conduct" form - obtain signatures. Though
it is NOT a requirement, all parents should readily sign and accept the terms of the Code. Report any issues with
this to your AGC before games begin. - Highlight and review a few of the items included in the "WWSC Sportsmanship Credo" and set clear expectations
on how the players and spectators are to behave during events. - Ask parents to verify the contact info on the Consent to Play Form
- Pass around the volunteer sign up form (coordinator of snacks, trophy, and post season party)
- Ask for assistant coaches as needed
Player & Parent Conduct discussions needs to be a part of your season and preferably before the first game. It's
important to recognize that some parents and players have already experienced rules concerning behavior while
participating in other sports (baseball, football, basketball). We just need to make sure everyone is on the same page
when it comes to Youth Soccer. Here are some tips:
- Ask the parents to visit "www.gowestsidewarriors.com" and to complete the Parents review. You can ask them to
submit their electronic signature there, or even better, ask them to print a receipt and bring it to you for review. - Review highlighted portions of the WWSC Sportsmanship Credo with the Parents
- When you see a member of the team behaving in an unsportsmanlike manner then you should confront & correct
- If you heave about a member of the team behaving in an unsportsmanlike manner then you should investigate
- Be sure to reward those who go out of their way to demonstrate good sportsmanship
The First Practice will be a time for you and the team to become familiar with each other. Its also a time for you to set
expectations that will hopefully last for the entire season. Consider the below items carefully and decide if you will
preemptively address them before they come up or wait to deal with on a case by case basis.
- Drop off and pick up location on the field instead of in the parking lot
- Parent / Guardian presence is required unless the coach says it's OK to depart and come back
- Demonstrate beginning practice routines, warm ups, attempt to get players on auto pilot ASAP
- Discussion about sportsmanship
- Player skill assessment
- Player goal setting
The First Game is equally important for tone setting with the parents and players. The efforts you make on this day will
hopefully last the rest of the season.
- For safety reason, to prevent injury and increase motivation, all players need to be on time for pre game warm up
activities. Players arriving late may have reduced play time on a case by case basis with consideration towards the
weather conditions and ability to warm up on the side lines. - Parents and family guests need to stay in the designated spectator area
- Parents and family guests should refrain from talking to the referees
- Parents and family guests can cheer on both teams with positive comments but should not call in directions or
attempt to coach from the sidelines
The End of Season Party can be a fun event for everyone. Some coaches ask for volunteers to organize the event and then
leave it up to the team to settle on the specifics while others like to do it themselves and just ask for volunteers to help in
certain areas. It's pretty much up to you but here are some things to consider:
- Rewards: Some players just starting out in soccer won't have any rewards while others who have been playing for
years will have many. It's important to make sure every player gets something at the end of the season. - Location: Your local favorite pizza joint is a good place to start. A team party at a local indoor soccer ring or picnic
at the park with green field to play around on can also be fun. Get creative and mix it up from season to season. - Date & Time: does not have to be right after your last game. Some prefer to have it on a normally scheduled
practice evening before or after the last game. It's up to you. - Food: Instead of pizza, try a pot luck dinner. Many of the local indoor soccer locations will allow you to rent the field
for part of the party then move your event to a party room for a pot luck dinner, or pizza delivered. - Cake: Costco cakes are big and feed a lot of people.
- Speeches: It's not uncommon for the coach to give a few words for each player during the award ceremony. It's
also OK to say a few words about the team in general without going into details about each player. Depending on
your own personal style and how much time you have it's pretty much up to you.