Manage your personal stress level:

  • Have your game plan ready the night before
  • Have a good meal – morning coffee!  
  • Don’t rush to the field – no road rage   
  • Arrive early enough to set nets - safety walk the field
  • Have team warm ups on auto pilot - Ask assistant coaches to warm up
  • Relax and try to have fun.  If you are relaxed then your more likely to enjoy
    yourself and your players will too

Your Game Plan 1:

  • Warm Up’s  Break a sweat before game starts
  • Meet the other Coaches - get their first name
  • Meet the Ref - get their full name
  • Have a formation already planned and a back up plan
  • Place players where they can be successful
  • Don’t over direct during the game, games are for managing not teaching

Your Game Plan 2:

  • Manage substitutes evenly (50% play time)
  • No post game speeches, leave it for practice
  • Team cheer & shake hands
  • Post game analysis & notes
  • Prep for next practice

Conflict Resolution:  
    The # 1 way to prevent conflicts is to talk with the other coaches and become
    friendly before the game starts.  Always try to accomplish this goal while your
    assistant coaches are warming up the team.  

  • Ask Questions (Coach Jim, you're 5 goals up can we share players?)
  • Do not make demands - be reasonable
  • Stay calm & speak slowly & low tone- remember that everyone is watching you
  • Smile and use first names to ease the situation
  • Put yourself in the other persons shoes - Work together
  • Worse case, if the other coach is not willing to talk or is being rude you must
    decide if it's a safety concern.  If yes, ask the referee for help to resolve the safety
    incident.  If no, take notes and report the situation later to your club but do not
    escalate the confrontation.  Remain calm and act sportsmanlike at all times.
Go Westside Warriors!  -  Preparing for Games