Ask yourself the following questions and be honest with yourself:
As a Youth Soccer coach, the players and their families will look to you for guidance and follow your example. If you fall
short in any of the above items then chances are your team will too. Set your personal goals high, express your need for
good sportsmanship with the team, and correct those that make mistakes. As coaches, we need to set the bar high so that
others will follow. Here are a few items to look for in both spectators and players
- Do I spend a lot of time yelling instructions during games?
- When spectators see me from across the field, do I look stressed or relaxed?
- Do I smile as much as I could?
- Am I personally having fun?
- Am I constantly involved in conflicts with other coaches or the referee?
As a Youth Soccer coach, the players and their families will look to you for guidance and follow your example. If you fall
short in any of the above items then chances are your team will too. Set your personal goals high, express your need for
good sportsmanship with the team, and correct those that make mistakes. As coaches, we need to set the bar high so that
others will follow. Here are a few items to look for in both spectators and players
- Cussing, put downs, negative talk, bullying
- Pushing, tripping
- Purposely ignoring the rules of the game
- Purposely trying to gain a tactical advantage by unfair activities or breaking the rules
- Disrespectful talk and/or body language by coaches, players and their families
A coach may wear many hats during the course of one day. In any one hour of soccer you may have to switch roles between
being an administrator, a teacher, a disciplinary, confidant, and friend. For this reason alone, it's important to be organized
and prepared. A prepared coach is a confident, strong leader who is to be respected by all. Set you goals to become
this person.
Do your best to be friendly and smile as much as possible. Leave your worries in the car and escape into the wonderful
world of soccer. The time you have with the kids is so short so enjoy every minute you can.
Setting the tone is an important step that is commonly overlooked by many coaches. But the fact is that once the parents
and players understand the coaches mind set, and the rules they will be expected to follow, it will allow them to settle into a
routine, kickback and enjoy the game. Set the tone at the beginning of the season and then you will have very little
problems later on.
The initial Team meeting is one of the most important events. It's one of the only times you will have the complete attention
of all the parents & players at the same time. Please visit the "Communications" page for more details and suggestions.
Below are some of the biggest mistakes a coach can make when setting the tone with the team. Once you have set the bar
at a reasonable place, you will need to hold others accountable when they fall short. It is important to address these issues
constructively and with respect. Remember to always ask questions and not make demands. Put yourself in the other
persons shoes and try to see it from their perspective. Remember your top priorities are Safety, Fun and Skill
Development. Get help from others in the club when you need advice. Keep your AGC in the loop when it comes to dealing
with confrontations or unsportsmanlike conduct.
********************************************************************************
********************************************************************************
being an administrator, a teacher, a disciplinary, confidant, and friend. For this reason alone, it's important to be organized
and prepared. A prepared coach is a confident, strong leader who is to be respected by all. Set you goals to become
this person.
Do your best to be friendly and smile as much as possible. Leave your worries in the car and escape into the wonderful
world of soccer. The time you have with the kids is so short so enjoy every minute you can.
Setting the tone is an important step that is commonly overlooked by many coaches. But the fact is that once the parents
and players understand the coaches mind set, and the rules they will be expected to follow, it will allow them to settle into a
routine, kickback and enjoy the game. Set the tone at the beginning of the season and then you will have very little
problems later on.
The initial Team meeting is one of the most important events. It's one of the only times you will have the complete attention
of all the parents & players at the same time. Please visit the "Communications" page for more details and suggestions.
Below are some of the biggest mistakes a coach can make when setting the tone with the team. Once you have set the bar
at a reasonable place, you will need to hold others accountable when they fall short. It is important to address these issues
constructively and with respect. Remember to always ask questions and not make demands. Put yourself in the other
persons shoes and try to see it from their perspective. Remember your top priorities are Safety, Fun and Skill
Development. Get help from others in the club when you need advice. Keep your AGC in the loop when it comes to dealing
with confrontations or unsportsmanlike conduct.
********************************************************************************
- Example # 1: Not being organized when it comes to knowing dates, time & location of events. Not communicating
this clearly to the team by email and person to person conversations.
Results: People will be late to practices and games. Players will not have enough time to warm up and get their
heads into the game. Players will feel left out when they miss pre-game and pre-practice warm up activities.
- Preventative Tone Setting Actions: Use this site and others like it to prepare yourself for what it takes to be a
successful team administrator. Talk to your AGC, Club Head Coach, or other coaches you respect and ask for tips
on how stay organized. Utilize email as much as possible and tell your team parents to check it regularly for
updates; especially before they head out the door for an event. Write the following statement in big bold letters at the
top of your email and hold people accountable when they don't respond:
**PLEASE HIT THE REPLY BUTTON AND SAY "GOT IT" TO CONFIRM YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS EMAIL**
- ********************************************************************************
Example #2: Acting in an unsportsmanlike behavior or NOT correcting your players when you see or hear about
unsportsmanlike acts such as bullying, cussing, foul language, teasing, cheating, or gaining an unfair advantage.
- Specific example #1: The coach on the side lines during a game continuously yells into the players. He / She can
also be heard saying things such as "Don't take that from the other team, if he pushes you again then you better
push them back".
- Specific example #2: A player on your team is very aggressive and often hurts other players by kicking, pushing, and
can be heard cussing at times to the referee.
Results: This type of behavior is appalling and disrespectful to the spirit of the game. If you find yourself in this
situation then you need to take action and/or get help right away. Try to remember that players and parents tend to
mimic the coach's behavior. If they see you doing or condoning poor behavior then they will also behave the same
way. Not only can this lead to injuries on the field, it can create a hostile environment in the stands, where verbal or
physical confrontations are more likely to occur.
Preventative Tone Setting Actions: Lead by example. Be aware of your body language, facial expressions, and
especially the words you use when talking with or around the players. Discuss the Parents Code of Conduct at the
beginning of the season and provide the parents an opportunity to ask questions. The following is not in any way a
requirement; however, you may want to consider telling the parents that their player cannot participate in games until
you have their signature on a hard copy of the Parents Code of Conduct.
If you demonstrate respect to the players then they will respect you in return. If you demonstrate respect to the
referee and your opponents then your players will see this and act in the same way. When you talk about
sportsmanship and hold the players accountable with disciplinary actions when the make mistakes then you can
turn the situation into a collective learning experience for the entire team.
********************************************************************************
| Setting the tone for a strong season of sportsmanship! |
| Go Westside Warriors! - Sportsmanship |
