Coaches Handbook Rev. February 2014

Transcription

1 Coaches Handbook Rev. February 2014

2 Table of Contents I. General Information, Administration and Communication... 4 A. Coaching Licenses... 4 B. MYSA Background Check... 4 C. Concussion Training... 5 D. PACT Training... 5 E. Roster Information... 5 F. Team Meeting... 6 G. Distribution List... 6 H. Team Web Page... 6 I. Team Financials... 7 J. Team Binder... 7 K. Practice Field Scheduling... 7 L. CGU Training... 7 II. League Play... 8 A. Minnesota Youth Soccer Association... 8 B. Playing Nights... 8 C. Game Schedule... 8 D. Player Passes & Rosters... 8 E. Team Uniform & Dress Code for Coaches... 8 F. On-site League Game Responsibilities... 8 G. MYSA Field Directory... 9 H. Referees... 9 I. Game Score Reporting... 9 J. Game Rescheduling Procedure... 9 K. MYSA District, Regional & State Tournament III. Tournaments A. Tournament Selection B. Tournament Registration C. On-site Tournament Check-In

3 IV. Miscellaneous A. Fundraising B. Financial Aid C. Volunteer/DIBS time D. Conflict Resolution E. Weather Policy F. Stages of Development V. Coaching Expectations A. Professionalism B. Sportsmanship C. Common Coaching Situations VI. Player Evaluation Forms VII. Resources A. CGU Club Contacts B. Helpful Websites C. CGAA Code of Conduct

4 Thank you for taking on the very important role of coach! The players on your team, along with their families and all of us at Cottage Grove United appreciate your dedication and leadership. We are pleased to say that we have some talented young coaches joining us this year that are going to be terrific mentors for our developing soccer players. We are also looking forward to some excellent returning coaches, whom we know will continue to do impressive things within our club. As you may know, the role of the coach is to instruct the players on their soccer skills and direct the players at practices and games. The team manager handles the off the field responsibilities. The team manager is also responsible for general administration and communication between the families on the team, the coaches and the CGU board members/administration. Following is an outline of necessary information and the typical responsibilities of the coach, as well as team manager. The coach and manager should have an ongoing dialogue about roles and expectations for your team. Again, thank you for your continued support in creating a successful soccer club experience! 3

5 I. General Information, Administration and Communication A. Coaching Licenses License requirements for competitive-level coaches are as follows: E license for U8 - U12 and C2/C3 levels D License for U13 - U18 C1 levels Courses are typically held in the spring, but some fall options may be available. Please visit for more information, as well as date and location details. Please be aware that CGU will only reimburse for E and D Licenses or their NSCAA equivalents (not for C License and above). You may contact a Competitive Director with any questions. B. MYSA Background Check The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) requires all coaches and team managers to complete a background check every year, beginning in the Fall Season (if you did the check in the Fall Season you are fine for Spring Season). You must complete the background check in order to obtain a Coach s (Manager) pass. Please follow the directions to complete the background check: 1. Go to and click on the "Client Log-in" tab in the top right. 2. Enter the following information to login: Club User ID: MYSCTG Password: MYSCTG 3. Click on the Request tab found at the top of the webpage. 4. Type your full name into the Electronic Signature box and mark the box next to My name entered above signifies my Electronic Signature. Click Continue to proceed. 5. Fill in the required information (name, address, date of birth, etc.) and click Continue to proceed. 6. Under Criminal Court Searches, click on Add/Edit Jurisdictions. 7. Under Search Type, click on Felony and Misdemeanor; under State, click on MN; under County/Jurisdiction, click on your county of residence. Next, you re going to do a second search using the same criteria except under County/Jurisdiction you will click on Statewide (located at the bottom of the selection list). Click on Add Searches to Order. 8. Click on Agree and Submit Order. 9. Print a receipt for your records and log off. 4

6 C. Concussion Training In order to comply with the new state law about concussions, CGU will require all head coaches, assistant coaches and team managers to receive concussion training. The online test/training takes about 30 minutes to complete. Please take the free Concussion Certification Test found here: You will then need to confirm with CGU that you have taken the training here: D. PACT Training Parents and Coaches Together (PACT) is an educational program developed at the University of Notre Dame s Center for Ethical Education and Development. The program is: Based on research from developmental, educational, and sport psychology. Designed to help coaches and parents to be on the same page in successfully creating a positive and motivating climate in Minnesota youth soccer. Presented by experienced trainers approved by the University of Notre Dame. PACT empowers coaches and parents to realize their unique roles in fostering athlete intrinsic motivation, character development, optimal performance, wellbeing and satisfaction. PACT seminars are hosted by member clubs throughout the state in the fall (Aug Oct) and winter (Jan Apr) seasons. The two-hour and 15-minute seminars are offered in a casual setting and presented to you by instructors trained and approved by the University of Notre Dame. Seminar dates can be found on the MYSA website at: Your instructor will use video, a PowerPoint presentation and discussion to deliver the PACT message. You will receive a manual filled with additional materials and references for use as you progress through the soccer year. Your participation in the PACT program will help create the best soccer climate for Minnesota s youth. E. Roster Information You and/or your team manager will receive an initial roster for your team from the CGU Registrar with contact information provided at registration. The team manager should verify all contact information and collect additional info as necessary, including: Coach(s) and phone number(s) and parent(s)/guardian(s) phone number(s), , and home address. Copies of the final team roster should be shared with all parents of the team. 5

7 Please note: The official roster for all teams will be provided to managers and coaches via a link to the master. This link should not be shared with the families and is only for coaches and managers who have completed the background checks. This roster provides the most up to date information from the club registrar. F. Team Meeting You or your team manager should schedule a meeting with your team and all parents early in the season to discuss expectations, tournament options, practice nights, etc. You should talk about practice/game expectations, as well as your philosophy and direction for the team. At the team meeting, your manager will want to collect: A small photo of each player (1 x 1 ) for the player passes A completed medical release form (must be updated and signed for each season) A copy of their birth certificate (only needed if you plan to travel out-of-state) The medical release form can be found here: It does NOT need to be notarized unless your team will participate in an out-of-state tournament. Families can fill out these forms, scan them and send them to you via . Digital photos can be sent via as well. The team meeting is also a great opportunity to elicit additional help from other parents on your team, which is strongly recommended! G. Distribution List Once the team manager has your roster, they can set up an distribution list and start communicating with your team. It is a great way to make sure that everyone is on the same schedule for the week and is aware of the upcoming games/practices, etc. H. Team Web Page Each team has its own web page on the CGU website. Access will be given to team managers at the Managers Meeting or by contacting the Director of Operations or Publicity. It is typically the manager s responsibility to keep your team page updated with the current practice and game schedule, the coach and manager contact information and the team roster (last name and first initial only of players). Please do not post individual photos of players on the website for security purposes (team photos are fine!). It s up to you and your manager to determine how much work they want to put into the team page, but it is important to have the game and practice schedule posted as a reference for your team and for our Coaching Directors. Another tool on your team page is ical. This will automatically sync your team calendar (and updates) with registered mobile devices. Please visit the NGIN Support site for some web site tips/general instructions. A link to this site can be found through the CGU website under the HOME tab, then NGIN Set-up & Support. 6

8 I. Team Financials It is the manager s responsibility to collect any team fees for tournaments, coaches, and/or facility rental fees not covered by CGU. Tournaments not covered by CGU can be registered and paid for by the team manager and do not need to be paid through CGU. All coaches fees must be made payable to Cottage Grove United and submitted to the Treasurer at PO Box 337, Cottage Grove, MN Please check the CGU website for deadlines. Some winter facility rental may require that the CGU is the renter (not the individual team) for insurance purposes. In this case payment must be made to CGU by the team manager and CGU will pay the rental invoice. Payments can be given to the Treasurer or Director of Operations. Funds for paying coaches and training facilities can be held through CGU for one season. On July 31st any remaining funds in a team account with CGU will be refunded back to the team. Please note: Teams cannot have bank accounts in the name of the team or CGU. This is a violation of CGU and CGAA rules. CGAA non-profit status requires it to account for all funds in its name. It is our recommendation that if you choose to hold team funds in a personal account, that you are completely transparent with your team on these matters. J. Team Binder Your team manager should have your player passes, your official MYSA roster, and medical release forms with them at all games. It s also a good idea for them to keep contact phone numbers (coaches, teammates, referee coordinator, etc.), the master schedule, and any other necessary paperwork with them when your team travels to games. K. Practice Field Scheduling Typically, you do not need to schedule field space for practices. You may use the open school spaces and any Cottage Grove middle or elementary schools. Kingston Park is available for practices but please be mindful if you get moved for a scheduled game. Check the CGU website for field open/close information and updates. Our growing number of teams poses some field demand issues. Keep in mind that your team can always practice on green space (open grassy areas throughout Cottage Grove). While it s always better to be on a lined field with goals, green space is better than nothing. L. CGU Training Coerver trainers will hold pre-season and in-season training with each team. Information should be communicated directly with your coach. Current information will be communicated via and on the CGU website. 7

9 II. League Play A. Minnesota Youth Soccer Association The Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA) was founded in 1969 as the Minnesota Junior Soccer League and was incorporated in MYSA is the governing body for youth soccer in Minnesota. They determine the district that we play, game schedules and facilitate/manage District and State Tournaments. Many resources are available on their website at: B. Playing Nights Summer playing nights are listed in the table below. Fall games will be played on Saturday and/or Sunday. This information can also be found at: SUMMER PLAYING NIGHTS Age/Division Girls Boys Age/Division Girls Boys U9 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U15 Premier Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U10 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U15 Classic 1 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U11 Classic 1 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U15 Classic 2 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U11 Classic 2 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U15 Classic 3 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U11 Classic 3 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U16 Premier Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U12 Classic 1 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U16 Classic 1 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U12 Classic 2 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U16 Classic 2 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U12 Classic 3 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U16 Classic 3 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U13 Classic 1 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U17 Premier Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U13 Classic 2 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U17 Classic 1 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U13 Classic 3 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U17 Classic 2 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U14 Premier Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U17 Classic 3 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U14 Classic 1 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U18 Premier Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U14 Classic 2 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed U18, U19 or U18/19 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu Combined Classic 1 U14 Classic 3 Mon-Wed Tue-Thu U18, U19 or U18/19 Tue-Thu Mon-Wed Combined Classic 2 U19 Premier Sun-Wed Tue-Thu C. Game Schedule Rather than the mandatory meeting, MYSA is now posting schedules online. You and/or your manager will receive a code to login to MYSA site and download a copy of your team s schedule. 8

10 D. Player Passes & Rosters CGU submits our team rosters by age group and level to MYSA which in turn provides us with an official roster and player passes for each player, coach and manager. The CGU Registrar will let you and/or your manager know when your player passes are ready to be picked up. Your team manager will need to assemble them and prepare them for league play. Player passes, per MYSA rules, must have a photograph of the registrant, a signature of the registrant, and must be laminated and bound together via a metal clip. Player passes are considered official identification and should never be copied nor tampered with. Using illegal passes or illegal players can have severe consequences to the player, coach, team manager and club. You MUST have the passes in order to play a game NO PASSES, NO PLAY. Always make sure passes are returned to you or your manager at the end of a game. Assembling passes: 1. Affix each photo (these are the 1 x 1 photos you collected at the team meeting or take your own photos pre-season and print them out). 2. Have each player sign the back of their pass. 3. Laminate passes with sheets provided. 4. Punch a hole through laminated passes. 5. Put passes in alphabetical order on a metal ring with the coach and manager last. 6. It may be helpful to add a card or label with your contact information in the event that the passes are accidently left with the referee or misplaced. Be sure to allow enough time to collect all the necessary info and assemble the passes well before your first game. It is very important to keep these in a safe place to be used at each game. If lost, replacement passes are $15.00 each and require 2-3 days turnaround for replacement. No pass = No play. Contact the CGU Registrar if you need replacement passes. Please note: Passes will not be issued to players that still owe registration fees. This will be noted on the master roster. E. Team Uniform & Dress Code for Coaches CGU uniform should be worn as intended: full green kit (home games) and full white kit (away games). If a player should need a replacement uniform, have them contact the CGU uniform coordinator at uniforms@cottagegrovesoccer.org. Coaches are expected to wear CGU apparel, such as CGU warm-ups or CGU polo. F. On-site League Game Responsibilities The referees require two things from your team before each game: First, they need the completed player passes. Second, they need a Competitive Match Report (an official roster for the team available at: 8

11 Typically, the team manager will give the player passes and the match line up report to the referees before the start of the game (usually 30 minutes before game). Remember, no passes, no play. If the team manager can t get to the field 30 minutes before the game, make sure that you or another parent can do it. If it s a home game, your team manager will also need to provide a stamped, addressed (labels are included with your player passes) envelope for the referees so that they can send the results in to MYSA. G. MYSA Field Directory Your team manager will need to provide field information to your team for all games. The field location codes will be provided on your master game schedule. Field information and directions can be found at H. Referees CGU is responsible for providing referees for all home games. The club Referee Coordinator takes care of assigning referees for all home games. The referees should be at the field at least 15 minutes before game time. If referees do not show up, call the Referee Coordinator (contact list attached). These numbers should be programmed into your cell phone for easy access. I. Game Score Reporting Only U11 and older teams are required to report game scores to MYSA through their website. You or your team manager will need to report your scores after every game - home and away. Failure to report a score by the deadline will result in a $50 fine to your team. Since U9 and U10 teams are considered non-competitive, scores do NOT be reported. League standings will be kept for U11 and older teams. U11 and older teams are also eligible to play in Districts and the Minnesota State Tournament. J. Game Rescheduling Procedure If a game needs to be rescheduled for whatever reason (weather, team conflict, etc.) the procedure to reschedule is as follows (again, typically the team manager will do this): 1. Contact the opposing team and agree on a few acceptable dates to reschedule. 2. If it s a home game, you are required to secure the field and referees for the game. Complete the Game Reschedule Form on the CGU website. (Follow tabs Competitive, Coaches, and then Game Reschedules). This will initiate contact with both the Referee and Fields Coordinators. 3. You will receive an confirming the change once reviewed/rescheduled (usually hours). 9

12 4. Then, you need to create an official reschedule request on the MYSA game reporting website. Once that s done, the website will automatically the opposing team manager. They will need to go to the website and officially accept the rescheduled game. This updates all official schedules for you and the field/ref coordinators. 5. Once your reschedule is finalized, be sure to update your team webpage and notify your team of the new day/time/location of the game. All requests to reschedule games for anticipated events should be made within a 2 week grace period after the league schedule is available. In cases where the game has to be rescheduled because of weather related or referee issues, the game must be rescheduled within 48 hours. In any rescheduling situation, good communication is needed between all parties. A forfeit results in a significant fine, as well as a loss on the team s record. K. MYSA District, Regional & State Tournament In the competitive age groups (U11 & older), teams are eligible for postseason play at the Districts and the Minnesota State Tournaments. All teams will play in the State Tournament Qualifiers; there are no direct seeds to the State Tournament. You will need to declare on the game reporting webpage whether or not your team is interested in postseason district and state tournaments by a specified date. Not all teams will qualify to go. HOWEVER, if you declare yes and qualify, you must play or the team WILL BE FINED. Make sure that your team is in agreement and are available and willing to go in the event that you qualify. More information can be found on the MYSA website: III. Tournaments A. Tournament Selection CGU has guidelines on the number and location of tournaments for each age group and level which the club will provide you with, as well as a list of tournament options/dates. If you choose to travel out of state, the team is responsible for the coaches travel expenses, meals and hotel accommodations. Your manager will also need to have the players medical release forms notarized and obtain a travel permit if you re going out of state. You can apply for this form online on the MYSA website under forms. It is recommended that you apply for this more than 30 days in advance to save yourself $50. B. Tournament Registration U9 & U10 Teams The Club will register Competitive teams for the MYSA Fall Jamboree. The cost for this tournament is included in the registration fee. All CGU teams will also be expected to register for and participate in our annual Runnin with the Wolves tournament. Registration for the RWTW tournament is done by the team managers through NGIN, using 10

13 the code 14RWTWCGU to waive any fees. U9-U12 Academy Teams The Club will register Academy teams for the MYSA Fall Jamboree (U9 & U10) or the MYSA State Tournament (U11 & U12) and two additional tournaments to be determined by the Competitive Directors. The cost for these tournaments is included in the registration fee. All CGU teams will also be expected to register for and participate in our annual Runnin with the Wolves tournament. Registration for the RWTW tournament is done by the team managers through NGIN, using the code 14RWTWCGU to waive any fees. U11+ Teams Teams usually participate in at least three tournaments. Team managers are required to register their team for any desired tournaments. To find tournaments go to: Tournament information starts becoming available in January as the tournaments begin posting their schedules. Typically, the registration process is done online through the hosting club s website and requires payment at the time of registration. Each U11+ team is responsible for their own tournament fees and expenses. All CGU teams will also be expected to register for and participate in our annual Runnin with the Wolves tournament. Registration for the RWTW tournament is done by the team managers through NGIN, using the code 14RWTWCGU to waive any fees. It is important to get input from your team and families when selecting tournaments, so it s a good idea to take a poll ASAP for your team on their availability during the summer months. A good website to use for this is Also, many tournament registration deadlines occur months before the actual tournament so it s important to identify your tournaments early and mark the registration deadlines on your calendar. C. On-site Tournament Check-In Each tournament has a different set of rules for on-site check-in. Typically, you will need to bring your player passes, roster, and medical release forms to a check-in station prior to your first tournament game. Putting these items in alphabetical order will ensure that the process goes quickly. The check-in station may or may not be located at the location of your game. You should receive either a packet of information in the mail or ed information from the tournament director on this-- read this carefully so as not to miss anything. 11

14 IV. Miscellaneous A. Fundraising The CG United Soccer Club Board of Directors understands the importance of fundraising to offset tournament costs, training fees, and other team activities. Due to the potential dollar amounts that can be raised and the fiscal liability and accountability as a 501c Non-profit organization, CG United Soccer Club and CGAA needs to account for all fundraising. All teams that want to fundraise or receive a sponsorship must follow the steps outlined below and receive approval for all fundraising/sponsorship activities. 1. A Team must submit a request for approval on the Fundraising Page of the CG United Soccer Club Website. 2. An approval will be ed within 24 to 48 hours of submitted form. 3. Once fundraising is complete, the Team is required to submit a check to the Club Administrator for the total amount raised (made out to CG United Soccer) along with a Financial Summary Form (found on the fundraising page). 4. Within 7 days, the Club Administrator will return the funds (via check) to the Team, along with a receipt for the Fundraising Event or Sponsorship. 5. At this time the CG United Soccer Club cannot allow any fundraising that is individual based, i.e. each individual on a team receives payment for their fundraising efforts. All teams need to be able to receive one payment and it is then the team s responsibility to distribute the funds to each individual player as appropriate. 6. If any team violates the fundraising policy, their team s ability to fundraise will be suspended for the remainder of the Season. Several times throughout the year, we will also be doing fundraising as a Club to support scholarships, equipment updates and field/facility improvements. Please support these efforts as it allows us to maintain the costs of CG United Soccer. B. Financial Aid CGU offers Financial Aid (up to 50% of the registration fee) for players in need. Limited resources are available and all applications will be evaluated by the CGU Board based on need. If a family is interested in seeking Financial Aid, please ask them to complete the Financial Aid Application and return it to: CGU Soccer, PO Box 337, Cottage Grove, MN Families will be contacted once the application has been processed and a decision has been made. More information is available on the CGU website under the REGISTRATION tab, then Financial Aid. 12

15 C. Volunteer/DIBS time Every family in the Competitive (Traveling) Soccer Program is required to fulfill 4 hours of volunteer time with the Club. If a family wishes to opt out of this requirement they can submit a check for $ (opt-out fee) to CG United Soccer Club at time of player registration. If a family does not opt-out, and does not fulfill their volunteer requirements, they will be charged a $350 fee. In the Competitive program, the following people are exempt from fulfilling DIBS time: Head Coach, up to two Assistant Coaches, and the Team Manager. Parents that volunteer as Head Coach for our Pre-Academy (Rec) program are also exempt. Volunteering is important to our club to maintain the level of programming that we offer and keep the per player costs of soccer down. Many opportunities to volunteer are offered through-out the season, including the Runnin with the Wolves Tournament, East District Girl s Playoffs, and the Pre-Academy Summer Tournament. More information about the volunteer policy and the DIBS program is available on the CGU website under the ABOUT tab, then Volunteer. D. Conflict Resolution If there is an issue on your team, the coach should be the first point of contact. If the conflict remains or isn t solvable by the coach, please have the involved parties contact the appropriate Competitive Director. Competitive Director s names and contact information are listed under Resources, as well as on the CGU webpage. E. Weather Policy The MYSA weather guidelines can be found here: Games will be played as scheduled unless lightning is spotted within 5 miles of the game. Games will be called at the field by the referees if necessary. Please reference the MYSA website for more detailed information. When in doubt, show up! It may not be violent weather at the game site, and if you don t show up you will forfeit. F. Stages of Development U6 U9 is known as the fun stage. U10 U12 is known as the foundation age or golden age. U13 U16 is known as the formal stage. U17 U18 is known as the results stage. 13

16 V. Coaching Expectations A. Professionalism The following is a list of key ingredients to help you be the best coach you can be: Preparation Coaches should be prepared for practices and games with a lesson plan. Sample lesson plans may be requested and/or provided throughout the season. Coaches are also expected to have clean equipment for practices/games and provide soccer balls for players, if necessary. Remember, preparation reflects professionalism. Punctuality Coaches should arrive minutes before practices to set up; if you cannot make this then ask your assistant coach to set up the session. Space permitting, try to set up all of your activities to cut down on the time players are standing around while you set up. Hold your players to high standards; however do not punish them for being late. Enthusiasm Every soccer coach is a highly motivated individual, selected because of their genuine love of coaching soccer. Enthusiasm comes easy when you truly love the subject. Regardless of winning or losing coaching should be a highlight of the week; not a chore. Don t be afraid to smile in front of your team! Appearance All coaches are required to wear appropriate coaching apparel and be in a neutral color so they can be seen amongst the players. Positive/Constructive Instruction Everyone in this room will make mistakes this season; your players are no different. They NEED to make mistakes in order to improve. If and when a mistake is made, it is imperative that those players are encouraged, not discouraged. Players need to be confident and not risk isolated criticism in order to continue learning enjoyment and self- belief. Role Models Coaches should provide players with an example of the respect and manners that they want the players to display all season long. Coaches should strive to recognize and accept the responsibility of being positive role models for youth soccer players in Minnesota. Your players look up to you in every way and they strive to be like you; it is important that you re not only teaching them correctly on the field, but teaching them the appropriate life lessons off the field. We are shaping the minds of future men and women. 14

17 The Big Picture Coaches should accept that, realistically, they will probably not coach a player that will go on to make a living from the game. Regardless, it is imperative that the Coaching Staff emphasize the importance of moral/social values as they apply to adult life. B. Sportsmanship Sportsmanship Expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors. Being a good sport involves being a good winner as well as being a good loser. When it comes to referees, not every decision will go your way. There is no point in arguing with the decision. It will only add more doubt into the referee s mind and probably lead him or her to make more incorrect decisions. The referees are not there to make you lose, they are like all of us; there to do a job to the best of their ability. Referees are human beings with feelings, and after a hard day at work, they get to the field and all they want is a conflict-free environment. All of our coaches, players and parents are expected to display the following acts of good sportsmanship: Greet the refs with a smile and introduce yourself and your captain(s). Welcome the other team to our fields by introducing yourself and shaking their hand. Go the extra mile by pointing out the water fountain or providing other useful information. Give the opposition adequate space to warm-up. Wish the other coaches luck before the game. During the game: Use the referee, but don t abuse him or her. Do not shout at the referee; calmly talk to him or her. Keep the players on the bench from vocally complaining, their job is to encourage the team and watch the flow of the game until it is their turn to play. Watch your non-verbal communication. Do not throw/kick things to the ground, do not throw your arms in the air, or hold your head in your hands. None of those actions will help your team. The best way to help your team is by coaching and leading by example. 15

18 What if the parents are getting out of control? At the beginning of the season, remind your parents of the club s expectations and of the Code of Conduct they acknowledged during registration. If an individual or group begins to veer away from our standards, wait until the game is over and quietly have a word with them. Do not do it in front of any players or parents; we do not want to embarrass the individual. If they do not take your advices then notify your Competitive Director. C. Common Coaching Situations This is a series of guidelines for handling situations that occur in coaching. Research conducted with players shows that if they have coaches who follow the guidelines listed below, the players generally: Enjoy playing more. Like their teammates more. Rate their coaches as more knowledgeable. Feel their coaches are better teachers. Have a greater desire to play for their coaches in the future. You may agree or disagree with the guidelines. However, it is what the experts (the players) say about successful coaches. 1. How to be more positive: a. Have realistic expectations. b. Give positive feedback for desirable behavior as soon as it occurs. c. Praise effort as much as you do results. 2. How to react to mistakes: a. Give encouragement immediately after a mistake. b. When appropriate, give corrective instruction after a mistake, but always do so in an encouraging and positive way. c. If the player knows how to correct the mistake, encouragement alone is sufficient. d. Don t punish when things go wrong. e. Don t give corrective instruction in a hostile or punitive way. 3. How to maintain order and discipline: a. Maintain order by establishing clearly what is expected. b. Involve players in formulating behavioral guidelines and work to build team unity in achieving them. c. Strive to achieve a balance between allowing freedom and maintaining structure. d. Emphasize during a match, all members of the team are part of the game. 16

19 4. How to deal with team rule violations: a. Allow the player to explain his/her actions (to coach and teammates). b. Be consistent and impartial. c. Don t express anger or a punitive attitude towards the athlete. d. Don t lecture or embarrass the player. e. Focus on the fact that a team policy has been broken, placing the responsibility on the player not you. f. Discuss why certain rules are necessary and how violation of these rules hurts the team. g. Focus on following through on the agreed upon consequences of a violation. h. Don t use physical measures to punish (e.g.: running laps, doing pushups) as they become disliked and avoided. If a penalty is necessary it is better to restrict involvement in something, which is valued (e.g.: have the player sit off to the side). 5. How to get positive things to happen: a. Set a good example of desired behavior. b. Encourage effort; don t demand results all the time. c. In giving encouragement, be selective so that it is meaningful. d. Never give encouragement in a sarcastic or degrading manner. e. Encourage players to be supportive of each other. 6. How to create a good learning atmosphere: a. Set realistic goals. b. Always give instructions positively, clearly and concisely. c. Show players the correct technique (by demonstrations). d. Be patient and don t expect or demand more than maximum effort. e. Acknowledge and reward effort and progress. 7. How to communicate effectively: a. Ask yourself what your actions have communicated. b. Encourage players to express their concerns to you. c. Be sensitive to individual needs. d. Communicate at the time when the player is most receptive. 8. How to gain respect: a. Establish your role as a competent and willing teacher. b. Be a fair and considerate leader. c. Set a good example. d. Don t demand respect, earn it. e. Show all players that you care about them as individuals. 17

20 f. Don t let players leave a training session or match feeling as if they are worthless or overt losers. g. Help players separate their personal value from their performance on a given day. 9. How to counteract parental pressures: a. Communicate to your players that the important thing is that they enjoy playing and develop their skills, not that they must win or be a star. b. Communicate to parents that by placing excessive pressure on children, they can detract from the potential that soccer can have for enjoyment and personal growth. c. Have a meeting. 18

21 25 IMPORTANT THINGS YOUR PLAYERS SHOULD KNOW 1. A good soccer player must have skills, conditioning, and tactical knowledge. They must continue to work on all three to be the best they can be. 2. When your team has the ball, everyone is on offense; when your opponents have the ball, everyone is on defense. 3. No matter what position you start the game in, you will still have to head, pass, receive, shoot, and make space. 4. If you can t pass and receive a soccer ball, you will have a hard time playing the game. 5. Practice passing and receiving (air and ground balls) to a person/space with proper pace. 6. Do not just kick the ball unless it is in a dangerous position in front of our goal. Instead, take a picture of the situation before you get the ball. This way you can perceive the situation, and plan accordingly when the ball arrives. 7. Don t run forward when your team has the ball, unless you run back when in defense. 8. Your team is only limited in what it can do by the players skills. 9. In most sports you need to be balanced in both feet. 10. If you lose the ball, you should be the first person on defense. Giving immediate chase is the first rule on defense. 11. When changing from offense to defense, sprint to get between your man and the goal. 12. Beat your opponent to the ball. It is more difficult for your opponent to score a goal if they do not have the ball. 13. After a goal, always thank your teammate for the assist. 14. Never criticize the goalie. 15. In a soccer game, only one team plays soccer, and the other team chases. 16. Good dribblers give up the ball before they are in trouble, not after they are in trouble. 17. Losing possession of the ball is only acceptable in three situations; after a goal, after a shot, or in the offensive third of the field. 18. Do not say anything to the referee. They are not dishonest, but they are human and will make mistakes just as we all do. 19. If all players made as few mistakes as referees during the game, the team would be undefeated every season. 20. To play up to your ability, you cannot smoke, drink, or take drugs. 21. An effort of 99 percent or less will not win championships. 22. The world is full of potentially good soccer players, but lacks players that reach their full potential. 23. Potential means that you haven t done anything yet. 24. Players should not be allowed to say I can t, but I will try is acceptable. 25. Win, lose, or tie, if you gave 100% on the field; you can feel extremely proud! 19

22 VI. Player Evaluation Forms Coach: Team: Player: Unsatisfactory Needs Improvement Average Good Excellent Coachability/Attitude Technical Ability Ball Control Passing Dribbling Heading Finishing Tactical Awareness In Attack In Defense Movement off the ball Physical Aspects Endurance Speed Agility Strength Comments: 20

23 Team: Coach: Age: Topic: Date: Trainer: Warm Up & SAQ: Main Topic Coaching Points: Skill Development: Conditioned Game: Cool Down: Comments: 21

24 VII. Resources A. CGU Club Contacts Please remember when calling to be mindful that these board members are VOLUNTEERS, they are not paid for their time. Please do not make phone calls to board members after 9pm or drop by their homes without calling first. Boys Competitive Kevin Valento Director Club Administrator Lynn Mitchell Director of Operations Dennis Neitz Equipment Randy Lynch Fields & Facilities Mike Buth Girls Competitive Director Todd Abrahamson Member-At-Large Jennifer Meyer President Jim Bollback Publicity Stacey Rustad Referee Coordinator Colleen Hase Registrar Beth Schult Secretary Kristin Degel Tournaments (RWTW) Dave Gutzman Treasurer Aaron Pust Uniforms Jason West Volunteers/Fundraising Kim Burns B. Helpful Websites CGU: MYSA: Tournaments: NGIN Support: Polling/Voting site:

25 C. CGAA Code of Conduct This is the new CGAA code of conduct. In an effort to have consistent expectations across the organization, we have created a policy that encompasses all divisions. Some divisions must additionally adhere to their sports governing body s rules and requirements. Where these are stricter, members involved in those sports must adhere to the more stringent rule. COTTAGE GROVE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION The Mission of Cottage Grove Athletic Association ( CGAA ) CGAA provides youth sports programs that serve youth-players of all abilities in the Cottage Grove Area. The objective of these programs is to develop youth-players with confidence, loyalty, teamwork, and outstanding sportsmanship, in addition to the individual skills required in each sport. The results of our efforts will be stronger more confident members of our community and future leaders. CGAA is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 volunteer organization committed to promoting quality coaching, ethical conduct and parental involvement. CONDUCT General Conduct Youth sports are an important way to introduce children to organized sports, teamwork, and competition within a fun environment. CGAA believes that sportsmanship is an expectation so please let the players play, let the coaches coach, let the officials officiate, and let the spectators be positive. It is important for all players, coaches, and spectators accept victory with grace and defeat with dignity. At tournaments, especially involving travel, coaches and parents are required to maintain a level of appropriate behavior including sobriety and class when around youth members of the society. Exposing youth to inappropriate behavior may result in disciplinary action. Coach Conduct Coaches are who the players look up to as a model for how to behave on and off the field. Do not take this responsibility lightly. Coaches represent CGAA, and as such, are expected to maintain a high level of integrity and responsible behavior. Inappropriate conduct includes but is not limited to: Engagement of an official before, during or after the game Violation of sport specific rules (i.e. playing time, etc.) Any physical contact of any sort with a player, opposing coach or player, official, or spectator Use of foul or demeaning language 23

26 Inappropriate gestures Knowingly playing an ineligible player The conduct of the players, coaching staff, and parents is the responsibility of the coach. Player Conduct Players must respect all aspects of the game including coaches, officials, teammates, opponents, and fans. Players should always uphold the highest standard of sportsmanship. The use of the following will not be tolerated and are strictly prohibited: Foul language, Inappropriate gestures, Taunting Negative comments/attitudes Any of the player conduct policies that may be violated by using Social Media sites. Players are not allowed to question or challenge the judgment decisions of the officials. As in all team sports, you win and lose as a team. Team members should continue to be positive and supportive of each other. Players having inappropriate physical contact or verbal exchanges with a teammate, coach, official, or opponent will be subject to the player discipline. A player may be ejected by an official, or if the player is in violation of the rules listed above, their coach may suspend the player. Spectator Conduct It is vital that spectators remember that they are there to support the team, coaches, and officials. Remember that this is a game that is meant to be a fun, learning experience for children. The use of profanity or degrading language is prohibited. Accept the judgment of coaches, officials. Encourage the coach players, and other spectators in the spirit of good sportsmanship. The use of or being under the influence of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco at all CGAA facilities is prohibited. Accept victory with grace and defeat with dignity. Remember that your children play for their own fun and enjoyment. Show appreciation and respect for your team s opponents for without them, there would not be a game. Leave the officials out of it. They do not care who wins. Maintain self-control. Refrain from disrespectful conduct of any sort. All parents are required to remain away from the players and coaches during the athletic event. Unless otherwise specified by a coach or official. 24

27 DISCIPLINE Coach Discipline Any coach or manager who is ejected from a game will be subject to a one game suspension. Two ejections during the course of a season will result in requiring the coach or manager to go before the Division of that sport for reinstatement Player Discipline Any player who is ejected from a game will be subject to a one game suspension. A second ejection will result in the player being required to go before the Division of that sport before reinstatement. Spectator Discipline A spectator or parent that is ejected from a game by either the player s coach or official must leave the field immediately. If ejected a second time during the season, they will go before the Division of that sport before being allowed to attend another CGAA event. General Discipline CGAA may require violators to undergo behavior modification training to be reinstated in any of the above circumstances. Failure to comply with CGAA policies or disciplinary actions may result in the exclusion of the offending party or their family from participation in CGAA. NOTE: at a minimum your sanctioning bodies have more strict penalties which you are required to adhere if applicable. Rule may be more severe based upon the division s rules or MSHL Policies. Communication We value the input of our coaches and parents. To that end, whether you are a player, coach, or parent, CGAA asks that if there is an issue that comes up, we recommend a 24 hour waiting period before you speak with the parent, player, or coach about the issue as to let any issue have a cooling off period. This should be dealt with in a timely manner and dealt with promptly. If there isn t resolution, the next step is to contact the Division President of that sport. Any substitute issue should be dealt with using the CGAA issue resolution policy. 25