September 9, 2015 FALL 2015 COACH KICK-OFF MEETING

September 9, 2015 FALL 2015 COACH KICK-OFF MEETING

Some Things Never Change

Coach House-Keeping eayso Volunteer Registered? Safe Haven completed? Medical Release Waivers printed? Signed by parents?? Hold on & don t lose extra uniforms Have you heard from all your players/parents?

The 6 AYSO Core Philosophies in Pictures (and in no particular order) (this is what makes us unique) (the league operates with a commitment first & foremost to these philosophies)

Good Sportsmanship Keep it a positive environment & experience Mutual respect for opposition Not a win-at-all cost attitude Celebrate the competition, not just who wins or loses You, the Coach, are the model for both your players & parents

Balanced Teams More competitive & more fun Better learning experience when teams of similar ability play. Allows each player to gain the experience of a wide variety of teammates of different skill levels. In Practice try to match skills for greater development. Ex: 1v1s, 2v2s, small-sided teams

Player Development Helping players get better each year at soccer skills & soccer knowledge to the best of their abilities. Developing Skills & Smarts & Team Maximize touches on the ball Maximize players enjoyment of the game Difficult to find success without development.

Positive Coaching Encouragement of player performance & effort provides greater enjoyment by players & ultimately leads to better skilled & better motivated players Let them play! (& learn by playing) Deal with THAT. Eat a BIG SLICE of P.I.E. Positive, Instructive, Encouraging (Energetic? Enthusiastic?)

Open Registration Our program is open to all children between 4 and 19 years of age who want to register and play soccer. No skill or experience required This means at every age/division, you will likely have at least one player with ZERO experience playing soccer.

Everyone Plays Everyone plays at least half of every game. AND we strive to play players equal playing time during games and over the course of the season. Everyone Plays = Player Development To learn the game one must play it Sideline Coaching Moments - Positive Coach your players on the sideline too.

Coach, you are the most important person in youth sports! Setting the mood & tone for: Overall Positive Experience Team-Building Player Development A love of soccer 12

There Is No TEAM Without U!

Be On This List! Pete is an excellent coach. Always encouraging, knowledge of game and very good with the boys. He also took the time to make the practices fun!!! ********* He was able to build a great team that worked together, played hard, had fun and learned the game of soccer. He was able to coach the more experienced kids alongside of the new comers and make them all a valuable part of the team.

Be On This List! Mike and Sean did a fantastic job of teaching the girls about the game while always encouraging them to do their best. The environment was always positive and fun. It was a great year! ******** Coach Drew is awesome! He is 100% engaged during practices and games. He is upbeat and positive. Coach Drew is teaching team building and encourages his players to work together. My daughter's soccer skills have improved this year because she had a great coach.

You Be the Adult, Let the Kid s Play Remember: our primary objective is for the kids to play & have fun learning soccer in a safe environment. Be aware that the kids are always watching set an example No yelling, no inappropriate language on the sidelines We take all complaints seriously and follow up on all of them Be the Adult in the room at all times- lead your team s parents by example

Game Day We Are Saturdays U5 and U6 time on Game Schedule is the START of your 30-minute practice session. U7+ - time on Game Schedule is the START of your game U7+ - try to have team at field 10-15 mins before start time if possible for warm-ups

Game Day Guidelines Division Ball Size Game s Players U5/U6 3 4v4* (no goalie) U7/U8 3 6v6* (incl. goalie) U10 4 8v8* (incl. goalie) U12 4 9v9 (incl. goalie) U14 5 9v9 (incl. goalie) U19 5 11v11 (incl. goalie) Game Length 24 min. (4 qtrs) 40 min. (4 qtrs) 50 min (2 halves) 60 min. (2 halves) 70 min. (2 halves) 70 min. (2 halves)

Game Day Substitutions Division U5/U6 U7/U8 U10 U12 U14 U19 Substitution Rules ONLY at Qtr Break Unless Injury (or tantrum) ONLY at Qtr Break Unless Injury (or tantrum) Any goal kick Any kick off Your OWN throw in Your OWN corner kick *Unless Injury (or tantrum)

Lineup Cards Available @ www.ayso300team.org Team Rosters View

Game Day Trouble-Shooting Game Blowouts unbalanced teams Challenge your players, don t penalize because they re performing well Challenge players to score with their left foot Make an assist Make stops on defense or goal-keeping At U7+ divisions, tweak the formation (system of play) if your team is blowing out the other. Communication is (again) KEY Whether your team is the Blow-Out-er or the Blow- Out-ee, talk to the opposing coach at half-time

Be Safe! Notify Coach Drew of: Personal injury incidents Unsafe field conditions Unsecured/unanchored goals Please do not let the kids climb on the goals Coaches, please inspect the goals. If Lightning is seen or Thunder is heard, suspend play immediately

Be Safe! (Cont d) No jewelry of any kind (earrings must be removed, not taped over) No casts or splints Shin guards required, should be under socks, and covered completely by player s socks No slide tackling for U8 and younger Take steps to have 2 adults present at all times

Game Over? Be sure to email your Division Coordinator (NOT Coach Drew) your game scores- this is to assist with Balanced Teams in the Spring Please do as soon as possible before you forget!

Practice Sessions Coach, dress the part! Where possible lose the jeans, the suit U7+ Teams At least one weekly 1-hour practice U5/U6 Teams Saturday s Start Time begins with 30-minute practice session for your team Have a Plan, Keep a Steady Pace (or else you ll lose them!) Know what will be worked on prior to arriving at the field

Practice Sessions (Cont d) Games/Activities Ideas: Check the Coaches Page at ayso300.org Review Coach Drew s Puppy Sessions for U5/U6, U7/U8, & U10 Coach Curriculum on Coaches Page along with links for MORE practice session ideas U7 Coaches will receive weekly updates for practice sessions Email Coach Drew: coach@ayso300.org

Practice Sessions (Cont d) Don t Give Up! Don t Cancel Practices! Don t Lose Your Players to the Playground! Ask For Help When Help is Needed Maximize Touches on the Ball! Practice is not just for working on tactics for Game Day Practice should be focused on FUN, engaging games/activities for getting your players reps on soccer skills- repetition of foot skills, dribbling, ball control, passing, shooting

EXTRA Practice Sessions Coaches are Thieves - Attend Player Clinics run by AYSO 300 s Chicago Fire Trainers For your benefit as much as your players - request Chicago Fire Trainer to HELP run one of your team s practice sessions by requesting via email: fire@ayso300.org Scheduling of Chicago Fire Trainers is limited. U5/U6 Coaches can do it for their 30-minute session. U7+ Coaches for their mid-week session. Schedule in advance and NOT for a week where you ll be out of town.

Whether to Play in Weather Severe Weather Read the league s policy for thunder, lightning, and severe weather on the Coaches Page of our website. Practices and games will often continue play in the rain, but never in severe storms. Coaches should immediately suspend practice or games at the first sign of thunder or lightning. Please read the policy. Coaches are responsible for suspending play during practice or games when severe weather is present and in compliance with the league s policy.

Whether to Play in Weather Fields may be Closed by park districts and/or league officials due to non-severe weather conditions. Steady rains may cause either unsafe playing conditions or probable damage to worn areas of the fields. In such cases where fields are Closed during the week due to non-severe weather conditions, the league will update the HOME page of its website by 3 PM for that afternoon. Coaches are asked to please use good judgement and do not play anywhere that would be unsafe or cause damage to worn areas of the fields.

Any questions? Thanks for all you do!