WESTON SOCCER CLUB Coach Handbook 2016/2017
Welcome Dear Weston coach, I would like to welcome you to the Weston Soccer family. The essence of the club is to provide a positive, enjoyable and challenging learning environment for all of our players that will push them to reach their full potential. The Coach Handbook is a new addition to the Weston learning environment. We want our coaches to be students of the game and to start becoming more accountable for their own learning pathway. In order to do this, coaches will need to take on more responsibility for their own development on and off the field. This handbook will provide coaches with more information on what the expectations are from the club with regards to the style of play that we want to see permeate all of our teams, the systems of play and the roles within those systems that players need to be familiar with, and tools to be able to evaluate individual training and game performances. We hope that our coaches will find a lot of their questions answered by referring to their handbook and that it will become a valuable tool in their development journey. I wish all our coaches a very happy and healthy 2016/17 season and look forward to seeing you all on the field. Best wishes Lee Moyce Lee Moyce Director of Coaching 508-308-8464 lmoyce@westonsoccer.org
Mission Statement The Weston Soccer Club is committed to promoting the game of soccer at all levels of play through individual player development, coaching, and sportsmanship within a team environment.
Weston Soccer Player Pathway
Weston Soccer Style Of Play CONFIDENT WSC teams are made up of confident players. This confidence comes from self belief, hard work, repetition and team camaraderie, all instilled in a positive coaching environment. GAME INTELLIGENT WSC teams are intelligent. Players are students of the game and are able to make adjustments based on what they see on the field. POSSESSION-BASED WSC teams play an indirect style of soccer but have an awareness of the most appropriate penetrating pass. BUILD FROM THE BACK WSC teams always look to build attacks from the back as opposed to playing kick and run soccer. ATTACK-MINDED WSC teams play the game with flair and creativity. DEFENSIVE ORGANIZATION WSC teams understand how and when to apply pressure in order to regain possession of the ball. Athleticism WSC teams excel in the physical element of the game - exhibiting pace and power. WSC teams are hard working, strong in the tackle and always play within the laws of the game.
Weston Soccer Systems Of Play At 7v7 Weston Soccer Club will play 1-2-1-2-1 At 9v9 Weston Soccer Club will play 1-3-1-3-1 At 11v11 Weston Soccer Club will play 1-4-3-3
Weston Soccer System of Play 7v7 This is the practice to develop phase 3rd & 4th Grade 7v7 THE 1-2-1-2-1 system. In the 7v7 game, WSC teams will adopt the 1-2-1-2-1 system. Teams will consist of; - 1 goalkeeper - 2 defenders - 1 central midfielder - 2 wide attacking players - 1 Central striker
Weston Soccer System of Play 9v9 This is the training to compete phase which means score and league tables are now recorded but the emphasis is still on player development over results. Educating players that the element of competition is important and making sure its done in the right manner. 5th & 6th Grade 9v9 In the 9v9 game, WSC teams will adopt a 1-3-1-3-1 system. 1-3-1-3-1system will consist of; - 1 goalkeeper - 1 central defender - 2 full backs - 1 holding midfielder - 1 attacking midfielder - 2 wide midfielders - 1 central striker
Weston Soccer System of Play 11v11 This is the training to compete phase which means score and league tables are now recorded but the emphasis is still on player development over results. Educating players that the element of competition is important and making sure its done in the right manner. 7th & 8th Grade 11v11 In the 11v11 game, WSC teams will adopt a 1-4-3-3. 1-4-3-3 system will consist of; - 1 goalkeeper - 2 central defenders - 2 full backs - 1 holding midfielder - 2 central midfielders - 1 central striker - 2 Wide Forwards
Weston Soccer - Role Of A Coach WSC coaches conduct and behaviour should be professional at all times both on and off the field. This handbooks provides you with best practices and what is expected of you every time you are on the field representing WSC. Coach As Manager Role of WSC Coach Coach As Sports Psychologist Coach As Instructor
Weston Soccer - General Rules and Reminders General Rules and Reminders Call Sara Osborn (781-647-0336) or e-mail fields@westonsoccer.org regarding changes in home game schedules and practices as soon as they are known. Don t rely upon the BAYS book/website for accuracy. Speak to the opposing coach to verify game times and places. The expectation is that away team coach should call home team coach, but if this doesn t happen, be sure to call. Players should wear their full uniform (socks, shirt, shorts) to games. Shirts should be tucked in and socks should cover shin guards. Some referees will not allow players to play if they aren t in full uniform. To create a better (less hostile) soccer environment, BAYS has adopted a Zero Tolerance Rule: Coaches and Parents are not allowed to address the referee, with the following basic exception: Coaches may address the referee to substitute players. The full policy is in the BAYS book and is posted on the BAYS web site at the following address: http://www.bays.org/ztp.html. Please read it. Do not forfeit games. The Weston Soccer Club must pay a fine to BAYS when we forfeit. Also forfeits are counted at -1 points in the divisional standings (wins are 3 points, ties are 1 point and losses are 0 points). Coaches should try to make the opposing team s visit to Weston an enjoyable one. Be considerate of the other team. Greet the other coach prior to the game. Respect your opponents. Offensive comments which can be overheard should be avoided. Even seemingly innocuous ones made to boost your own team s spirits, such as they are not very good, can seem insulting to the other team if the comment can be heard. Don t make remarks which seem to incite rough play, such as Knock her over. Occasionally applaud good plays by the other team. At the end of the game, cheer the other team before having everyone exchange high fives. Shake the hand of the opposing team s coach. To promote a feeling of friendly competition, at the end of the game some coaches have found it desirable to hand out mini-candy bars or a pack of gum to each player on the opposing team, but this is not standard and is entirely optional. Please help us minimize damage to fields during practices. Avoid repetitive drills in areas where the grass is wearing thin. Move smaller goals off to the side when practicing shooting. Do not allow players to deliberately damage grass by digging holes or scuffing the turf with their cleats. Do not practice on water-logged fields. If you see non-weston residents using the fields, please ask them to leave.
Weston Soccer - General Rules and Reminders Sportsmanship - Teach good sportsmanship. - Practice good sportsmanship. Have fun! Enjoy the game! - Build a team. Players that get along play better as a team. A TEAM is stronger than any one individual. - Discourage cliques. Be aware if some players are often left out during practices. Try to mix up teams, or when pairing players, don t let buddies always pair up. - Teach players on top teams not to be snooty with their classmates. In the past, during practices players actions and boastful remarks have caused bad feelings which carry over into school. - Be gracious in victory, gracious in defeat. - If there is a mis-match in team strength., try not to run up the score against a much weaker team. Put your weakest players up front. If this doesn t slow down the scoring, put on restrictions such as requiring them to pass (once, twice, or three times) before shooting, or shoot with weak foot, or let only 3 players enter the attacking half. This needs to be done in a way that the opposing team s players are not aware that you have accommodated their weakness so that they don t feel demoralized. Score differentials of more than 5 should be avoided. - Cheer the other team at the end of the game and thank the referee. - Go through the hand-slapping line at the conclusion of the game with dry hands. - Slap everyone s hand and say, nice game. Teach players to dry their hands before the high five at the end of the game. Sometimes young players think it is cute to spit on their hands first, so be cognizant that such behaviour might occur. - Play to win, but not at the cost of giving every player the opportunity to play and improve. Players standing on the sideline do not improve. It is important to develop ALL of your players. Substitutions When substituting, send players in at mid-field. Call out sub ref and raise your hand. Wait for the ref to acknowledge. Subs can be done on kick offs, goal kicks, and your throw in. If the other team subs for an injured player, you can sub one player too. When subbing the goal keeper, inform the ref. Teach players coming off the field to run off, and to tell the player coming on which position s/he was playing. Injuries Always continue to play until the referee blows the whistle to stop play. Do NOT teach players to sit on the field when play is stopped for an injury. Players should remain standing. There was an interesting article in the Baystater last year about this, pointing out how silly it is for us to have everyone sit down (especially if it s cold and wet), despite the fact that many coaches for younger teams seem to think having everyone sit down is a good idea. Coaches should not step onto the playing field unless invited by the ref. If the opposing team subs for an injured player (after the play is stopped due to the injury), you may also sub one player. Remember to get the permission of the referee.
Weston Soccer - Game Day Best Practices Pre Game Monday Communication with team to confirm game & practice logistics for the week (arrival time, location and directions) and to confirm 100% player availability. Address any potential roster issues with Age group director and Director of Coaching. Game Day Arrive on time Always arrive an 45mins before kick off (40 minutes for 7v7 / 9v9 games). Attire Make sure you are wearing the correct coaching attire. Team Sheet You should have your starting 11 and team sheet written out ready to go. Always have it near by on the side line to make notes to make your half time team talk specific and quick. Generally a quick re-cap of what is going well and 3 things to improve will not over load the players during the half time team talk. Coaching Demeanour (Positive) WSC coaches should be calm on the side lines and not scream and shout. When talking to players on the field do so in a calm manner and explain what they can do to improve and help the team. Never shout at one player individually I a negative way. All information passed on is done so in a positive way to encourage the player to want to do better. Substitutions When making a substitution be sure to be positive about their performance and explain any situations they could have done better in and how to do so next time around. All information is positive and to help the player improve. Respect WSC coaches will shake the hands of all match officials and opponents after a game no matter the score or anything they may have done to upset you. WSC staff will have full respect for match officials and never question a referee during a game. Any breach of this can lead to disciplinary action in the office.
Weston Soccer - Role Of A Coach Success A good barometer for judging your success as a coach is to ask yourself these 3 questions at the end of a season: 1. Did my players enjoy the season? 2. Did my players improve this season did they learn? 3. Where my players challenged this season? If the answer to all 3 is YES, then you have had a successful season regardless of results on the field. Role Model: As a WSC coach you will always be expected to be a role model for your own players and for the club as a whole. This means that you will be expected to behave in an exemplary fashion when you are involved in a coaching capacity within the club. What we expect: High standard of personal appearance Good punctuality Appropriate use of language when interacting will all levels of the soccer community Uphold the highest standard of ethics and moral code Coaches should never show up to any team meeting or event under the influence of alcohol, if so, this will be treated as a gross misconduct. Care: Everyone likes to know that someone GENUINELY cares for him or her and this is particularly important with a young player s development. Make yourself acquainted with their personal information quickly: Name Age Birthday Parent s/siblings names Town they live in Take an interest in them outside the soccer field, and try to keep track of anything out of the ordinary relating to that player. It is important to follow up diligently if a player is injured, keep in touch regularly until they return to the team as this will show that you are genuinely concerned about them as a person as well as a soccer player.
Weston Soccer - Role Of A Coach Team Building Team building can range from simple things such as walking and leaving a field together, to full-blown activities such as a ropes course. They are very useful at the beginning of a season to generate a sense of camaraderie and fun, particularly if the coach is new to a group. Set common goal/goals Make this a collective undertaking Provide players with opportunity for input and ownership If the season s goals are only the coach s goals, then there will be very little chance of achieving them. Communication: The keys to being successful in this area are: - Simplicity - Clarity - Consistency - Positive Young players need clean, clear communication on things that they are doing well and areas that need improvement. They also need clarity on HOW to improve these areas. Your communication with a player should be an ongoing and consistent part of their development and should not revolve around their end of year evaluations or addressing negative situations as they arise. Providing constructive feedback in an open and honest manner is the best way for young players to learn. Asking young players what they have actually heard when you are giving them feedback. What they hear and what you say can be vastly different so it is a useful technique to ask them to summarize your feedback to them. Language: There are 2 areas to address here: 1. Foul Language 2. Appropriate Language Foul Language: This is NEVER acceptable no matter what age group you are working with. It is totally unacceptable to use any form when addressing players individually or as a group. Using any form will be treated as a gross misconduct. Appropriate Language: This is vital in how we communicate with young players, keeping the vocabulary appropriate at each level of development allows progression up the ranks. The younger the player, the more need to use simpler terminology so that the players can grasp it and therefore use it themselves.
Weston Soccer - Role Of A Coach Awareness of Potential Issues In order to perform on the field, a player s off field well-being is also important. A coach should be aware of the signs that can impact on a player s performance, which may range from: Eating disorders Abuse Learning disorders WSC will provide education on each of these areas so that coaching staff can be aware of some of the tell-tale signs that accompany these issues and will know how to handle the communication protocol that is involved with this. Bullying WSC will not tolerate bullying of any form within the club. It is important that a coach is aware of how bullying can impact on a player s development, they need to understand the tell-tale signs and how to address it. Gender Difference There are some key differences that coaches should be aware of when coaching girls versus boys. Although there will be no difference in setting expectations of the highest standard, there are a few key areas that coaches should be aware of: Providing Feedback females players take feedback seriously and will often personalise it, coaches need to be careful how they address this process as it can cause damage in a coach/player relationship. Being positive important when coaching young female players as they respond much more willingly to positive input. Team Chemistry important for both genders but female players quite often are motivated by group success rather than their own personal success. They will want to feel a strong part of the group, and if this isn t done properly, it can cause major issues with team chemistry. Enjoyment In order for effective learning to take place, it is vital that your players are enjoying themselves. Young players want to have fun this doesn t mean they want to mess around They want to be challenged to improve themselves as players We need to provide a positive and challenging environment where the players are put into situations where they have to think for themselves, work with teammates and ultimately find their own solutions to problems that, you and the game, poses them.
Weston Soccer - Player Expectations TRAINING EXPECTATIONS Ensure that ALL facilities are treated with respect. Always wear the appropriate training gear. The wearing of jewellery when playing in practice sessions is strictly forbidden. Be punctual at all times. (Aim to be ready 15 minutes before any session). Always help with equipment during practice. You should not need to be asked. Report all injuries immediately to your Head Coach. MATCH CONDUCT Ensure that ALL facilities are treated with respect. Be sure that you game information (location, meeting time, kick-off time). Be proud of your appearance on the field. Make sure your cleats are polished before each game. The wearing of jewellery when playing in games is strictly forbidden. Always show good sportsmanship. Accept any decision given by the referee. Never retaliate, verbally or physically, no matter what the provocation may be. Always get a good night s sleep prior to any games. Always apply correct dress code when travelling. Report all injuries immediately to your Head Coach. GENERAL CODE OF CONDUCT Always conduct yourself with respect. Always respect other people and property you are an ambassador for the club at all times. Maximum effort is a minimum requirement always take pride in your perfor mance at both games and in training. Always wear shin guards for all training and matches. Always warm-up and warm-down before and after training and matches. Learn the rules of the game. Give yourself every chance to succeed prepare correctly for training and matches by maintaining a balanced healthy lifestyle. Be appreciative of your parent s support. Have a good attitude, both on and off the field.
WESTON SOCCER CLUB