Tips for Coaches
Get a Good Team Parent/Manager
Before anything else, find a good volunteer team parent. This
parent will share the phone calling, coordinate uniform pickup
and collection, photo day, game-day snacks, trophy pickup and
the end-of-the-year party.
TIPS FOR MANAGERS
Call each player/parent
Introduce yourself. Confirm that they are planning to play and
give them any necessary information about practice times/dates
and equipment. Schedule a brief meeting for all of the parents;
this can be an evening or at a practice or at the first
game...whenever they can all attend.
Letter of Introduction
*Send a letter to the parent with your expectations and with a
copy of the TPSC Code of Conduct (to be returned signed before
the first game).
* Key points:
>>The coach coaches. The parents cheer (for both teams). Parents
& coaches are role models; the goal is to have fun, learn to
play on a team, learn soccer skills.
>>Arrive on-time & ready to play (at least 15 minutes early).
>>Uniform/safety rules: absolutely NO jewelry allowed.
Shinguards under socks. Shirts tucked in.
>>Recognize that the referees are our neighbors and are doing
their best. Abuse of referees will not be tolerated.
>>No dogs, alcohol or tobacco are allowed on any TPSC fields.
SAMPLE LETTER: Word
PDF
Prepare for your first practices
Use the TPSC Curriculum as your guide. Go over
the code of conduct (as appropriate for your age group) at
halftime.
COACHING THEMES
Preparation
Read the Laws of the Game
Read the Modified Laws of the Game for U-9 and U-10 House Divisions
Read the Modified Laws of the
Game for the TPSC
Read the TPSC Coaches' Manual
Read up on First Aid
First game
** "Starting lineup will be chosen from the players who arrive
on-time and ready to play (at least 15 minutes early)."
** Plan your substitutions before the game. Be flexible.
** Talk to your substitutes while they are on the sideline...use
this as a coaching opportunity
** Don't move players around too much in the first game or two; let them get used to one or two positions at most. But then let all players try all positions during the season.
** Have a plan to follow if the score gets out of hand.
** Be a gracious winner/loser. Downplay the score either way.
** Have fun/make it fun! Be a role model!
Resources
**The TPSC website has handbooks, manuals, training guides,
drills & skills worksheets, Laws of the Game, etc.
**The local library has books and coaching videos.
**Cal-Berkeley, Stanford, USF, Marin Academy and Branson all
have games that the team can attend during the season. (Many
kids have never seen a soccer game that they themselves weren't
playing in! That goes for their parents, too.)
**TPSC Age-group coordinators
**Other coaches
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