AYSO National Coaching Program Coach, Educate, Inspire !

1. AYSO National Coaching Program Coach, Educate, Inspire!

2. Coach, Educate, Inspire! The weak teacher tells. The average teacher explains. The good teacher demonstrates. The Great Teacher inspires!

3. Coach, Educate, Inspire!

4. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Envision that you are all part of a soccer task force that have been given the assignment of developing the minimal standards for a beginning soccer coach. What would they be? What must every coach have?

5. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Develop the Coaching Standards for a 1st year youth soccer coach • ?? • ?? • ?? • ??

6. Coach, Educate, Inspire! AYSO thinks all coaches should understand the following before being allowed to conduct a training session or direct their athletes in a game:

7. Coach, Educate, Inspire! A coach should know (age appropriate): • Growth, Development and Learning • Psychosocial Aspects of Coaching • Team Management • Risk Management • Key things to think about (miscellaneous stuff) • Skills/Tactics • Training/Conditioning

8. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Players Growth, Development and Learning - • They are children, not soccer players • There is a difference from one age group to another (and even within age groups!) • Be flexible with you players and parents • Recognize that everyone makes mistakes (even the coach) – be understanding! • Potential Issue: Your child on your team…

9. Coach, Educate, Inspire! PsychosocialAspects of Coaching • Identify the good qualities in all your players • Mend hurt feelings • Everyone needs a hug (metaphorically speaking) • Catch them being good & let them know! • Recognize/Reward good behavior • Reflect on the positive • Deal with nonsense (disruptive behavior) • Smile, and smile a lot!

10. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Team Management • Get help (assistant coach, equipment manager, etc.) • Plan Prudently • Use previous experiences (what worked, what didn’t) • Understand and convey the needs of the organization • Understand and convey the needs of the team • Understand and convey the needs of the players • Learn and track player strengths and weaknesses • Keep your players safe

11. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Things to think about: • Set a course • State your clear expectations of what is to be accomplished at each training session/games • Players must be held accountable for being on time and coming to the training sessions and games ready to learn and play (age appropriate) • Coach only one team • Educate yourself… continuously!

12. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Things to think about: • Do not referee a game you are coaching • The game is the best teacher (especially small sided) • Just a little piece at a time (like eating an elephant!) • The training field is your classroom • Few players learn effectively in long, boring training sessions that involve activities that do not relate to their understanding of the game (eg. running laps around the soccer field & listening to lectures)

13. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Training/Conditioning: Correctly run training sessions are the most effective learning environment for perfecting physical and mental skills. How should you run your training sessions?

14. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Training/Conditioning: • Create a training plan (outline your training session – use your AYSO coaching manual!!) • Children should not associate conditioning with punishment • Group players according to ability (balance your training teams!)

15. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Training/Conditioning • For effective learning, the players must often be divided into smaller groups. • Organize players effectively so they are practicing at levels that will advance their playing abilities. • When a new skill or tactic is being taught use a single group instructional setting. • Organize the groups so that there is a systematic order in which players take turns.

16. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Training/Conditioning • State the tactical objective • Each group must know what is to be learned • Supervise each group by rotating and spending short periods of time with each

17. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Training/Conditioning • If any group is favored during small group instruction, it should be those players who are the least skillful • Provide constructive positive feedback • Maximize task time • Minimize waiting in lines • Have all the equipment you need (cones, bibs, balls) • Have a plan for arranging the training field

18. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Training/Conditioning • Set your training area in advance • Let your players play (but use coaching moments) • Maximize success opportunities (build up) • Conduct a cool down activity (review what was covered, what they can practice at home)

19. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Should we pay ($$) our Coaches? Passion/Attitude/Expectaion…

20. Coach, Educate, Inspire! Summary: • Growth, Development and Learning • Psychosocial Aspects of Coaching • Injuries: Prevention, Care and Management • Things to think about • Skills/Tactics • Training/Conditioning • Paid Coaches vs. Volunteer Coaches

21. Coaches: Our Role in the AYSO Experience

22. Who are the Coaches’“Customers?”

23. Everyone Plays! “Customer service is not a department, it’s an attitude” - Unknown

24. AYSO Ambassadors

25. Great Coaching = Great Customer Service • Player Development Matters! • Why We Play the Game the Way We Do • Nurturing New Coaches

26. Great Soccer Starts with Great Communication • You’re the Source! • Setting the Tone • Communicate, Communicate, Communicate! • Use Your Tools • Shutterfly Team Site • Team Parent • Division Coordinator, Coach Administrator, Board • Region Website

27. We’re AYSO Ambassadors!

28. Any Questions?... Now go out and Inspire!!