First of all, Thank you!!! For volunteering and showing your passion for the game of Soccer and your willingness to pass along your knowledge to another generation, as an LRE Soccer Coach. Without our coaches, we would not have teams and our kids could not play.
 
Coaches, parents and referees together have an enormous impact on the lives of the children who play soccer. While parents must teach their children to be accountable for their actions, coaches must reinforce positive actions and behaviors on the field.
 
As coaches –

• You have the responsibility of being a positive role model and mentor to your players
• You will show the kids how to cooperate and play as a team. A lifelong lesson they can take beyond the field.
• You teach them how to respect one another and the game of soccer.
• And you impart on them a maturity level in all aspects of soccer play.

 
Little River Elementary Soccer expects that only the best sportsmanship will be taught at every practice and reinforced at every game.
 
This “Coaches” portion of the handbook has information and helpful hints to make your job as a coach more successful and fun. Please take this advice seriously. We all want Little River Soccer to be a fun, positive influence in our children’s lives.
 
Coaching Expectations
LRE Soccer wishes to project a positive image. An attitude of cooperation, respect, maturity, and positive support for the players, coaches and referees is essential to maintain this image. The following information from the US Youth Soccer should be used as guidelines for behavior.
 
Coach’s Code

• Soccer should be fun for everyone.
• Be accepting of the referee’s decisions.
• Do not make loud offensive remarks.
• Concentrate on coaching, rather than on the accuracy of the referee’s decisions.
• Be positive. Avoid confrontation with any official.
• Be a role model of fair play.
• During games, leave the decisions to the players.
• Set high standards.
• Teach skills and fair tactics.
• Discourage unfair gamesmanship.
• Be firm with parents at games.
• Give good guidelines to parents
• Communicate with parents often.
• Play the game and encourage parents to play.                                                           

 
Again, we thank you for volunteering to coach LRE Soccer. We know that it is not always easy, but we hope it will always be fun. Please read the “Parents Handbook” section and encourage your team parents to read it, as well. If we work together, we will have a successful, smooth running season with happy players, coaches and parents.
 
Coaching Preparation

• Make sure you have given a lot of thought to what you’re trying to accomplish with the drills you plan to run.
• Coming out unprepared makes it difficult for you to control the flow of practice and this in turn makes the players harder to control during practice.
• Make sure you are giving the kids a baseline of skills to build off of for the rest of their soccer playing days. (ex. You cannot teach a child to do addition before they know their 123’s, and if they cannot add, how can the next teacher show them multiplication.)

 
At your 1st practice

• Take time to introduce yourself to your players and then let them introduce themselves to everyone.
• Express to them a passion for the game, by sharing a story about when you played or how you came to be a coach.
• Making sure they get to know each other is important. Not only because all the teams are made up of two grade levels and they probably don’t know or interact with each other regularly, but also to make them more comfortable and therefore able to work together.
• Practice can actually be the most fun part of a season for the players, so ensure you make it fun for them. Create games, invite their parents to play in a scrimmage at the end of the season, use the resources on the website for practice drills, etc.
• Special Note Regarding Parent Participation
  Be sure to speak with the parents prior to their participation.  Use the parents as opponents but emphasize what you want the “kids” to learn during the drill/exercise.    This is not meant for parents to try to recapture or relive their past.  It’s an opportunity for them to interact with their kids in play mode, get a little exercise but more importantly to assist the coaches to teach specific lessons or skills.  Parents should be mindful during their participation - no running over kids, no kicking hard shots that end up hitting kids, no over-aggressive tackling.

 
Keep the following points in mind as you practice:

• If the players aren’t having fun, you won’t have fun. Make practice interesting.
• Avoid lectures, give short instruction, and let the activity be the teacher
• End practice with a scrimmage. It is the favorite part of practice for most players.

 
Player Development
K & 1st Coaches

• By the end of the year, your players should no longer be constantly moving in a pack, chasing the ball. You should focus on the fundamentals of soccer (Dribbling/Passing, Proper use of the foot to strike the ball {no more toe kicks}, Scoring, Defense and Offense).
• They should know how to properly throw in a ball.
• They should be doing better at not using their hands, unless playing goalie.

 
2nd & 3rd Coaches

• Your players should understand how to properly line up; including what the basic responsibility of Offense, Mid-fielders and Defenders.  Teaching "position play" will help them understand the responsibilities of each position and help reduce "crowd play".
• They should be better able to; pass longer distances, and dribble through traffic.
• They should have a better understanding of when to pass and when not to pass.
• They should no longer be using the toe to kick the ball, but using the inside, outside, and laces kicking techniques.

 
4th & 5th Coaches

• Your players need to take all the above and apply it every practice and game.
• You should also be building on these basics to adding more advanced techniques such as tackling, shoulder blocks/tackling, advanced kicks with the heal, using knees and their chest to stop the ball, etc.
• All players should begin to progress to intermediate ball fakes and ball control.   Although fundamental soccer is essential, the ability to creatively dribble by an opposing player while maintaining control or prior to passing is equally as vital.

 
Game Day Guidelines
Arrive at least 15 minutes early and instruct your players to do the same

• Do your warm ups and stretches prior to game start time.
• If an open field is open, you can use it to conduct last minute drills but be courteous to others on the field of play.
• Give final instructions if needed.
• Make sure your team is ready to play when the referee’s come by to check them in, etc.
  • Correct uniform
  • Shin guards are on
  • Mouth guards for those need them (typically goalie)
  • No earrings, watches or bracelets

 
Start the game on time

• There are a lot of games to complete each weekend and we cannot wait on one coach or one team to start a game.
• Just like practices, coaches need to be organized and ready to play.
• The game time on the schedule is the start time not the time for players and coaches to start arriving.
• The LRE Soccer Board will be working with the Referees to ensure every game starts on time, whether you are ready or not. So be prepared!
• Remember if you are acting flustered or confused because you’re not ready, it will cause confusion in the kids….

 
End of Game Practice

• Opposing coaches and players should face each other - socially distanced - at mid field and acknowledge each other - clapping, thumbs up, etc.
• LRE Soccer challenges all coaches and players and to socially distance thank the referees.

 
Take care of the fields

• You as Coaches and Assistant Coaches are responsible for ensuring the field is cleaned up after each game.
  • Please clean up all snack trash after the games.
    • Ensure that the spectators are cleaning up their side of the field.
  • Last game of the day on each field. You and your team are responsible for: making sure both sides and the field is cleaned up, that you collect the 4 corner flags and take down your tents, and that you then bring the flags and tents to the Concession Tent.

 
Sportsmanship

• Be the example and, if necessary, the enforcer of good sportsmanship.
• All players, spectators, referees, and coaches should show the utmost respect at all times.
• Please encourage parents and players to make only positive comments to the other team and officials.
• Keep soccer positive on all accounts.

 
Referees
                                  #1 Rule - You don’t coach the referees
Facts about the referee

• The referee is not an opponent.
• The referee works best if he/she is not distracted by outside elements.
• Referees make fewer mistakes in a game than your best player.
• These young ladies and gentlemen are bravely taking on a mostly thankless job. Please remember that they are trying to be the best they can be.
• Although referees are expected to start out perfect and get better with experience, they are only human.

 
How concentrating on the referee’s performance affects our ability to coach

• Miss opportunities to coach your players during the game.
• Miss seeing things that your players need to work on in the next practice.
• Makes you look like a fool and spoils your reputation

 
How you negatively affect players

• Cause players to get cautioned for dissent for following your lead.
• You teach them to take no responsibility for their actions “It was just a bad call by the referee!”
• You teach players that it is OK to disrespect authority.

 
Positive actions get results

• Support the referee’s decisions for or against you.
• Discipline your players before the referee has to.
• Assume responsibility for the outcome of the game.
• Be a positive role model.
• Report commendable performance to league officials.

 
How to deal with a deficient referee

• If you have questions or concerns with anything during a game, get a Board member. Do not try to correct the referees yourself either during or after a game. They may miss a call, or make an incorrect call, but it is all part of the learning process.
• Make notes during the game on the referee’s deficiencies (not decisions)
• Never confront the referee during or after the game.
• Report your complaint to league officials.

 
How to deal with Parents and Referee Interaction

• Ensure that your players and spectators know it is unacceptable to criticize the referees before, during or after games.

 
Again, we thank you for volunteering to coach LRE Soccer. We know that it is not always easy, but we hope it will always be fun. Please encourage your team parents and players to read the "Parent-Player Handbook". If we work together, we will have a successful, smooth running season with happy players, coaches and parents.