OBJECTIVE
Have fun, learn skills, and keep the children coming back.
The more fun you have coaching and playing with the kids, the more fun they will have, and the more they will want to learn and compete. Sometimes players will take a season or two to come out of their shells. Encourage them and give them a chance to succeed.
Many of our coaches are new to coaching and to soccer, but at this young age, enthusiasm is the only prerequisite.
Almost all of our coaches, new and experienced, comment on how rewarding the experience is.
ASC will pay for ASC coaches to take coaching courses as well as offer some brief local coach training sessions. We would like all of our coaches to get the coaching help they need.
CLINIC INFO
The U4 children will need to learn everything (from the purpose of whistles, to no pushing, to no hands). NO GOALIES FOR ALL U4-U7 games. Both team's coaches on the field. ASC does not keep scores and team records.
U4-U7 games should evolve into 4 versus 4 situations as the season moves on. For Saturday games, each team will divide into two groups to play two concurrent games against the opposition team (which has also divided into two groups). This promotes maximum playing time for each child. Small sided games allows each child to touch the ball more and more goal scoring. But keep in mind your roster size, giving all children adequate playing time, and the weather. NO GOALIES. Both coaches on the field.
Try to encourage players not to hang around the goals. Also if you have a defensive minded player, occasionally put them in an offensive situation. ASC does not keep scores and team records.
Both coaches will be on the field providing coaching and referee support. Lets keep the atmosphere positive and collegian.
In the fall, the U8 players will have referees and the coaches will be off the field.
Remember, the kids, referees and parents are your neighbors and likely future team members.
COUNTY INFO
ASC County teams will compete in the AAYSA soccer league against other like organizations within AA County. Most teams practice 1-2x/week and have 9-10 games in a fall or spring season.
WINTER FUTSAL INFO
The Winter Futsal League is a great introduction to coaching/managing a team. It is a 10-week, game-only league that consists of 1 50-minute game per week.
ROSTERS
Rosters are final after the age group meetings just prior to the season start. Please e-mail (then call if they don't respond to e-mail) all of your players immediately after the coaches meeting.
You will likely get more players due to late entries. Coaches, you may not add children to your roster without receiving Annapolis Soccer Club approval. ASC is happy to accommodate all player additions as space allows.
EQUIPMENT
Each U4-U7 child gets a ball and a team T-shirt (distribute these at the first game/practice). Please put each child's name on his/her ball. ( Asking children to color their balls will reduce confusion and save time during practices, as well as prevent loss.) Don't put players names on the balls until the child shows up (saves balls from cancellations/no-shows and allows for correct spellings/nicknames).
All Clinic (U4-U7) Coach/Team will get a set of "PUGG" pop-up goals, cones, and practice pinnies. (Pick a pinnie color that is contrasting to your shirt color.) This equipment must be returned on last game date. The PUGG goals have plastic tent spikes that readily break. Please "pre-drill" holes in the ground with a screwdriver. Submerge spikes to avoid injury. Remove broken spikes to avoid injury.
All County Teams will receive a ball bag, balls (age appropriate), cones and pinnies. PUGG goals are available upon request after passed out to Clinic Coaches.
GAMES/ACTIVITIES
Please see the Director of Coaching or your peers for ideas. Remember, activities and games that provide the most touches of the ball per child should be stressed. Try to avoid too many drills with lines.
With the help of one of our coaches, ASC has filled the “Coaches Corner" with some great age specific training ideas.
There are plenty of age-specific and task-specific soccer training ideas on the internet .
COACHES
We will have an age-group specific meeting in mid-March or August to dispense equipment and go over objectives for the upcoming season.
Please use your best efforts to encourage/promote the parents of your team members to step on the field to help you as coaches and get some experience in that role. With more potential coaches in the future, ASC can make the teams smaller and allow you (and other coaches) to become more productive and give the kids more time with the ball. To help promote the coaching position, each team gets two coaches T-shirts - so pass one out to a likely candidate.
SAFETY
All children MUST wear shin-guards
Annapolis Soccer Club Clinic is not a drop off sport. Coaches will require that a parent or responsible adult be attending for each child. If a parent must leave, the parent must get another parent to cover this responsibility. Get your parents involved in the drills and activities.
All coaches and assistant coaches must get a background check http://www.aacounty.org/RecParks/background/index.cfm