1. Coaching the AYSO Way 2013 Section Meeting Coaching Workshop

2. Coaching the AYSO Way AYSO Vision Statement: Mission Statement:
To provide world class youth soccer programs that
enrich children’s lives.
Mission Statement:
To develop and deliver quality youth soccer
programs, which promote a fun, family environment
based on our philosophies of…

3. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
What are the 6 philosophies of AYSO? Open registration Balanced teams Everyone plays Positive coaching Good sportsmanship Player development…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

4. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Open Registration
Our program is open to all children
between 4 and 19 years of age who want
to register and play soccer.
What does that mean to you, coach?...
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

5. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Balanced Teams
Each year we form new teams as evenly balanced as possible.
What does that mean to you, coach?...
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

6. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Balanced Teams are: A GIFT for all PLAYERS/COACHES…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

7. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Everyone Plays:
Our program’s goal is for kids to play soccer, so we mandate that every player on every team must play at least half of every game.
What does that mean to you, coach?...
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

8. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Everyone Plays is all about player development!
To learn the game one must play it, not sit on the
bench and watch others play it.
To be relegated to little or no playing time sends
the clear message to the player that she/he lacks
the skills to play at this level and thus encourages
dropping out…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

9. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Playing time sends other messages:
That the coach has confidence in the child and accepts them at whatever skill level he/she is at.
Confidence and acceptance is communicated not just by how much playing time we give a child but how we play them. ..
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

10. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Playing time, things to do!
Watch your players when they play and when
they are not.
Give the less skilled players help.
Give every player a chance…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

11. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Positive Coaching
What is it?
I don’t know what it is but I know
it when I see it!...
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

12. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Positive Coaching is:
Encouragement of player performance and
effort provides a greater enjoyment by the
player and the coach and ultimately
leads to better skilled and better motivated
players…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

13. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Tools for Positive Coaching Assume they will learn Accept player mistakes Let them play Encourage them to take risks Let them know mistakes are not only okay, but expected Catch them being good…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

14. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Positive Coaching pays off
Old school?
Research by sport psychologists consistently shows that athletes do better when coaches reward them for their effort than punish them for their shortcomings.
The player who is not giving their best effort is more likely to try harder if the coach identifies what they are doing right and encourages them to improve their effort…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

15. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Good Sportsmanship
We strive to create a positive environment
based on mutual respect rather than a
win-at-all cost attitude
Celebrate the competition, not who wins or loses…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

16. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Good Sportsmanship
By a show of hands, how many of you in
here are liars and cheaters?
How many of you teach your players to lie
and cheat?...
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

17. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Player Development:
Not about developing the next National Team
Players.
It is about all players developing their soccer skills and
soccer knowledge to the best of their abilities.
To maximize their enjoyment of the game…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

18. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
2009
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

19. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
AYSO and United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Focus
Development Over Winning
Quality Training
Age Appropriate
Have Fun/Inspire Players…
2009
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

20. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
What about:
“Gamesmanship”
“Trash talking”…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

21. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Cheating, or for those who would like a more delicate term,
Unsporting Conduct:
A player pulls out a knife and cuts her opponent to force
her out of the game.
A player on the red team grabs the jersey of a blue
player and holds them back.
Is it okay to cheat if the ref does not see it?
Is it okay to violate the laws if the ref fails to enforce them?
Is it okay to violate the laws because it could prevent a
score and thus possibly mean winning?...
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

22. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Conclusion
We have lots of words used to describe youth sports: recreational, competitive, select, premier.
Perhaps the word that should be our guide is developmental.
We are helping young people develop as soccer players, as athletes, and as good people. It is a tremendous trust we have as coaches. If we really examine how each of us applies good sportsmanship, positive coaching, and everyone plays we may be a little better at our job…
Applying the AYSO Philosophies

23. Applying the AYSO Philosophies
Coaching the AYSO Way
Questions?
Thank You!
Applying the AYSO Philosophies