1. AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
WELCOME! 1

2. Andrew Lelchuk AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
Regional Commissioner 2

3. Hosts AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
Andrew Lelchuk – Regional Commissioner
Steve Hershkowitz – Coach Administrator Krista Skinner – Coach Mentor
Mark Hodson – Coach Instructor 3

4. Steve Hershkowitz AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
Regional Coach Administrator 4

5. Agenda Introduction Team Management Referee/Coach Interaction
New Training Materials
Coach Mentor Program
Professional Trainer Support
GU6 Breakout Session

6. AYSO Mission and Vision
AYSO's Vision is to provide world class youth soccer programs that enrich children's lives.
AYSO's Mission is to develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs which promote a fun, family environment based on AYSO's Six Philosophies

7. AYSO Philosophies Everyone Plays Balanced Teams Open Registration
Positive Coaching
Good Sportsmanship
Player Development

8. Team Management
Make it fun
Recruit Help
Communicate

9. The AYSO Team
REFEREES
PARENTS
KIDS
COACHES

10. Development Over Winning
“One of my biggest pet peeves is youth team coaches who take winning too seriously. This has always bothered me, and I always tell coaches to forget about winning with young players. They need to create an environment where the kids enjoy playing and are developing their soccer skills. Winning should never be a priority.”
– Landon Donovan

11. Development Over Winning
“…If I’m going to do this, it will about the kids and not the results. It has to be about the kids’ development…”
“I stress to my coaches to over-communicate with parents … Include parents in your thought process and they’ll understand what’s happening while they’re on the sideline and be more likely to sit back and enjoy it.”
– Shannon MacMillan

12. What is the BEST Teacher of the Game?
Learning by Doing
What is the BEST Teacher of the Game?
The game itself…
LET THEM PLAY!
HAVE FUN and INSPIRE!

13. Coach / Parent Interaction
Welcome message
Team Meeting
Weekly Communication

14. Welcome Message Introduce yourself, your assistant, and team goals
“Have fun, learn soccer, get exercise”
List the roster
Start recruiting help
Invite players, parents, siblings to team meeting

15. Team Meeting
Explain your coaching philosophy and expectations. Learn their expectations.
Introduce Kids Zone
Discuss team goals
Recruit assistants, team parents, referees
Have activities planned for players

16. Kids Zone

17. Weekly Communication
Thursday or so: remind your team of the weekend game schedule; ask who anticipates missing any part of a game; mention what the weekend focus will be
Sunday or so: summarize what went well in the weekend games and what you’ll work on in the coming week

18. Coach / Referee Interaction
You need to recruit refs
Your team will follow your lead during games
Make game fun for refs too

19. AYSO Ref Certifications
U-8 Official: CR in U7 & U8 (ARs lightly used) Certified by Region 18
Regional Referee: CR in U10 (AR in U12) Certified by Region 18
Intermediate Referee: CR in U12 (AR in U19) Certified by Area 1D
Advanced Referee: CR in U14 & (often) U16 Certified by Section One
National Referee: CR in U19 Certified by AYSO National 19 19

20. Referee Requirements
Have a current and accepted AYSO Volunteer Form on file
Complete Online Safe Haven
Hold an AYSO Referee Certification
Classes listed at 20

21. Our Youth Referee Program is stronger than ever
Youth Referees
Youth Referee Regulations
CR & AR must be two years older than any player in a match
ZERO Tolerance for dissent or abuse of a youth referee
Youth Referee Benefits
Counts for community service hours
Youth Referee Coordinator to mentor Youth Referees on any issue
Youth Referee Requirements
Same training as adults – including Safe Haven
Our Youth Referee Program is stronger than ever 21 21

22. Referee Scheduling
Home Team provides one CR and one AR for the match before to their match.
Visiting Team provides the second AR for the match before their match
Referee Coordinator
All referee assignments are filled via RSS
Your team’s volunteers must assign themselves in the RSS so we know the match is covered 22 22

23. On Match Day The AYSO Team How You Can Help Things to Keep in Mind 23

24. The AYSO Team
REFEREES
PARENTS
KIDS
COACHES

25. The AYSO Team Team Philosophies Work Together Help Each Other
Protect Each Other
Do Our Best

26. Team Responsibilities
The AYSO Team
Team Responsibilities
Coaches Coach
Referees Ref
Parents Cheer & Encourage

27. Ref Primary Responsibility
is to Keep the Game
Fun
Fair
Safe
Exam Version 1010a Question #50

28. How You Can Help Have your team prepared to play on time
Complete Game Card PRIOR to arrival
Present and in uniform 10 minutes before kickoff
No jewelry, casts or splints
Do not delay restarts
Substitution breaks are NOT coaching opportunities
Avoid dissent with the Referee’s decisions
Control your spectators 28 28

29. Game Card should be filled out by Coach before the match check-in
Speaking of the Game Card…
Game Card should be filled out by Coach before the match check-in
Only One Assistant Coach
(must have an AYSO Coach badge too!)
Players in NUMERICAL order
This error loses sportsmanship points at Area-level matches 29

30. Things to Keep in Mind Referees are volunteers. They CANNOT be paid
New Referees may be nervous during their first few games – Please support them
Referees do not see everything and may make mistakes
You may will not agree with every decision 30 30

31. Things to Keep in Mind
Coaches and spectators should not enter the field of play unless requested by the referee
Have your substitutes entering the game report to the assistant referees
The assistant referee will note the above on the game card to insure all players participate in three “quarters” of the match 31 31

32. Things to Keep in Mind
Remain within the Coaches’ Area during the game (maximum of two coaches per team)
Limit sideline participation to comments that are
Positive, Instructional or Encouraging
Parents behavior tends to reflect that of their coach
Spectators who persistently abuse Referees will be asked to leave the premises 32 32

33. Things to Keep in Mind
Not all ball-hand contact is deliberate handling
A ball is not out of play unless it has completely crossed the touchline or goal line, on the ground or in the air
A player getting hurt or falling is not a reason by itself to call a foul
“All ball” does not excuse a foul
You can play the ball while on the ground, as long as nobody is put in danger by that play
Not every “high kick” is playing in a dangerous manner 33 33

34. We Always Strive to Improve
Referee Feedback Forms
Forms can be found on the Region 18 website
Provide feedback on performance during a specific game
Coach Feedback Forms
Use the back of the game cards
Provide detail regarding the situation, attitude of the coach, player or spectator involved, specific language used, etc.
Objective
Reviewed weekly for immediate, constructive feedback
Used to provide guidance and improve performance 34

35. Utilizing New Training Material
AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
Scott Snyder
AYSO Player Development Technical Advisor
Utilizing New Training Material 35

36. AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
Krista Skinner
Regional Coach Mentor
Training Curriculum
Coach Mentor Program 36

37. Training Curriculum Coaching Consistency Focus on U7/8 and U10
Utilize Training Manual – portable Skills, Drills, Understanding the Game, and Small Sided Matches. Build during 10 week program.

38. Training Curriculum

39. Pre-Opening Day
Saturday, August 23
BU 7/8 - Village 8-5
GU 7/8 – Marine Turf 8-3
DC’s have schedules.
“Practice Day” – first touch for coaches and referees – refresh skills.

40. Pre-Opening Day
OK if not full team – we will combine – sending kids at different time OK.
Encourage all referees – new, old and prospective to attend.
Coach mentors needed.
EVO Coaches

41. EVO Support
Scheduled practice support.
Work with the coaches as focus. “Teach a man to fish.”
Augment training curriculum with additional drills and suggestions.

42. EVO Support
Goal is 2x practice and 1x game in U7/8 and U10
U5/6 2x weekend games
U12+ On Request
Additional On Request

43. Professional Trainer Support
AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
Mark Hodson
Regional Coach Instructor
Professional Trainer Support 43

44. AYSO Region 18 Annual Coach Meeting
GU6 Breakout Session
Thank you! 44