Coaches

Coach's Corner

Without coaches, we wouldn't have teams - just organized chaos! We are always in need of new coaches. No experience - no worries! Many of our coaches start out with little to no experience, and AYSO provides free training to help you succeed. Local sessions provide classroom instruction, field demonstration take home material to assist with developing your own practice sessions. Locate and register for a course through www.eayso.org. Online training and materials are also available through www.aysotraining.org. Consider volunteering when you register your child, or simply contact your current coach.

To our current coaches, thank you for volunteering your time and energy to share this great game with our children. Please remember, no matter how experienced or inexperienced, you are a role model for our children. Embrace and reinforce AYSO's philosophies - Everyone Plays, Balanced Teams, Open Registration, Positive Coaching, Good Sportsmanship and Player Development.

Positive Coaching

	ENCOURAGE Coaches encourage their players to excel.
	EXAMPLE Coaches set an example for their players and parents. Coaches model the behavior that others will follow.
	LEARNING Coaches take courses, provided free by AYSO, to learn how to be effective teachers, to develop players’ skills, and to teach tactics. Most of all, coaches show kids how to have fun in soccer.
	TEACHING Coaches have the opportunity to teach players to play soccer, build character in competition, and focus on the positive aspects of winning and losing.
	WINNING Coaches show their players how to be gracious in victory and praise their opponents. Teams always shake hands after the game.
	LOSING Coaches learn from losses what to practice with their players. Players realize that there is still much to learn.

Player Development

We believe that all players should be able to develop their soccer skills and knowledge to the best of their abilities, both individually and as members of a team, in order to maximize their enjoyment of the game.

Good Sportsmanship

We strive to create a positive environment based on mutual respect rather than a win-at-all-costs attitude, and our program is designed to instill good sportsmanship in every facet of the game.

Good sportsmanship is more important than winning, especially for young children. Soccer should be fun for them, and they should feel that the game is fair. Children play hard to move the ball down field and score goals.

Incident Reports

AYSO Incident Reports are a fact sheet in the event something critical happens. Filling out an Incident Report immediately after an injury, property damage or any other serious incident will give you an opportunity to capture facts and contact information before witnesses leave the field. Incident Reports should be completed by any Region staff witnessing any serious incident involving, but not limited to:

Injuries
Threats of bodily harm
Fighting whether or not a serious injury occurs
Property damage
Hospitalization of a participant

Coaches should have several copies of the form on hand at the beginning of the season and know the correct procedure to fill out and turn-in the reports. Incident Reports are not only a best practice, but also required by AYSO to ensure proper follow up can made.

Handout: AYSO Incident Report Form

Coaching Manuals and Other References