COACHES

Wednesday Night Skills Clinic

For those players interested in improving their soccer technique, for those coaches who want to learn some new drills, for those goalkeepers who want to block more shots,,,this is the program for you. Come join the many of players and coaches participating in the Wednesday night Skills Clinic. The clinic runs from 6-8pm. ( Usually done by 7:15ish) Come for two hours, come for 30 minutes, it's up to you. Coaches want to bring your team? Bring them all!
Coaches, we can use your help.
Contact Tony Prutch at coach_admin@ayso503.org to join the team of coaches.

Goalkeeper training schedule is as follows:
U10 - 6 - 6:30pm
U12 - 6:30-7pm
U14 - 7-7:45pm
U16/19 - 7:45-8:45pm

Practice Field Allocations
U6, U8, can practice at Crismon & Booker T. Washington Elementary schools. Mon thru Thurs.
U10 can practice at Rhodes Jr High School SW baseball field Mon thru Thurs. (See your coordinator for light code)
ONLY U12 thru U19 at Dobson High ( west side only) until darkness becomes an issue.
See diagram for specific field & time allocation at Dobson High.
(click here for 2011 Dobson Field allocations & time)

Ask The Coach

Coaches have to deal with all sorts of scenarios week in and week out. Each week John will address a question that has been sent in by an AYSO coach. If you have a question that you want answered please e-mail John (heycoach@ayso.org). 

• Question: Many of my U-14 and U-12 players have Facebook pages. Recently, they discovered that I also have one. Now I'm getting friend requests from 14 year olds. As much as I'd like to keep in touch, an adult 'friending' a child I'm not related to seems a bit creepy. I'm aware that some individuals will create a secondary profile and tie it to a Region Facebook page. Do you have any suggestions?

  • Answer: It's hard to believe that social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn and Twitter were barely heard of five years ago! Today, Facebook alone boasts over 500 million users worldwide, with 11 percent of its users under the age of 18. While Facebook is a useful communication tool and another way to build connections with your players, there are also potential problems that can arise for you as a volunteer coach.
    
    Coaches should not use Facebook as a means of communicating with your players. “Friending” players on Facebook can give way to misconduct, misunderstandings and accusations. For these reasons, AYSO strongly recommends that coaches, and all other adult volunteers, do not friend minor AYSO players on Facebook, or communicate with them through any other social media.
    
    Some Regions have created Facebook pages that are used for everything from notifying players of upcoming tournaments or other events to sharing photos of games. Parents and volunteers can also share game-day and tournament photos with Shutterfly – a safe and easy photo sharing site that makes preserving AYSO memories simple.
    
    Also, if you’d like, you can show support for your Region by “liking” their Facebook page, and connect with other volunteers and parents in your community.
    
    You are certainly not the only coach facing this concern, as there are currently almost 500 AYSO-related profiles or groups on Facebook! When utilized in the right way, Facebook can be a great resource for you as a volunteer coach.

  Question: With the new season here, I’m afraid some players on my team will be out of shape and struggle in practices and games. How can I get them into shape?

  • Answer: First of all, reject the old-school approach for kids. Running laps will only increase the chances that they'll avoid physical activity, because that's not fun and it can be humiliating. However, all coaches must understand that conditioning is part of training, so instead of running laps, let the kids play! That's right–just let them play.

    One idea is to have the kids play small-sided games in short intervals. For example, you can set up 2-v-2 games that last for a few minutes and then give the players a short rest before starting another 2-v-2 game. It's like circuit training. After a little rest, the kids may be more eager to play again.

    You can also introduce variations of small-sided games. Take your best player and pair him or her up with the out of shape child. Tell them the aim is that both players score. The players will try hard to score and won't even realize they're "working."

    The beauty of soccer is that it demands physical exertion but can be so much fun that it doesn't feel like exercise.

    Question: My daughter has a coach who screams so much at the players that it’s becoming dangerous. He screams at them whenever there’s a one-on-one battle, and many girls dive right in. Players are getting hurt. How do you deal with a coach like that?

  • Answer: First of all, I don’t want any screaming at children from coaches. Screaming has no place in youth soccer. It takes the fun out of playing and it doesn’t help create better players.
    
    The scenario you describe is, of course, particularly disturbing. When players face a one-on-one battle they need to focus on the ball. To be screamed at only throws off their focus. It is simply counter-productive, and, as you point out, dangerous.
    
    The defender wants to keep her ground and make a move for the ball at exactly the right time. If the defender prematurely lunges at the attacker, the defender is giving the advantage to the attacker. For a coach to scream at a defender to make the first move makes no soccer sense.
    
    A defending player’s first aim is to prevent the attacker from moving past her. It's a matter of proper body positioning and can be trained during practices. (Lead with the shoulder, one foot in front of the other, so you can shuffle laterally.)
    
    That’s a matter of soccer technique. Most important is that this coach is out of control. And he might not even know it. It’s true! The screamers often don’t even realize they’re screaming. They get caught up in the moment.
    
    So the first step is indeed to talk to the coach: “Do you realize you’re constantly screaming at the players?” That alone might make him reflect on his behavior.
    
    If this doesn’t work, and the coach actually believes that this screaming approach is acceptable, it should be addressed by the administrators of the league.

    
                              SHORT SIDED SOCCER
    
    WHAT IS SHORT-SIDED SOCCER?
    
    Short-sided soccer is about what is best for young soccer players. It's for AYSO coaches, referees, administrators, spectators, and anyone else concerned with the development of 5 to 12 year old soccer players.
  Short-sided soccer is about what is best for young soccer players. It's for AYSO coaches, referees, administrators, spectators, and anyone else concerned with the development of 5 to 12 year old soccer players.

• Children ages 4 and 5 play a short sided game of 3 versus 3 - Coed
• Children ages 6 and 7 play a short sided game of 5 versus 5 - Girls & Boys are separated
• Children ages 8 and 9 play a short sided game of 7 versus 7 - Girls & Boys are separated
• Children ages 10 and 11 play a short sided game of 9 versus 9 - Girls & Boys are separated

WHY SHORT-SIDED SOCCER?

Because young players need special consideration. Little research or attention has been given this critical period in the development of the under-12 year old players, but most educators agree the early learning experiences are the most important and result in the result in the most retention.

 Traditionally, youth soccer programs are viewed from an adult perspective, using the 11-a-side game as a reference. But we need to remember these important points about young players:

• Children must be treated as children, not as mini-adults.
• Children are essentially self-oriented and only relate naturally to a friend or two, not to grougs of six or more.
• Children cannot sustain prolonged activity and function best with frequent rest periods.
• Children have a limited span of attention, so frequent activity changes are necessary.
• Children focus best when learning activities are fun.
• Almost 70 percent of AYSO coaches are first-time coaches-parents with little free time. Short-sided soccer is a way to ease adults into coaching as well as te ease children into playing.
• Be creative and remember, children play games to have fun. Short-sided games help ensure children have fun and at the same time, maximize their learning opportunities.

Parent Release form

Goal assembly instructions U8-U10


Coaching Links:

Off Sides

Good Passing Videos (may take a moment to load)