Responsibilities of the Coach

The most important responsibilities of a youth soccer coach are to provide a safe, healthy environment for the practice and play of soccer. As well as provide mature, adult supervision for young athletes. You must conduct yourself at all times with these two important facts in mind. During games, you share these responsibilities with the referees and opposing coaches. They must, at all times, supersede any other concern.

Role of a Coach

Coaches have a leadership role. They are a role model and should set an example for each player. For coaches to succeed, and for the kids to realize the best the sport has to offer, coaches must adhere to the code of fair play. Fair play can be described in three words: Behavior, Good Manners and Respect. Please review the Coaches Code of Conduct–the guidelines set by the NTSSA.

Coaches should perform their duties so they reflect their knowledge of the game in a manner that emphasizes good intentions and shows a proper respect for the efforts of the players, coaches and referees. Remember, the kids are watching!

Our Priorities as Coaches and as an Organization

All coaches are expected to base their decisions on these priorities in the order shown below:

Knowledge of the Game 

Coaches are responsible for learning and understanding the Laws of Soccer for their age group. Those laws that are not modified by NTSSA, CYSA or USYSA can be found in FIFA's Laws of the Game.

Training and Licensing

See DoC section below for coach education opportunities.

Fun Through Sportsmanship 

Great games and good sports can be found together. Coaches’ behavior should always be exemplary. When the game is very uneven, with a score differential of 6, coaches should instruct their players to pass the ball and to stop scoring. Respect the feelings of your opponents. Good sportsmanship needs to be taught. Some players may react abruptly, out of frustration or lack of personal control, and coaches must be held jointly responsible for the actions of their players. Teaching, modeling, and "expecting the best" are keys. Coaches are held responsible for the actions of the parents during a game and must advise the parents of this prior to the first game. Since children learn by parent's actions, good sportsmanship must be taught at home first. Good sportsmanship means a commitment from the players as well as the parents to the spirit of the game and to the team. Being part of a team means coming to practice and games and participating under the coaches’ instructions.

Full Participation 

Each recreational player, when present at a game, shall be required to play the minimum of 50% of the time, unless the player’s time has been reduced for medical or disciplinary reasons, in which case the coach must notify the player, and the opposing coach prior to the beginning of the game that the minimum time has been reduced (non-attendance at practice and non-payment of fees may be cause for disciplinary action). NOTE: The spirit of this rule is to provide the coach with options for rare situations where a player consistently misses practices and never communicates it to their coach, then expects to play on game day. It is not meant as a discipline measure for players that miss practice for various conflicts when they have communicated those conflicts to their coach.

Player Participation Requirement

If a player has not communicated with the coach or attended any practices or games by the team’s second game of the season, the coach may notify the CYSA office and the age division commissioner in writing to request to remove the player from the roster. The coach will be required to keep record of attempts to communicate with the player, practice attendance and game attendance and produce to CYSA if requested. The age division commissioner and/or the Vice President of Coaches and Commissioners will also have to attempt to contact the player. The player will be removed from the roster and the parents will be notified via email by the CYSA office. The player is not eligible for a refund unless the player can be replaced on the team roster with the next player already on the wait list. The player must request the refund in writing. The current refund fee is assessed to the amount being refunded.

Safety 

Coaches must ensure that players have adequate opportunities to practice. Practice is necessary to learn proper techniques and to get in condition. Deliberate breaking of the rules or dangerous play should never be encouraged and will not be tolerated.