GETTING READY TO COACH IN THE NYSA

Player safety and development are paramount so the NYSA has implemented a number of requirements for our coach volunteers.  Please complete the following tasks before the beginning of the season.

Register as a volunteer coach

So we can assign teams and create rosters, we need all coaches to register as such in our AdminSports registration system.  Click this link and login using your family email and password.  Next to your child’s name you should be able to click a link to volunteer.

Complete MYSA registration

Coaches must annually renew their MYSA registration.  If you are a new to coach, you must create a new account and register.

If you run into any issues during this process, please contact the Affinity Sports helpline at 855.703.2558 or contact Mary Relic at mrelic@mayouthsoccer.org.

Complete CORI check

Before engaging with our youth players, all coaches must have an active CORI on file for Northboro Youth Soccer.  Once you complete the MYSA registration process, you can expect to receive an email from noreply@sportsaffinity.com that includes a link for the CORI request. The CORI process will require that you have your MYSA username and password (created during the registration process), complete an online CORI form, and print a CORI Submission Form.

You will need to bring your printed CORI Submission Form and a form of identification (Driver’s License) to the preseason Coaches’ Meeting for verification.

Complete concussion training

All coaches are required to complete concussion training.  Certificates from either of the following sources are allowed:

• Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) – “Heads Up: Online Concussion Training for Coaches”
• National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS – requires registration) – Concussion in Sports – What You Need To Know

At the end of the training session there will be a list of questions you need to answer and when you are done a certificate will pop up. Type in your name, save the .pdf file on your computer, and print the certificate. Note: once you log out your information will NOT be saved.

Please send your certificate to our Coach Coordinator.

Take a coach training course

As a program, NYSA aims to provide for our players the highest quality coaching possible.  We require all coaches (head and assistant) complete at least the USSF Online F course before coaching in the league.  If you have not completed any coach license courses, please register for the online F course.  Once you complete the course, submit to our Coach Coordinator a copy of the certificate and receipt of payment for reimbursement.

Now let’s get to the fun stuff – playing soccer!  Here are some guidelines to help you have a successful season with your team.

Communicating with your team

It is important that you maintain open lines of communication with your parents.  In addition to setting expectations with parents before the season, it is important to keep the team updated as the season progresses.  I quick weekly note can do the trick to remind folks of game times, locations, half-time snack duty, etc.

Regular weekly emails work, but you might consider creating a simple team website using Shutterfly or some other online platform.  A team website is a great way to centralize all information about the team and the season.

In addition to developing soccer skills, building camaraderie and teamwork is a key focus at the Kindergarten and Grade 1/2 levels.  This can happen on and off the field.  Consider scheduling a fun team event – pizza party, ice cream, etc. – to celebrate the end of the season.  Ask the parents to help you organize it!

Training your team

In general, the most effective coaching happens at practices.  This is the time to build fundamental skills, work on simple tactics and game concepts, and to have some fun. Kindergarten and Grade 1/2 teams practice 1x per week for between 60-75 minutes.

While you are responsible for designing and running your practices during the season, the Board has engaged BEST Soccer to lead training for 4 weeks at the beginning of the season.  These sessions are aimed to provide you with more training exercises that you can include during your own practices.

Managing “Game Day”

“Game Day” starts early for you, as coaches must set-up the fields before players arrive.  Plan to get to the fields at least 30 minutes before game time to ensure you have ample time to (1) set-up and walk the fields and (2) warm-up your team.  It is important that you establish with your team a consistent pre-game routine (dynamic warm-up, etc.) so we recommend asking parents to arrive at least 20 minutes early.  Click here [link] for a sample warm-up session.

Be sure to bring to the field cones and extra balls, and make sure you have a few ice packs in your bag.

When games are over, make sure all of your players have their ball/water bottle and are with a parent before you leave the field.

Coaching during the game

You may have heard the expression “the game is the best coach”.  For the most part, this is true and you will hear this often as you move up age groups.  Of course, we do not expect you to sit in absolute silence on the sidelines.  At the youngest age groups, coaches must provide guidance during games to help players apply the concepts they learn during training.

Some guidelines for you to consider during the game:

• Balance your teams. When you split into two teams, try to balance the skill level so we avoid lopsided games. If the game gets lopsided, coaches should discuss ways to make the game more competitive.
• Ensure as best possible equal playing time for all players. Keep an eye on your watch and make substitutions every 2 minutes or so.
• Rotate players through different positions. At Kindergarten, form a triangle (1 forward and 2 backs) and rotate players.  At Grade 1/2, form a diamond (1 forward, 2 mids, 1 back) and rotate players.
• Provide simple guidance while the game is going (i.e., Boys, are you in your triangle?) rather than directing their actions (i.e., kick the ball!!!) Provide coaching when the players are on the sideline (i.e., Lily, I loved how close you kept the ball to your feet!  Next time, can you try to do it while looking up at the goal?)
• Stay positive and celebrate having fun!

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many goals are scored or which team scored the most.  Some kids will count goals or ask so do your best to focus on other aspects of the game (i.e., what a great pull-back!)

Grade K-2 Coach not available on game day

1. If a coach will not be available for a game, try to identify the absence as early as possible.
2. In the event that there are less than 2 coaches available for your team on a particular weekend game, head coaches should reach out to your parents(ASAP) and ask that they volunteer to get CORI'ed and complete the training courses in order to be fully credentialed. This will enable them to be a backup coach.(There may already be credentialed coaches among the parents!)
3. If parents of the team are unable to commit to getting CORI'ed and completing the safety training, AND your team is unable to have at least 2 credentialed coaches for a game, reach out to the lower registrar board member and they can see if they can find a backup credentialed coach to help out.
4. In the case a backup coach cannot be recruited for a game, teams should combine into 1 game only, as long as there are at least 1 credentialed coach per team. In this scenario, team numbers can be increased to 5v5 for Grade 1/2 or 4v4 for Kindergarten so that there are not too many subs.

1. Play the Schedule!!!  –  If there is inclement weather, only NYSA will authorize the fields to be closed.  Coaches will need to play any home matches if the fields are open.
2. Prepone is always preferred, play the match earlier whenever possible.
3. “Uncontested” reschedules are for the following reasons
   1. Columbus Day
   2. Memorial Day
   3. Religious Holidays
   4. Unplayable Field
4. Reschedules for other reasons are possible but not encouraged, often lead to discord for travelling team who did not wish to reschedule and should be avoided.
5. ALWAYS provide at least one week notice to the NYSA team (below) to the reschedule date
6. Remember in the Fall season, it will be dark by 4:30 when the season concludes, reschedules are near impossible during the week.

Steps to Reschedule a Home Match

1. Contact the opposing coach ASAP (whether this is home or away)
2. Agree on date and time w/ opposing coach
3. Forward email confirmation of agreement to
   1. Referee Assignor
   2. Field Coordinator
   3. NYSA VP
4. Inform your BAYS Division Director
5. Referee Assignor and Field Coordinator will reschedule the match
6. You will get an email confirmation from BAYS with your new scheduled match