As you prepare for the upcoming season, please use the following checklist to give you and your team a solid foundation to build upon. Taking some time to prepare will make your practices and games run smoother and your players will get more out of your coaching.
- Access & Review Team Roster
- Access your team roster online at GotSoccer.com. We will provide you with your Team username and password when you are assigned a team.
- Review your roster and make note of any player medical condition, allergies, or required medication.
- Review player & parent names, start to commit them to memory.
- View/Print Team Contact Sheet
- Practice Schedule
- Determine your availability for practice days/times. You'll need this for the Team Welcome Message below.
- Season Goals
- Identify 1-3 primary goals for the season that you can share with your team. In other words, determine what you want to achieve as your team's coach this season. Keep your goals realistic for the age group you're coaching. Goals should always include "having fun", but add some developmental goals too. In younger age groups one of your goals might likely be based around improving attention and listening skills.
- Practice Plan
- Establish your practice plan. We provide recommended practice plans for each age group. If your team has a practice plan, you will have significantly more productive (and less stressful) practices each week. Recommended age group specific Practice Plans are posted in the Coach's Corner.
- Contact Assistant Coach(es)
- Preferably call or meet with your assistant coach(es) and share your choices about the above steps. Get their input and make modifications where appropriate.
- Prepare & Send Team Kick-Off Message
This is one of the most critical preseason checklist items. The goal of the kickoff letter is twofold: first to anticipate and answer questions your parents will likely have; and two, to explain to the parents your goals for the season and how you expect them to assist you in achieving them. A typical "kickoff letter" will include:
- Welcome Message: Introduce yourself and your coaching staff and let them know how excited you are about the upcoming season.
- Team Goals: Here's where you share your goals for your team. This is the most important part of your message because it gets everyone on the same page... YOUR page. Let your players' parents know that you appreciate their support in reinforcing these goals, and above all, should keep all comments positive and respectful, towards their child, other players, coaches, other parents, opponents, and referees.
- Team Roster: Attach a copy of the Team Roster from GotSoccer.com. Encourage your players' parents to introduce themselves to each other at the first practice and game.
- Practice Beyond the Field: Encourage your parents to practice with their child at home, even for just a short time, always keeping the focus on having fun and staying positive.
- Uniforms & Required Equipment: In-Town players will receive uniforms as part their registration fee. Travel players, however must be fitted and order a uniform from Team & League Outfitters. Orders must be placed at least 3 weeks prior to the first game to be received in time. Please see the Uniforms & Equipment page for more information.
- Solicit Feedback on Available Practice Days/Times: Share your availability for practice days/times and ask for feedback about what works for each family. Be clear that you can't guarantee that every family's scheduling requirements can be accommodated. Set a deadline for responses.
- Ask for Assistant Coach(es) (if needed): You'll need help with your team. If you don't already have assistant coach(es) lined up, ask for volunteers. Even if a parent can only help with player substitutions during games, take it. Remember to email the GYSA Registrar with all assistant coaches, this is especially important for Travel Teams.
- Practice & Game Cancellations: Inevitably each season, Mother Nature makes it impossible to hold a practice or game. Let your players' parents know how and when you will contact them about cancellations. Please remember that the GYSA will determine whether our fields are playable or not and post the Field Status on our web site.
- Snack Schedule: Kids love snacks after their game. Coordinating the snack schedule is also a great way to break the ice with your players' parents. Delegate this, do not be distracted from your coaching responsibilities by snacks, leave that to the other parents.
- Require Confirmation of Receipt: This is important. Ask the parents to reply to you with confirmation that they received and read your Kickoff Message. If you don't get a confirmation reply, CALL THEM. It's possible that the email address on file is incorrect.
- Closing: Close your message with another positive comment about the upcoming season. We recommend writing a message that the parents can share with the players.
- Submit Practice Time Request Online
- After you receive your practice time feedback from the parents, submit your Practice Time Request Form online. Specify your 1st and 2nd preferences. We'll try to accommodate every coach's 1st preference, but we can't guarantee it. A deadline for submissions will be communicated to all coaches via email. If you miss the deadline you're restricted to picking from what's left on the time slot list, first-come, first-served.
- Equipment
- Each coach will be given an Equipment Bag for their team for the season. Our Director of Equipment will distribute the bags, usually at the All Coaches meeting. All equipment is expected to be returned at the end of the season. If a piece of equipment is lost or damaged you must inform our Equipment Director.