What changed, and why: Kickoff is the only setting all year where 150 coaches are in one room. We are prioritizing the two things that require a room — connection and modeled practice — plus the one thing that requires a truck – equipment and gear! Key information transfer will move to required virtual supplemental trainings (by coach type) with a signed comprehension check.

*Full attendance looks like: attending in-person + required supplemental training (Full $100.00 Kickoff Stipend = $80.00 in-person + $20.00 virtual)

Full details can be found in the slide below.

Coach Kickoff Fall 2026.pptx

Fall 2026 Coach Kickoff Exit Survey

Coach Kickoff Exit Survey

(Part 2) Required Supplemental and Makeup Trainings - Virtual: Required based on Program Pillar

Required part 2 from Coach Kickoff to compensate for what is missed due to a shorter in-person session.

Three sessions, three audiences. All sessions are recorded and uploaded in the CRC so they double as the makeup path. Each virtual training is compensated ($20.00).

New Coaches who missed Kickoff: Will also be required to attend onboarding office hours week of Sept. 25-28. This will be communicated.

Liaison Compliance & Launch

Wed Sept 2 · 3:45–5:00pm

WHO: All site liaisons

Leagues & Game Day Policies

Thu Sept 10 · 6:30–8:00pm

WHO: Every soccer coach

Poetry Office Hours

Mon Sept 14 · 6:30–7:30pm

WHO: Poetry coaches who missed Kickoff

Full details can be found in the slide below.

Coach Kickoff Supplemental Trainings.pptx

Fall Midseason Training

10/5/26 - Fall Mid Season Training (In-Person) - Writing

Spring Trainings

Spring Coach Kickoff

2/27/27 - Spring Coach Kickoff - Soccer and Writing

Spring Midseason Training

4/19/27 and 4/20/27 - Spring Mid Season Training - Soccer and Writing

Office Hours (General Admin Support)

Payment, Attendance, & Playmetrics

This is for: all new coaches and, especially, liaisons.

View (9 min) explainer video below and slides here.

Past trainings

Find slides, recordings, photos, and resources.

Midseason Training 2026

🌈Creating Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth (Facilitated by SMYAL)

SMAYL dc_scores_presentation.pdf

(Tuesday, April 21, 2026) Review the training slides. Read our "All on the Pitch" Midseason Training One-Pager

Description

With 9.3% of adults in the U.S identifying as LGBTQ+, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusion is a must. Not only that, but 60% of our LGBTQ+ youth have felt discrimination due to their gender identity or sexual orientation, 32% of youth in schools face harassment because they are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and policies in our own backyards have limited the spaces and resources available to LGBTQ+ youth. As a result, there is a high need for LGBTQ+ allyship and support for our youth. In this highly interactive session, participants will learn about the need for and positive impacts of LGBTQ+ inclusion in all parts of the community. They will become familiar with key inclusive language, and the basics of allyship, and they will leave the session equipped to implement crucial ally actions to create belonging and safe spaces for all queer and trans youth.

About the Facilitator

Krischell Mini Bio: Krischell (she/her) is a Training Coordinator with SMYAL who has 4+ years of experience in peer-to-peer and youth education. A Baltimore native who found her home in DC, she's driven to make sure in everything that she does she gives back to the communities who molded her into the woman she is today. When not serving youth in the DMV area she's home gaming with her friends, taking walks around her neighborhood, or reading on her E-Reader.

Additional Resources

(Will be posted here, once received)

Spring 2026 Coach Kickoff

🤓 Site Management

Coach Kickoff: Learn about our Community Building Coach Development training, new Dual Site Coordinator pairings, and review our communications. (Slides here, pgs. 42-66)
Makeup Training: Covering slides 35-66 (📹 Video Recording here - 28 min)
Liaison Training: Review - What is the role of a liaison? (Slides here)
Office Hours:
- March 4: 💲Payment, ☑️ Attendance, and 📧 Playmetrics (Slides & Video)

🤝 Coach Development

Coach Kickoff: Learn about our Community Building Coach Development training and SCORES Play Card. (Slides here)
Midseason Training: TBA
Community Building Resources: Materials to help your team get off to a strong start, including "Poet-Athlete Promise", "Parent/Guardian Promise", "Building Team Culture: Values and Norms" Worksheets, and more! (Linked here)

✏️ Service Learning

Coach Kickoff: Review project examples and learn about our NEW Community Sessions and the Stage 1 Check In, which will be due on March 27th. (Slides here)
Makeup Training: (📹 Video Recording here - 38 min)
Midseason Training: Monday, April 20th, 6-8pm

⚽ Soccer

Coach Kickoff: Request equipment, review spring events, goal updates, and coach clinics via our slides (here).
Makeup Training: (📹 Video Recording here)
Midseason Training: Tuesday, April 21, 6:45-8pm

Fall 2025 Coach Kickoff

▶️ Site Management & Liaison Kickoff Slides

▶️ Coach Training Resources

All on the Pitch: DC SCORES Online Coach Training (Fall 2025)

Complete the following training by 10/10/25 to receive credit for the on-demand training. RSVP HERE to receive more information.

All on the Pitch DC SCORES Online Coach Training.mp4All on the Pitch is an interactive online training designed to help DC SCORES coaches build inclusive, supportive, and empowering environments for poet-athletes. Coaches will explore the meaning of Fair Play, learn strategies to create safe and brave spaces, and practice setting team norms and agreements. Through reflection, real-life scenarios, and quizzes, this training provides practical tools to strengthen team culture and ensure every player feels seen, celebrated, and supported—on and off the pitch.

Powerpoint Slides: All on the Pitch: DC SCORES Online Coach Training (Fall 2025)

Online training ALL ON THE PITCH.pdf

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