New Coaches Guide

(Club Team)

Club team coaches have several advantages over their recreational level counterparts.  In the Coast League, coaches are required to have at least an "E" regional license.  Coaches managing players over U-15 are encouraged to have at least a "D" regional license.  The "D" state or national licenses use the same curriculum, but the requirements for passing are more difficult.  For more information on coaching curriculum, see the Cal South coaching education program.

Advantages

1. The players generally have several years of experience. 
2. The coach picks the players and may drop players if there is a conflict.
3. Coaches generally have more experience and training.
4. Parents are more committed because the cost can be significantly higher.
5. Some players may have outside training with other teams, schools or clubs.
6. The club may have a dedicated trainer or Director of Coaching that can assist.
7. The club may allocate funds for training equipment

Disadvantages

1. They are given a very limited time with the players to prepare a team and execute a game plan. 
2. Families expect a higher level of performance and they expect the team to win.
3. Parent coaches may have a hard time dealing with parents if they are family friends.
4. Keeping quality players may be a problem if the team does not advance in prestige.

To help new coaches, we have put together a list of the basic equipment and some suggested reading.

Equipment list:

• Must haves:
  • Disc cones (At least 24 each of two color) - NOTE: Dome cones can used as an alternative
  • Pylon cones (4 to use as goals)
  • Practice shirts with the team logo (Generally white for one day and the home colors for the second day)
  • Practice Vests (enough of two different colors for the team or reversible vests)
  • Enough quality balls for the  drills (expect 50%-75% of the players to have a ball at any given practice with that number shrinking over time)
  • Match Level Ball (a higher quality ball for use only in the games)
  • Access to quality fields with full sized goals and nets
• Nice to haves:
  • Practice flags or Dutch Gates
  • Corner flags
  • A practice ball for every player plus three game balls (One to play and a spare for each net)
  • Agility trainer (a ladder or speed rings)

Suggested Reading:

• The Practices and Training Sessions of the Worlds Top Teams and Coaches (Mike Saif)
• Defending and Goalkeeping Drills of the World's Top Teams and Coaches (Mike Saif)
• Soccer Fundamentals for Players and Coaches (Wiel Coerver)
• Skills and Strategies for Coaching Soccer (Alan Hargreaves)
• www.avidsoccer.com