What is expected of Volunteer Coaches
In New Maryland Soccer, the number one priority is to make soccer fun for the players. To do this, here are some expectations for our volunteer coaches:
- Be prepared – have activities planned (New Maryland Soccer will provide examples for each week).
- Make sure that everyone understands your expectations for the sessions and for each activity.
- Keep each session positive. Give plenty of praise and refrain from any negative comments.
- Be a model for the players both on the field and off which includes appropriate language.
- Keep the activities fun, and modify if necessary to ensure that every player is engaged. Try to avoid players waiting in line for very long if possible.
- Encourage parents and caregivers to get involved. The more people out helping the more active and engaged the players will be.
- Ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate regardless of skill level.
- Strive to create a positive atmosphere at all times.
- Ensure that you contact New Maryland Soccer if you are unable to attend a session to ensure that a replacement is available.
Since each child matures at different levels, you must treat each person as an individual. Not all players participate for the same reason – please read the typical characteristics of each age level listed below.
What Coaches can Expect from New Maryland Soccer
- Someone will be there each session to open the bunker and ensure that you have everything you need for your session. This person(s) will also help organize session and offer advice if needed
- A introductory session will be offered to discuss the season, review expectations, give advice, and demonstrate activities.
- We will provide a number of activity ideas each week for the practices. Coaches have the freedom to either use these activities or use any of their own favourites.
What Coaches can Expect from the Players
Timbits U4-U5 Players
- Short attention span.
- May understand simple rules that are explained briefly and demonstrated.
- Constantly in motion, but, with no sense of pace. They will chase something until they drop. They are easily fatigued but recover rapidly.
- Development for boys and girls are quite similar.
- Physical coordination limited. Eye – hand and eye – foot coordination is not developed. Need to explore qualities of a rolling ball.
- Love to run, jump, roll, hop, etc.
- Catching or throwing skills not developed.
Timbits U7 Players
- Some will be more competitive than others
- Easily bruised psychologically. They will remember negative comments for a long time. Shout praise. Give “hints.”
- Starting to imitate older players or sports heroes.
- Lack sense of pace. They go flat out until they drop.
- Cardiovascular and temperature regulation system is not developed. Their heart rate peaks quickly and they overheat quickly. Make sure that they get adequate water breaks.
- Limited understanding with personal evaluation. “If they try hard, they performed well” regardless of the actual performance. Thus, they need to be encouraged constantly, and asked “Now, can you do this?”
- Better at recognizing when the ball is out of play and remembering what goal they are going for… but, in the heat of battle, they will sometimes still forget. They still find it difficult to really be aware of more than one thing at a time.
U9-U11 Players
- Gross and small motor skills becoming more refined and reliable. Boys and girls begin to develop separately.
- Ability to stay on task is lengthened. They have the ability to sequence thought and actions.
- Greater diversity in playing ability and physical maturity.
- Skills are emerging. Becoming more predictable and recognizable.
- Able to pace themselves, to plan ahead.
- Repetition of technique is very important, but it must be dynamic, not static.
- Continued positive reinforcement needed.
- Explanations must be brief, concise, and mention “why”.
- Becoming more “serious.” Openly, intensively competitive, without intention of fouling.