Coaches

This is a reminder that ALL coaches must be certified in the age group you are coaching up to U10.  If you are a U12 Coach you should still take the U10 coach certification classes if you have not already done so.    

There are U6, U8 and U10 online courses that you can take. The U10 coach MUST take the Field Session in addition to the online course to be certified.

Here is a link to the Online Training:  http://www.aysotraining.org/ If you prefer to take a classroom course, I am offering the following classes:  (you will need to regiser for these in eAYSO):  https://www.eayso.org/    

All coaches who take the classroom course will be given the U8 or U10 Coach Manual.

CourseDateTimeLocation
U8 Coaching CourseWednesday August 22nd6:30pm - 7:30pmClubhouse at the Crossing:  4465 So. Larwin
U10 Coaching CourseWednesday August 22nd7:30pm - 8:30pmClubhouse at the Crossing:  4465 So. Larwin
U8 Field SessionSaturday August 25th:9am - 10amField: tbd
***U10 Field Session-1Saturday  August 25th10am - 11amField: tbd
***U10 Field Session-2Tuesday August 28th6:30pm - 7:30pmField:  tbd   

***(mandatory for full U10 Certification)  

At Picture Day on Sunday September 9th, all coaches will have their pictures taken and will be given an ID with their Coach Certification listed.  Please make sure you are all certified!

 

U7-U14 Coach Update for Fall 2012

Thank you again for coaching!  We are so excited that we will be starting the season soon.  Here are a few very important administrative tasks that need to be done before you start practicing with your team:

Requirements for all Coaches :

  • Step 1 - Sign up as Volunteer in eAYSO.  (This is required to be completed every year for all volunteers (even board members must renew their eAYSO forms annually).  This process will also renew/create your eAYSO ID which you will need to take your training classes.  Go to www.eayso.org to register as a volunteer.
  • Step 2 - Mandatory online Training  - log into www.aysotraining.org/ (you will need your eAYSO ID from step 1 to log into all AYSO online courses)
    •  AYSO Safe Haven online course - this is required to be completed for all volunteers at least one time.   It is a short course that outlines the important elements around protecting our children as well as yourselves.   
    • U7-U10 coaches - as part of our efforts to improve our coaches AYSO requires you obtain your official AYSO coach certification for the 2012 fall season. 
      • U7 and U8 coaches: You can certify by taking the online U8 course in the same AYSO training site you take your safe have course.
      • U10 coaches: you must take the U10 online course AND you must also sign up for a field training session as well.  You can see the field training courses available in the Area by logging intowww.eayso.org and clicking on "enroll in a course"
      • U12-U19 Coaches - no-charge classroom training sessions are also offered locally which you can sign up for using www.eyaso.org and clicking on "enroll in a course" and searching for your age groups (U12, Intermediate for U14, Advanced for U16/U19). 
      • Not sure if you have taken the courses previously?  You can view all your certifications in www.eayso.com
         
  • Step 3- Download the Medical Release Forms (MRFs):  Starting on July 31st you will be able to view your team roster, MRFs, etc. online in In-league.  You will need MRFs  for signed by the responsible parent for each player on your team.  The parents can print out the forms, sign them and give them to you or you can print them out have them signed in blue ink at your team meeting.  You need to have your MRFs with you at every practice and game (we will be doing spot checks of these forms at practices and games). 
     
  • Step 4 - Download the Zero Tolerance Form from in-league.    This form needs to be signed by each coach and parent on your team and is your agreement to respect the referees and not dissent or question their calls regardless if you agree with them or not.  Referees are volunteers too and without them we cannot play the game safely. Please keep these signed forms with you at all times

 

Other information:

  • Sunday September 9th is Picture Day.  If you have not picked up your picture day forms please send us an email.  All coaches and assistant coaches will also have their pictures taken for their Coach ID card which they will be able to wear to every game.  This will help the refs, board members, parents, and other coaches easily identify the "official" coaches for the teams.
    Division Coordinators:  (These are your first point of contact for general coordination and information as well as  people to whom you will send your Online Team Volunteer Form to receive your uniforms and team country names)

U7G:Nora Encinas

U7B:Scott Gallagher

U8G:Looking for volunteer still if you are interested?

U8B:Will Duke

U10G:Will Duke

U10B:Heather Schlachter

U12G:Jerry Bascom

U12B: Jaimee Evans

U14G:Alicia Martinez

U14B:Chris Snyder

U16/ U19: David King

 

  • Practice Schedule and Fields per age group:  (Monday - Thursday 5pm - 8pm, Saturday: 8am - 5pm)
  • U7/U8   Boatwright #2 and Mt. Diablo Elementary School
  • U10        Ayers and Mountain View Elementary
  • U12        CCP2, CCP3 and Highlands
  • U14/ U16/ U19  Newhall 1 (near Ayers), CCP1 and Pine Hollow

****Please send in your practice times and days you would like to: fields@mdsoccer.org  You will receive approval from our fields coordinator

(All this information will be posted under the "Coaches" tab on www.mdosccer.org)

Thank You for coaching!  It is a very rewarding experience

Becoming a Coach

Coaches are the heart of Mt. Diablo Soccer because as a coach you have the most contact with the kids during the season. Coaching requires a significant commitment of your time for coach training, practice sessions and preparing for scheduled matches, but it can be a very rewarding experience. Mt. Diablo Soccer appreciates your time, and will provide you with the training, advice, and whatever assistance you need to make your coaching experience a positive one.
 
Reasons to coach
  • It's FUN.
  • It's a great break from work.
  • It makes you feel good.
  • It's a great way to put something back into the community.
 
The rewards come in the form of watching the kids have fun at a game or practice, watching each player improve their soccer skills.  There is also a great sense of accomplishment when you reach the end of a season and look back and see how far each player has developed.
 
Coaches have to put in a lot of work during the course of the season: in most divisions 2 practices per week, a game on Saturday and preparation time for each practice.  Over the course of an 12 week season this is well over 50 hours of volunteer work.  While there are other volunteer positions that require more time, coaching provides the greatest opportunity for you to have fun!
 
And for those who have "serious" jobs, there is no better way to regain your perspective than to watch a bunch of 5 year olds at practice.
 
Types of Coaches
There are generally three types of coaches:
  • Social Oriented
  • Task Oriented
  • Goal Oriented
 
The social coach wants to go out and have a good time.  If the kids want to have fun at practice (and not work on dribbling for 40 minutes), that's no problem.  The social coach enjoys meeting the parents on Saturday morning.  This may be the case for some parent coaches who did not grow up playing soccer.
 
The task oriented coach is looking to see players develop their soccer skills over the course of a season.  Many coaches who played soccer as kids and/or adults, tend to be somewhat task oriented, since they have the skills that they want to share.
 
The goal oriented coach wants to see results.  Sometimes this means winning on the score board, but it can often mean that the coach wants to see the team show some level of improvement as a team.
 
Of course, most coaches have some degree of the three characteristics listed above, but if you have no soccer skills and just want to be a social coach, attending a coaching clinic will help you gain enough knowledge to get by.  If you already have the soccer skills, but are scared of working with a group of kids, we will give you some ideas about running a practice and having fun.
 
Requirements
For those who are interested, a high school or college-aged assistant coach can be terrific role model for young players, since (s)he has typically grown up playing the game.  We do require that an adult (or at least someone over 18) be at every game and practice, but Mt. Diablo Soccer strongly encourages youth coaches.
 
Administration
The coach side of the organization is managed by the regional coach administrator, with help from the coach coordinators, whose primary responsibility is the recruiting and training of coaches in the region.  The coaches in each age group will have direct contact with their Division Coordinator, who serve as the primary point of contact between the teams and the region.
 
Coaching Duties
  • Attend pre-season and mid-season coach meetings.
  • Attend pre-season coach training offered at no cost by the region.
  • Complete Safe Haven training prior to working with players.  (This is a one-time, mandatory obligation.)
  • Hold pre-season meeting with families. (Introductions, roster and schedule distribution. Discuss expectations.)
  • Solicit volunteers, especially assistant coach, team referee, and team representative.
  • Conduct pre-season and mid-season practices.
  • Complete player evaluations.  (U8-U14 divisions only.)
  • Ensure the kids all have fun!

Meeting Notes

 

Safety Resources

The AYSO Incident Report Form is used whenever there is a personal injury, damaged property, or threats of or actual physical violence surrounding an AYSO game, practice, event or property. The form should be prepared by the Coach, AYSO Official, or other AYSO Volunteer. The form may also be prepared by a member of the regional staff such as the regional safety director, or by tournament or event staff members.

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