Question 1

Responsibilities of a Coach?

Accepted Answer

NOTIFICATION OF TEAM MEMBERS…Please call members of your team as soon as possible. Your players will be anxious to hear from you.  Tell them that they’re on your team and provide them with the location, starting times, and duration of your practices.
Coaches are responsible for determining practice days, time, and location.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR TEAM MEMBERS…When you agree to coach a team, you accept responsibility for the safety of the team members.  This covers all team activities…practice, games, and tournaments.  Please get to your practices on time so that your players are never without adult supervision. Ask your parents not to leave players until you arrive.  Under no circumstances is any player to be left alone following practice or a game. We know you didn’t volunteer to be a baby sitter, but we can’t risk the safety of any child entrusted to our care.  If some parents appear to be late all the time, please call your WSA League Representative and the Board will attempt to help.
Have all parents complete and sign the Medical Release Waiver so that you can obtain medical care for a player should the parent not be present.
Coaches are required to honor the WSA Coach’s Code of Conduct.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARENTAL BEHAVIOR… Coaches are responsible for the behavior of his/her players, their player’s parents, and their team supporters during games.
Have all your parents sign and date Parental Code of Conduct.
Coaches should maintain contact with their league representatives on a regular basis.
Attend or send a team representative to all WSA Board Meetings. You are a member of our Association and get a vote in WSA Board decision.
Notify your WSA League Rep if you do not plan to return as a Coach for next season.
Coaches should remain aware that Game Schedule periodically change; and it is the Coach’s responsibility to ensure their parents are aware of any schedule changes
Coaches are required to be knowledgeable of any changes in the laws of the game. A great resource is the International Football Association Board (IFAB) App that can be downloaded on your phone.
Coaches are highly encouraged to increase their coaching knowledge of the game by attaining a Grassroots license though US Soccer. The introductory coaching course is online and FREE. North Texas Coaching Education Program (click here)

Question 2

Coaching Guidelines

Accepted Answer

Primary focus on "development", not "winning" - subtle difference but very important.  Winning is desirable of course, but making it your primary focus, especially your primary short-term focus, will most likely lead to bad decisions in your training program and game execution (see "don't teach anything you have to undo later" below).

Maximum touches on the ball during training sessions - make sure your practice plan leads to as many touches on the ball as possible.  This can be accomplished by separating the players into smaller groups during drills or by designing your practice to include drills and games that force many touches on the ball.  This is the primary reason NTX has moved to the small-sided game format.

Don't teach anything you have to undo later - for instance, many coaches of the younger players put their players in a defensive "wall" on the opponent’s kickoff - an alignment that will never be formed when they grow older (maybe in futsal).  Instead, teach them to spread out on the kickoff and cover the critical defensive areas.  Otherwise, at some point down the line you'll have to teach them to cover the space, hence undoing what you taught them earlier.  Another example would be a coach of the younger players putting a single player in front of the opponents goal with instructions to "wait for the ball" - and leaving the player in that position during the entire game.  On down the line you'll have to undo this practice and teach that player how to stay "onside" and how to "make runs to the goal", hence undoing what you previously instructed.

Question 3

What do I need to do to become a WSA Coach?

Accepted Answer

All WSA coaches and assistant coaches need to be registered  for the upcoming soccer season thru GotSport, have an approved Background check, and have completed SafeSport training.

Youcan register to be a coach here. Once you have completed your registration, you will receive an automated email explaining how you can complete your background check and SafeSport training.

Thank you for volunteering as a coach!

Question 4

How much time does it take to coach?

Accepted Answer

This will depend on the type of team and age level of the team you are coaching. Recreational teams will often practice 1-2 times a week and play once a week. So you can expect a commitment of about 3-5 hours total including setup, picking up, etc. Add in an additional hour or so for preparation (practice plans, paperwork, etc.)
 
Regardless of the age of your team or level, you should recruit a team manager to handle all the league paperwork, snack and make-up schedules, etc. It can be a huge help.
 
A good recreational team schedule to follow is:
• U4 - once or twice a week for 30-45 minutes each session
• U6-U8 - once or twice a week for 45-60 minutes each session
• U9-U12 - twice a week for 60-90 minutes each session
• U13 and up- twice a week for 90 minutes each session

Question 5

What type of equipment do I need as a Coach?

Accepted Answer

At the bare minimum, you need some disc cones (20 or 30 is ideal) and some pinnies. Players can bring their own soccer ball. However, most coaches will accumulate additional equipment over time that can come in very handy. Optional equipment includes:
· A coach's first aid kit
· Pinnies
· Pop up goals or even portable full size goals like GOLME
· A dry erase clipboard with a soccer field stenciled on it. Handy for keeping papers together and drawing out things you may try to explain
· A stopwatch - handy for keeping track of time during matches
· A small ball pump
· A colorful keeper jersey and gloves
· Extra balls are always nice. It helps keep the practice moving so you don't have to chase balls all the time
For older players - training aids like an agility ladder, hurdles, ball hoops, poles, etc.
 
You'll notice one item that's not on the list - a whistle. Most experienced coaches won't use a whistle and instead teach the players to listen to what they say.

Question 6

Do I need to complete a background check to Coach?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All Weatherford Soccer Coaches (head coaches and assistant coaches) are required to have an approved background check. This is for the safety of our children.
 
How to submit you background check? (click here)

Question 7

Do I need to complete the SafeSport course to Coach?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SafeSport course is required my North Texas Soccer Association. This is a course that needs to be completed annually for all Weatherford Soccer Coaches.
 
How to complete SafeSport course? (click here)

Question 8

How do I get an Assistant Coach?

Accepted Answer

The head coach will pick their own assistant coach.
 
The head coach will need to send an email to weatherfordsoccer@gmail.com with the following information for the person(s) they wish to be their assistant coach:
 
Name (Legal first and last name)
Birth date
Email address
Physical address
Phone number 
 
The assistant coach will receive an email from Weatherford Soccer with a lnk to register.

Question 9

How do I print my Team Roster

Accepted Answer

Team Rosters are available to Coaches on GotSport for those Coaches who have registered and completed their requirements.
 
How to print Team Roster (or Player ID Cards)? (click here)

Question 10

Who do I contact with questions or concerns?

Accepted Answer

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the following (in the following order):
League Representative
Coaching Director
WSA Board President / Vice President
Please talk to us, don't let issues get out of control. If you have any ideas, again, please let us know.
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We want to hear from you!

Question 11

What do I do if the Referee makes a call I disagree with?

Accepted Answer

WSA Referees are off limits to anyone before and after the game!
 
Most of our WSA Referees are Kids. There will be no negative comments to the referee during the game.
 
If you think a referee is not calling a game correctly please alert a WSA Board Member. A WSA Board Member will handle it from there.
 
Once the final whistle has blown the game is over, as well as your contact with the referee. Referees will not be followed to their area or into the parking lot.
 
Failure to follow the rules will result in suspension or being banned from all WSA facilities and other associations of the NCSA alliance.

Question 12

Inclement Weather?

Accepted Answer

When you think that games might be cancelled, DO NOT assume they are.
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For games at Cartwright Park, check:
WSA website: www.weatherfordsoccer.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeatherfordSoccer/
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Please check the above resources before you call us!
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Games that are rained out will be rescheduled for a later date. It is your responsibility to keep an eye on the game schedule.
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If it is raining and the fields are in good shape and there is no lightning, WE WILL PLAY GAMES.

Question 13

Slide Tackles

Accepted Answer

A slide tackle is a tackle in soccer in which a player attempts to take the ball away from an opposing player by deliberately leaving his feet and sliding along the ground with one leg extended to push the ball away from the opposing player.

A player who has possession of the ball and slides to kick it, to keep the ball from going pass the touchline, pass the goal line, or trying to score is not performing a slide tackle. If the player is the attacking player, then by definition they are not performing a slide tackle and will not be called for slide tackling.

Question 14

Can we have a sponsor purchase our team uniforms?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can purchase your own uniform. The uniforms can be paid for by the parents or by a sponsor. However your registration cost will not be reduced.
 
Your team will be required to have the WSA logo put on the uniform at the team's expense.
 
If you have a sponsor, they can have their name put on the uniform. This requires board approval before the name can be applied to the uniform.

Resources for Coaches

DOCUMENTS FROM COACHES MEETINGS

IMPORTANT
Please don't block GotSport Emails. This is how we communicate with you.

InstaTeam

Applications for better
Team Communication

Online Resources for Coaches

Frequently Asked Questions

Responsibilities of a Coach?

Coaching Guidelines

What do I need to do to become a WSA Coach?

How much time does it take to coach?

What type of equipment do I need as a Coach?

Do I need to complete a background check to Coach?

Do I need to complete the SafeSport course to Coach?

How do I get an Assistant Coach?

How do I print my Team Roster

Who do I contact with questions or concerns?

What do I do if the Referee makes a call I disagree with?

Inclement Weather?

Slide Tackles

Can we have a sponsor purchase our team uniforms?

Resources for Coaches

DOCUMENTS FROM COACHES MEETINGS

IMPORTANT Please don't block GotSport Emails. This is how we communicate with you.

InstaTeam

Applications for better Team Communication

Online Resources for Coaches

Frequently Asked Questions

Responsibilities of a Coach?

Coaching Guidelines

What do I need to do to become a WSA Coach?

How much time does it take to coach?

What type of equipment do I need as a Coach?

Do I need to complete a background check to Coach?

Do I need to complete the SafeSport course to Coach?

How do I get an Assistant Coach?

How do I print my Team Roster

Who do I contact with questions or concerns?

What do I do if the Referee makes a call I disagree with?

Inclement Weather?

Slide Tackles

Can we have a sponsor purchase our team uniforms?

IMPORTANT
Please don't block GotSport Emails. This is how we communicate with you.

Applications for better
Team Communication