Coaches: This is a
sample letter for you to consider as a communication to your team’s parents of
your expectations, team requirements, and logistics. Please feel free to edit this to meet your
needs and communicate your philosophy. Also, some of these comments may apply
more to girls teams or boys teams.
NOTE: Updated
version along with Parent
Volunteer Sign-up List available as WORD document.
AYSO
Parent Meeting Handout or
Introductory
Email
Welcome to the parent
meeting! We are team number ____ in Division U____.
The team's coach and
assistant are: __________________
__________________
Our team color
is: _______________
Introductory paragraph:
Personalize to make it specific to your team:
We have coached together
a number of years and both really enjoy the kids and the chance to teach some
soccer. We know they’ll have a fun season. Many of you have
been involved in AYSO for a long time so the following is obvious but the AYSO
philosophy is a good one to review.
AYSO
Philosophy
The AYSO philosophy is
to have fun, learn soccer and to play safely. We are all responsible for making
this season a great one for our kids. Positive comments from the sidelines are
always welcome. Please set a good example for your kids and be
complimentary to any kid who makes a great play, on either team, and never make
disparaging comments to the players, coaches, other parents or refs.
The referee is a parent
or kid volunteer too and we really appreciate their
help. He/she is the "boss" on the
field. Please don’t complain about any calls. Some have more
experience than others so we all need to be understanding. Most times they’re
right and sometimes they’re not. We can learn together. The coach can discuss
disputed calls AFTER the game in a cooperative and educational
way. Parents can share their concerns with the coach, not the referee.
Should a player have a
problem or injury in a game, the ref will evaluate the injury and let the coach
go on if needed. No parents are allowed on the field unless the ref okays it.
Shinguards are a MUST. Kids cannot play without
them in games or in practices. Shinguards must be
covered by long socks at all times (including at
practices). In addition, players, for safety purposes, should not
have any jewelry on (e.g., watches, bracelets, even string bracelets, earrings).
Please postpone having ears pierced until after the season
ends. Players WILL have to remove posts
no matter how new at practices or games!
Players with long hair should wear it pulled
back to all practices and games.
Web
Youth Soccer
AYSO Region 43 does all
registration and communication via its website, www.AYSO43.org. Please
sign in there once a week to see last minute messages from us, double check
game schedule or find field maps, etc. Any changes to your personal information
(e.g., phone #, insurance, etc.) should be entered there. Let coach know of any changes and corrected
signed forms to next practice (one for coach and assistant coach).
TEAM NAME
We will decide on a team
name at the first practice so we can make the banner and list it on the
website. Often the name will have something to do with our uniform
color.
ABSENCES
We know everyone’s lives are very busy in this
community. We coaches also may have to miss an occasional
practice or game. PLEASE tell us via the team parent in advance of
any known absences (the team parent will make a list for us and keep it
updated). CALL us directly if the illness/conflict is known after
Friday morning as we may not get to our email before Sat morning and often make
the line-up Friday night. It takes a lot of forethought to decide on
team line-ups for the games so we need to know ASAP. Additionally, SMS our
phones if any players are going to miss or be late for practices or games.
Try to avoid Friday
night sleepovers. Kids always come to games wiped out after a night
with friends. How about Saturday instead!?
EQUIPMENT:
Each player should bring
the following to every game and practice:
*soccer shoes (cleats)
*shin guards
*soccer socks that cover
the shin guards
*water bottle
*soccer ball (please
bring if you have one, a few are supplied) Size _____ for
this age group
*sunscreen
*for games, wear uniform
(tucked into shorts!) and bring towel for perspiration/mud clean-off (optional)
You can buy equipment at
local sport stores or Play it Again Sports. Bigger
selection available at Kickers soccer store in Belmont. Cheap
kid cleats often available at Payless Shoe Store. Cleats must have
molded plastic bottoms, not screw on type.
UNIFORMS
There is always some
last minute turnover in the team roster.
We will NOT hand out uniforms at until the last practice, before we
begin games. Uniforms are passed out
based on size and not just numbers.
Smaller numbers are for the smaller players. Uniforms should be worn only at games (or to
school on team spirit days). Please don't wear at practices (t-shirts are
fine then). Uniform shirts need to be tucked in for
games. Wear matching shorts and socks given (better not to wear team socks to
practice unless you can clean them in time).
PARENT VOLUNTEERS
To make the experience much more enjoyable for
everyone the following volunteers are needed. Please give a little
of yourself in order to enrich your child's experience. Your child
will be happy to have you participating in the team effort.
* Team Parent (1) The
team parent has the most important role.
o Makes a spreadsheet which includes the names of
all kids and parents, phone numbers (especially cell phone #) , emails and game times and volunteer roles parents are
signed up for. Sends this information to whole team. Sets up a communication plan (e.g., Yahoo!
Groups, Facebook, phone tree, SMS plan)
o Makes sure the other volunteers are following
through with their roles and helps the coach as needed. Often is the main
contact person for the coach so needs access to email on regular basis and is
well organized.
o Keeps track of absences and makes a spreadsheet
with known absences at beginning of season. Sends updates each week if
changes.
o Makes a schedule of coach absences needing a
practice parent and reminds parents when they are needed.
* Snack Coordinator Parent (1) Each
parent signs up to bring snacks for one or two games Coaches should set
their own team snack policy. Maybe extra water too in case. Coaches are exempt
from snack duty. The coordinator sets up the schedule, prints it out for all,
distributes, AND reminds the snack parent the week BEFORE the game to bring the
snack.
* Parent Referee (2) We
have all been asked to contribute two referees per team. You will be
scheduled to ref your child's game when you're available and may also be asked
to ref another game if you're available. Check website
(AYSO43.org) for training classes and sign up now. Let the Ref
Administrator know your division and team # and that you’re planning to ref
(contact email on website).
* Linesperson (2) In charge of monitoring balls that go out of bounds. Simple role needed at
games if Assistant Referee is not available. Can
be trained on the job in minutes.
* Practices parent (4) There may be times that one of us can’t be at a
practice. We would like a number of parents to be available to stay
at practice as we must have 2 adults at all practices. The team
parent will make a schedule as we know our conflicts ahead of time. For Safe Haven, we NEED to make sure we have
at least one parent at each practice who is the same sex as the players.
* Banner Parent (1) A banner
reinforces the team spirit and is needed at the BEGINNING of the season so
promptness is imperative. Once the team picks a name the parent should make it
that week. The banner ideally is 5-6 feet long and 4-5 feet high and
made of sturdy fabric. It can be attached to 1 inch PVC pipes
running through the hems on the sides and top. Use large letters so
it is readable across a field. Can include kids'
names if wanted. Also need a way to secure it to the ground.
One option is to have 2 iron stakes (one foot length) to pound into the ground
(bring hammer each game) and put pipes over them. Must plan for substitute
ahead of time to bring, set up and take down the banner if you will be out of
town.
* Picture Day Parent (1) Makes sure everyone confirms they are coming and
helps organize the team on the day of the region photos. Sends
out reminder email to team 2 weeks before the day. Hands out photo packets to all teammates before the day. Assists in make-up photo day if needed.
* Photography Parent
(1-2) Takes action shots
during the season and distributes photos to the kids at the end of the year
party or other venue (team needs to decide how to fund this).
* Team breakfast and makeover party planner (optional) (1-2) Have breakfast together at your house. Then
color kids the team color with face paint and hairspray just before a late
morning game. Usually early in the season. Good team
spirit building. Kids love this!
* Party coordinator
(1-2) Plans end of year party (usually
last week of games). Pizza, pool party, picnic, are options. Poll
parents/players/coaches a few weeks ahead to find a convenient time since
schedules fill up quickly. This is also when we hand out trophies
and photos and say thanks for the season.
* Trophy parent (1) Picks up trophies from
Division Coordinator (coach will let you know when) and brings to end of year
party for distribution.
SCHEDULE
* Practices are every ________________ at __________pm at _____________ field
* Games will be every
Saturday.
* Please come to
games 30 minutes early to warm up and confirm line
up
* You can access game
times/locations/fields all online at www.AYSO43.org
* Picture Day is TBD
* Last game is ______________
* Regional Tourney (for
U10 and above) is _________________
* Area Tournament (if we
win the Regional Tourney) is ______________
* Parent/kid soccer
games are fun, a good way for you to understand the game and see it’s not that
easy (!). Will be scheduled during or after a practice near the beginning of
the season (and perhaps at the end too if you’d like). Kids love playing their
parents!
UPDATES
Please let the team parent and
coaches know if ANY changes on your contact info form (phone numbers/insurance
info/etc). We must have current info on the reg
form SIGNED BY YOU with us at every practice and game (AYSO rules).
We need TWO copies with original signatures of the updated reg
form (one for coach and one for assistant coach). You should also go to
the web and update your information there as soon as there is a change.
We look forward to a fun
and rewarding soccer season with you and your child. Please contact
us if you have any questions or concerns during the season.
Coach: _______________________________
email: _______________________________
phone # : _______________________________
cell # : _______________________________
Asst Coach: _______________________________
email:
_______________________________
phone #: _______________________________
cell #:
_______________________________