Fall '26 Coaches meeting notes

• Remember why we coach
  • Positively influence our youth
  • Love of the game
  • Contribute to our community
• Basic responsibilities
  • Be a positive role model
  • Foster the youth's love of the game
  • Provide structure
  • Make sure they have fun
  • Communicate with the parents
  • Show up ready for games
• Coaches v Referees
  • Coaches
    • Lots of hard work, get an assistant
      • Life happens, having a backup is important
      • SafeSport and Background check is required for anyone on the field with our kids
    • Coordinate with one another, I’m here to help but don’t have the bandwidth to coordinate field swaps, scrimmages, etc
    • Your coaching can influence how our athletes feel about soccer and team sport in general for the rest of their lives
  • Referees
    • Lots of challenges in this role
    • Split second decisions
    • Many are our kids or grew up in the association or those we visit
    • Can start at 13, they’re still just kids
      • How would you expect strangers to treat your kid?
    • Your team is watching your interactions with our referees
      • How do you navigate moments that feel unfair
      • How do you talk to your team about bad calls
      • How do you show sportsmanship after a difficult match
    • ZERO tolerance for abuse of refs
      • Increased penalties for abusing refs under 18
        • Identified by green badges
      • Abuse is ambiguous and all allegations are reviewed
      • You are responsible for your parents behavior
        • Typically 1st warning, 2nd yellow card, 3rd red card
    • Talk with your refs before the match
      • A few good questions can help level set expectations and lets them know you’re paying attention
        • Examples
          • How are you calling handballs this year
          • How hard have you been on speeding up play
          • Anything you want me to talk to my team about
          • How do you manage the build out line
  • Parents
    • Early/clear communication goes a long way
      • Let them know who you are, why you coach, and your approach
      • Remind them they are in recreational soccer
      • Have a shared location to communicate (GroupMe for example)
    • Tell them where you want them to help
      • Snack volunteers
      • Schedule reminders
      • End of season activity, etc
  • Scheduling
    • This year is starting later than usual
      • Sept 12th for first game
      • 4 home, 4 away
      • All games complete by Nov 15th
      • Turkey shoot the weekend after
    • El Niño forecast calls for lots of rain
    • Limiting blackout availability to 1 weekend
      • Should be used for player availability
      • Coach availability issues should be addressed by getting an assistant
    • Contact [email protected]
      • Request form coming soon
      • Schedule change requests will be considered but may not be applied
      • Considerations
        • Field availability
        • Ref availability
        • Team availability
    • Closures
      • Decisions usually made by 7 am day of
      • Widespread region so don’t count on one location as the decision for all
      • Cities/Associations highly protective of fields
        • Heavy rain the day before will usually result in cancellation but not guaranteed
        • Fort Worth decides our fields
      • Monitor socials and websites of the association you will be visiting
        • Share in our GroupMe if you find confirmation either way
  • Paperwork requirements
    • Adults working with youth must have background check and SafeSport complete and be added to your roster
    • Coaches lanyard must be worn and visible by all adults on player sideline gameday
      • Grace period through 9/26 - must have DL that matches name on gameday roster available
      • Please ensure you have a clear face photo similar to DL photo on your profile
      • We are working to have these ready no later than practice next week
    • U9+ coaches must have their players cards printed and available at each game
      • Players should have a recent face photo similar to DL
    • Must have roster printed
      • Text only version
      • Shows both teams
      • Player numbers must be printed on the card
        • No handwritten match rosters
        • When you distribute your kits, track which number goes to each player and ensure the size you provide matches the size they requested at sign up
      • Have until halftime to provide
      • Both teams required to bring their copy
  • Players
    • Review/print our pocket guide playing format to know your age specific rules
    • Encourage hydration before, during and after games for health and safety
    • Gamday must wear their kit with their number matching the gameday roster and player cards
      • Often a grace period first couple of weeks
      • Bring pinnies the away team is responsible but have them with you so the game can happen
    • Games and Practice
      • Cleats - no toe cleat
      • Shin guards - must be present no other rules
    • NO jewelry of any kind, even covered
      • IFAB changed their rules North Texas Soccer did not adopt this change
    • Ensure balanced playing time
      • This does not have to be perfect but should be reasonable
      • Be very careful about benching players to chase wins
      • Communicate with parents if a player is not getting the expected time
        • Perceive injury, illness
        • Specific request from player
        • Behavior concerns/practice attendance, etc
      • Ensure they get to try positions they are interested in and rotate through positions nobody wants
  • Rule reminders
    • Printed gameday report - no handwritten details
    • Home team responsible for entering score, should be same day/next day latest
    • NO jewelry, check your players before the refs do
    • Follow the appropriate parent/player placement for the association you are at (usually parents 1 side, players/coaches other side)
    • Time wasting rules
      • Agreement that subs/throw ins are not focused on rec soccer but may be enforced depending on the ref
      • Goal keeper speed still a focus
      • Bottom line encourage your team to move quickly in these situations
  • Miscellaneous
    • Second kits are allowed
      • Design must be approved by the board
      • Must include the NFWASA badge
      • ALL parents must agree or they must be provided free of charge
    • Concessions is a work in progress
    • May ask for help with field monitors throughout the season
    • Continue to look for volunteer support
      • Bringing people in is a challenge
      • Broadly defined roles
      • Lots to do
      • Little free time for handoff
      • Please be patient