Coach's Code

• Enthusiastically support and practice the "Everyone Plays", "Good Sportsmanship" and "Positive Coaching" philosophies of AYSO.
• Be reasonable in your demands on a young player's time, energy, enthusiasm and performance on the soccer field.
• Impress on your players that they must abide by the Laws of the Game at all times.
• Develop team respect for the ability of opponents, and for the judgment of referees and opposing coaches.
• Ensure that your players' soccer experience is one of fun and enjoyment (winning is only part of it). Players should never be yelled at or ridiculed for making mistakes or losing a game.
• Set a good example and be generous with your praise when it is deserved. Children need a coach they can respect.
• Keep informed of sound principles of coaching, growth and child development.
• Check your equipment and playing facilities. The should meet safety standards and be appropriate for the age and ability of your players.
• Make sure you have your medical releases with you at all times
• Running up the score will not be tolerated.
• Be on time and do everything in your ability to make sure games proceed in a timely fashion.
• Respect the rights of the neighbors. Never retrieve a ball from their property without their permission. Do not allow your kids to climb or practice against the walls that surround the field.
• Make sure parents come to the field to get their kids.
• Never leave a child alone after a game or practice. Children should not walk home alone
• Respect the referees and their decision, they are volunteers just like you.
• Increase the referee pool on your team. Work with your Assistant Coach and encourage him to take a team next year.
• Your parents quite often become a reflection of you, keep under control.
• Fulfill the commitments and responsibilities for which you volunteered.
• Be a role model and because of you every child should want to play next year.

Important Information for Coaches
Coaching soccer can be one of the most rewarding activities for adults interested in helping children. In AYSO, we require that all coaching be positive and encouraging at all times. Coaches that follow a philosophy of winning being the most important thing, or of driving the children extremely hard to ensure their best efforts, are not part of our program. At the same time, good Coaches will be demanding and set high expectations for the players, but will do so fully aware of the child's need for a positive experience, and with understanding that different children may have different abilities and developmental needs.
The fundamental goal for all AYSO Coaches is to encourage each child's interest in sports, and to keep all the kids involved regardless of their individual abilities.

Coaches are asked to keep in mind the following:

• You are required to attend certain Coach meetings and training sessions. If you are an experienced Coach, we need you at these meetings to be a mentor to novice Coaches. Besides, something changes each year and you'll need to know! Due to liability issues, you may not be permitted to coach unless you attend required meetings.
• Take the time to attend a Coach clinic each year. If you are a novice Coach, this is where you can learn the basics, not only of soccer but also of dealing with children. If you are experienced, attend an advanced clinic and look for opportunities to develop better teamwork and strategy.
• Parents and players will often follow the example you set in behavior towards opponents and Referees. Treat Referees with dignity and respect regardless of mistakes that may be made. During the game, behavior of the parents of your team is primarily your responsibility, and you should try to calm parents who seem to be setting poor examples for the kids. If you have questions on calls made by the Referee, discuss them calmly after the game.
• Although during team formation great care was taken to balance teams as equally as possible, it seems inevitable that each year some teams are very strong and others are very weak. Do not get discouraged if your team does not appear to have much talent. You still have an important job to do to make sure the kids have fun and develop as best they can.
• Prior to the start of the game, you must provide the Referee an official lineup card listing all players in numerical order by uniform number, and noting any known absences.
• Please make sure you are aware of rules which affect Coaches during play. All coaching must be positive, encouraging and/or instructional. You may not use tobacco or alcohol at any AYSO activity with children present. Coaches must remain within the Team Area during play (10 yards each side the halfway line,(excludes U6, U7, & U8.) Once the game has started, Coaches may not enter the field without permission of the Referee. If a player appears to be injured, the Referee will determine whether continued play presents any possibility of more seriously injuring the player, and may allow play to continue to a natural stopping point before returning to examine the injured player. If the Referee feels the player needs attention, the Referee will invite the Coach to enter the field to attend to the player.