Volunteer Coach Resources

Registration, Commitment, & Compliance

Register to Volunteer as Head or Assistant Coach

If you are a parent to a player/s registering for the Recreation program, click HERE to register your player/s and during that registration process, you will register as a volunteer coach as well. If you are a non-parent wanting to register as a volunteer coach, click HERE. Those who volunteer will then be included on all coaching information communications in the lead up to the season.

Requirements and Eligibility for Volunteer Coaches

Volunteer coaches should have an enthusiasm for the sport, a commitment to their team, and to have completed the required safety compliance items. Coaches for the U6-U8 4v4 modules are not required to have any prior playing or coaching experience. While not required though, playing or coaching experience will help with the 7v7 (U9-U10), 9v9 (U11-U12), and 11v11 (U13-U19) game modules.

Time commitment Expectation

Coaches will have one practice and one game a week per season. In addition, there is a season kickoff meeting (approximately 90 minutes) for coaches AND some training compliance requirements (2hrs to 4hrs). Coaches will also need to communicate weekly with their team (15 minutes).

If a coach cannot attend a practice or game they can communicate to their players’ families that an assistant coach is needed to help those weeks.

Required Coaching Compliance

Volunteer coaches are required by the club and state association VYSA to complete a background check (every 2 years) and the SafeSport Training (90 minute certification course with yearly approximately 20-30 minute refresher course).

Credit Benefit for Volunteer Coaches

New this Spring we are offering a special Credit Program in appreciation for our dedicated Recreation volunteer coaches to show how much their commitment means to the club.

If a committed volunteer completes the registration as a volunteer coach in PlayMetrics by March 9, 2024 AND completes the coaching compliance requirements listed above before the start of the season on April 2, 2024 they will receive the following:

Head Coach - 50% CREDIT
Assistant Coach - 25% CREDIT

How it Works:

Coaches register their player/s and pay in full for the Spring season.
Coaches will receive credit(s) per coaching role for each team they volunteer as a coach.
The credited amount will be posted to their PlayMetrics account when the above criteria are met.
Credit can be used after June 1, 2024 for the Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 Recreation League Program registrations.

Equipment, Curriculum, & Communication

Equipment Provided to Coaches by MYS

New coaches receive the following equipment:

Ball
Coaching Shirt
Cones (12)
Pinnies (50% of the # of players in the roster)
First Aid Kit

Returning coaches receive:

Ball
Coaching Shirt

Coaching Curriculum for Volunteers Coaches

Coaches will receive a planned session for every practice available on the PlayMetrics team management tool. The age appropriate sessions are according to the USSF Play-Practice-Play methodology to enhance player experience and create an accessible routine for volunteer coaches to implement each week.

Team Communication App - PlayMetrics

Coaches will be added in the MYS PlayMetrics system as coaching staff and will have access to the team management app so they can effectively communicate with all parents/players on the team, without having to share private contact information. The PlayMetrics app will include the team schedule (input by the club) including practices and games.

Recreation Coaching Philosophy

Each player should receive maximum touches on the ball through small-sided games and other activities. No lines, no laps, no lectures.

Teach through positive reinforcement - each and every child should walk away from every session feeling better about him/herself.

The game (soccer) is the best teacher - as coaches you don't need to always hear yourselves speak.

Let the kids make their own decisions - don't tell them what to do.
FUN! Ensure all sessions are fun for the kids.

VYSA Rule Change: For U11 and younger: Whenever the ball strikes a player in the head, play is stopped. The proper restart depends upon whether the player deliberately played the ball with his or her head. If deliberate, the proper restart is an indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this occurs within the goal area, the indirect free kick should be taken on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred. If the play by the head is deemed inadvertent, then the proper restart is a dropped ball.