Coach Information

General Information

Coaches are at the heart of AYSO. As a coach you have the most contact with the children. Coaching requires that you commit to two afternoons per week for practice sessions (once a week in U8 , U7 & U6), plus the game on Saturday. With the time you should spend preparing for practices and games, this is a significant commitment. Santee AYSO appreciates everyone's time commitment and will provide you with advice and assistance to make your coaching experience a positive one.

Why Should I Coach?

It's fun, it's a great break from the real world., it makes you feel good, and it's a fun way to put something back into your community. The rewards come in the form of watching kids have fun at a game or practice, watching their individual skills and teamwork improve, and there is a great sense of accomplishment when you come to the end of the season and see how far your players and team have progressed. Coaches put in a lot of work during the season: 2 practices per week (one in U8 & U6), plus a game on Saturday. There is also preparation for each practice and game along with general administrative work. Over the course of a season the time adds up. While there are other volunteer positions that require more time, coaching provides the greatest opportunity for you to have fun. Remember, for those of you with "serious" jobs, there is no better way to regain you perspective than by watching a bunch of 7 year olds at practice.

What kinds of people coach?

There are generally three types of coaches: social oriented, task oriented, and goal oriented.

The social coach wants to go out and have a good time. If the kids want to have a fun practice (and not work on dribbling for 30 minutes), that's no problem. The social coach enjoys meeting the parents on Saturday morning. This may be the case for a parent/coach who did not grow up playing soccer.

The task oriented coach is looking to see players develop their soccer skills over the course of a season. Many who have played soccer as a kid or adult tend to be somewhat task oriented, since they may have skills they want to share.

The goal oriented coach wants to see results. Sometime this means winning the game, but it can often mean the coach wants to see some level of improvement as a team.

Of course, most coaches have some degree of the three characteristics listed above. However, if you have no soccer skills and just want to be a social coach, attending a coaching clinic will give you enough knowledge to get by. If you already have soccer skills but you're scared of working with a group of kids, we will help you with ideas for running a practice and having fun.

How old do I have to be?

We do require that an adult (someone over 18) be at every game and practice. Santee AYSO does encourage youth coaches (under the age of 18). High school age coaches often provide good role models for the younger players, and these coaches have generally grown up playing soccer.

How do I become a coach?

If you have a child that is already on a team with a coach, just let the coach know that you are interested in coaching and would like to help. Most coaches would love the help. Coaching clinics are provided for anyone interested in becoming a coach. If you are interested in coaching for the upcoming season, you can request a coach volunteer form at registration or you can get one by calling our regional coach administrator, Hans van de Vrugt at (619) 449-4324.

Administration

The coaching side of AYSO is supervised by chief coach Hans Van Devrugt. The responsibility of the coaching staff is the recruiting and training of the coaches for the individual teams (more than 200 in in Santee AYSO). The coaches in each division will have direct contact with the division rep, who is responsible for assigning coaches to teams and for the formation of the teams.

Learn the Laws of the Game

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