Code of Conduct & Expectations

COACHING

Let the Coaches coach: Leave the coaching to the coaches. This includes motivating, psyching your child for practice, after game critiquing, setting goals, requiring additional training, etc. You have entrusted the care of your child to the coaches and they need to be free to do their job. If a player has too many coaches, it can be confusing for them and their performance quite often declines.

COMMUNICATION

Coaches\Managers primary means of communication with player and parents will be through emails and text messages. Phoning will only be used as a secondary means of communication. It is the responsibility of the player and parents to have a functioning email address that is checked two to three times per week by both player and parent. Players will be required to provide both a personal and parent email address for communication.

The team coach will have a team meeting at the start of the season outlining the team’s plans for the upcoming season for practices, games, tournaments and fundraising events. Coaches\Managers will strive to provide team updates through (TEAMSNAP), at least, two weeks in advance of any change in team events (practices, games, tournaments, fundraising) but no later than one week in advance where possible. Players\parents will be responsible for checking regularly with the team Manager for any updates.

BEHAVIOR, POSITIVE ROLE-MODELING, PLAYER SUPPORT

Understand and display appropriate game behavior: Remember, your child’s self-esteem and game performance is at stake. Be supportive, cheer, and show appropriate respectful behavior. To perform to the best of his/her abilities, a player needs to focus on the parts of the game that they can control (fitness, positioning, decision making, skill, aggressiveness, what the game is presenting them) If a player starts focusing on what he/she cannot control (the condition of the field, the referee, the weather, the opponent, even the outcome of the game at times), a player will not play up to his/her abilities.

If he/she hears a lot of people telling him/her what to do, or yelling at the referee, it diverts his/her attention away from the task at hand.

DO NOT BRIBE OR OFFER INCENTIVES

Your job is not to motivate. Leave this to the coaching staff. Bribes will distract your child from properly concentrating in practice and game situations. Encourage your child to talk with the coaches: If your child is having difficulties in practice or games, or can’t make a practice, etc., encourage them to speak directly to the coaches. This “responsibility taking” is a big part of becoming a Successful player. By handling the off-field tasks, your child is claiming ownership of all aspects of the game –preparation as well as playing the game.

Help your child keep his priorities straight: Help your child maintain a focus on schoolwork, relationships and the other things in life beside soccer. Also, if your child has made a commitment to soccer, assist them to fulfill their obligation to the team.

SCHEDULE A MEET WITH THE COACH

Please do not discuss issues with coaches immediately before training or come onto the fields during training sessions. If you have concerns that you wish to discuss regarding your child or the program let the coaches know beforehand to set up an appropriate time to discuss. The coaches welcome these discussions but it is difficult for coaches to have meaningful discussions while they preparing for or conducting a training session or game