Warrenton Youth Sports Club understands that helping our players improve their skills and confidence on the field or court is our top priority. More than winning and losing, effective player development that is engaging and fun is critical to fostering a life-long passion for sports and the healthy lifestyle this passion promotes.
Coaches are the key to helping our players be the best athletes and people they can be. And to help you be the best coach you can be, we're compiling a list of of tools from some of the top resources in soccer, basketball, and volleyball.
Please check back regularly as we continue to add items of interest to coaches of all levels and abilities. It doesn't matter if you're brand-new to coaching or a seasoned veteran, there will surely be interesting items for you to use and share with your players and their families.
Below is a list of coaching resources. Do you know of tools or resources available that other WYSC coaches might enjoy? Feel free to forward them to info@WYSC.org
WYSC will run in-class 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 courses throughout the year. To register for a in-person course or take a on-line course you can visit VYSA.com
As an organization WYSC promotes the development of its coaches with certified coaching education. In some instants training may be mandatory in both recreational and travel environments. WYSC sponsors and promotes its coaches to participate in both on-line courses (e-Learning) and classroom or field demonstration courses.
- WYSC will reimburse 50% of the costs of successfully completed certified courses that exceed the amount of $50.
- Courses not exceeding the amount of $50 will be paid in full within 30 days after furnishing documents of successful completion. This includes Grass Roots, Safe Sport, course certification, and payment receipt.
Justification: Training for WYSC Coaches is considered essential to organizational growth.
Method of reimbursement: (excluding courses not exceeding $50)
1) WYSC requires coaches to submit an email to the Director of Operations and request to attend training that requires reimbursement.
- Include the following in the email:
- Any relevant information for the training
- Cost of the training
- Website address for verification of authenticity
3) WYSC will require personnel requesting reimbursement to furnish certificates of completion of the intended course/s that have been successfully passed.
4) Payments will be made over the time period of 1 year of the completion date. Reimbursement will be made in 3 increments to ensure WYSC’s invested funds will be realized.
5) Initial payment of 1/3 of the payable amount will be made within 30 days of receipt of furnishing related requested documents. The final 2 payments will be made thereafter in 6 month increments.
6) Any subsequent training and requests for reimbursement will be handled as separate requests.
7) Coaches are requires to coach for 6 months to receive their second 1/3 reimbursement and 12 months to receive the last 1/3 reimbursement. The certificate completion date of the course will be used as the benchmark to determine the length of the service.
8) Accounting and disbursement of funds will be the responsibility of the Director of Operations.
Best Practices Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer from US Soccer
US Soccer has put together an easy-to-use guide that offers insights into coaching youth soccer for players from U6 through U18. With a specific focus on developing the player, the Best Practices Guide is broken down into each of the age groups so coaches can find what they need to help guide their sessions and seasons without a big commitment of time. However, the document is a quick read and understanding how each age group differs is certainly worth reading!
The ideas are useful for coaches of all levels, so check it out and start applying the ideas included for your age group at your next session!
Best Practices Guide for U6 through U18 from U.S. Soccer
Key Technical Coaching Points From VYSA
Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) has compiled a listing of key technical coaching points for a wide range of topics including dribbling, receiving, shooting, defending, and heading. When you're putting together your session plans, these are the things you want your players concentrating on as much as possible during training!
Download VYSA Key Technical Coaching Points
Coaches Session Plans
Being organized and prepared for your next training session makes coaching easier and more enjoyable. At Warrenton Youth Sports Club, our goal is to help you deliver the best instruction to your players while having a great time.
To achieve that, we've compiled a selection of coaching plans developed by US Youth Soccer specifically for different age groups. The session plans listed below include fun activities that will help your players develop the skills needed to be a better soccer player next game and next season.
Additional soccer coaching session plans can be found ............................{Here}
US Soccer Curriculum (Focused on Ages 9-12)
In April 2011, US Soccer delivered a completely new and comprehensive coaching curriculum. Divided into four parts, the curriculum is intended to improve the development of players by helping youth coaches create more organized, age-appropriate training sessions, develop strong coaching practices and creating an environment that is fun for the players.
Part 1 - Style and Principles of Play (2.5 MB .pdf)
Part 2 - Concepts and Coaching Guidelines (30 MB .pdf)
Part 3 - Age Group Organization (2.5 MB .pdf)
Part 4 - Planning and Training (61 MB .pdf)
Full Document (98 MB .pdf)
Coaches before every practice, training activity and game please inspect to make sure all goal posts and nets for safety, that they are properly anchored and secured, and the field and areas around the field that is being used.
Basic Responsibilities:
All of WYSC’s coaches are volunteers and will undergo a background check through VYSA upon registration as a coach.
You only need to dedicate about two hours a week. One hour for practice and one hour for games. If field space allows, coaches will be given the option to hold a second weekly practice. ***U6 Division teams will have a one hour Academy practice each week run by a professional trainer and assisted by each team's coach. U6 coaches may then hold a second weekly practice with just their own team - this is optional and not mandatory.
Specify your preferred field and practice day when registering as a coach. This request is not guaranteed (it will depend on field availability).
At least two weeks before practices start, contact your players. Introduce yourself and explain to your parents when and where practices will be held. Please include what children should bring to practices and games and any other expectations you may have.
Each season, there will be a mandatory meeting for all coaches. This meeting will cover a wide range of issues pertinent to coaching and managing your team. The meeting will take place the Sunday before practices are set to begin. New coaches will receive practice equipment at that time.
Ask for someone to volunteer as a “team parent” to organize snacks and keep communication lines open if you feel this is necessary.
Hold practice each week and attend weekend games during the 8 week season. Practices begin 3 weeks before the first games. The last weekend of the season will be our End-of-Season Tournament. This tournament is for teams in our U8 and older divisions. Teams will play 2 games on Saturday and 1 game on Sunday. Championship games in each division will be played on Sunday afternoon.
Coach your squad to the best of your ability, calling on your reserves of knowledge and patience. Make practices fun, make them productive. And don’t forget your sense of humor!
Be a good sport and help your players grow in their abilities, emphasizing teamwork and sportsmanship.
At no time should a coach be alone with a player. If a player is waiting to be picked up, ask another parent to stay with you while you wait with that child.
Coaches are to have no private contact with players via social media, email or text messaging. Parents of players should always be included on ALL communication between coach and player(s).
After every game, winning coaches will enter their score on the website.
