Sunningdale City Football Club
Junior Coaching Staff
Coaching Guidelines
2010
Version 1.4
The Junior Coaching Staff, Sunningdale City Football Club
Welcome to SCFC and thank you for making the commitment and giving up your time to get involved with our Juniors. These guidelines have been set out to assist you with planning and managing your season ahead.
Please read and apply them.
1. Discipline
The Coaches for each age group are ultimately responsible for discipline of that squad. This responsibility may be temporarily delegated to the assistants, but you must ensure that discipline is imposed during training and at matches.
There is a channel to assist you in this regard. There is a Head Coach for the Club, John Fraser and a Club Captain in Matthew Harvey. Make the call and refer problems to either of these before if it escalates.
A general hint in this regard – if you have a problematic player, try and gain some understanding of his background or current home environment. This may assist you in how best to deal with him and what course of action to take.
Areas to consider:
a. General behavior - Obviously disrespectful and general bad behaviour , foul language, etc. should not be tolerated.
b. Dress code - The proper dress code is required at practice and on match day. These are the Sunningdale socks and shorts, the training top, which must be worn OVER a long-sleeved sweat-shirt. This long-sleeved shirt should preferably be white. The blue Sunningdale all weather top and black tracksuit are also acceptable, as is the Sunningdale beanie. No other kit may be worn to practice.
c. Training attendance - Players should attend training regularly in order to be selected for the team. Give preference to players who train regularly, regardless of their skill levels
d. Punctuality - This is a form of respect. Players who regularly arrive late at training and matches should be addressed.
e. Subs payment - Collection of subs is NOT your responsibility, but it is imperative that all coaches apply the ‘no-subs, no-play’ rule, no matter how valuable the player is to the team. The players will be given a reasonable time to pay their subs, but every coach must apply this rule.
2. Setting goals
We would like each Coach to set goals for his team and eventually each individual player for the upcoming season. Think in terms of league accomplishment, style of play, quality of football, etc. for the team.
For the individual players, consider improving skill levels, improving their weak areas, left- and right-footedness, etc.
3. Preparation of sessions
As a Coach, you must ensure that the training sessions are properly prepared. This applies to all the team Coaches for each age group, who should prepare each session for their team, for the week. The Head Coach may want to define the coaching topic for the sessions, for that week.
You must have an understanding of what it is you want to achieve or cover that week, based on progress or the previous weeks performance and prepare, preferably with written notes. Make sure your drills are age appropriate and contain the correct level of intensity to challenge the boys. There is plenty of material available and other coaches who can assist in this regard.
To assist the various age-groups, the following coaches will advise and assist at the different age-group levels:
a. U7 – Mike
b. U9 – Shaun
c. U11 – Tony, Shaun
d. U13 – Tony
e. U15&U17 – John
4. Communication
The best way to obtain the support and the commitment of the parents is regular and honest communication. Make it light. Email is a highly recommended method for this. Your communication should include:
a. Pre-season meeting – hold a pre-season meeting with all your parents, outlining your requirements and goals for the season. Cover areas such as training days, dress code, discipline, your communication plan (a good place to get all their email addresses and contact details), assistants for the season, diet, sleep, etc. Feel free to use this guideline as the basis of this meeting.
b. Training notifications – inform the parents timeously of any changes to your training plans, due to inclement weather, etc.
c. Match days – inform them each week of your match arrangements, team selection, meeting time & place, travel arrangements, etc.
d. Match report – compile a short, weekly match report for all matches in your age group, get your assistants to assist and collate them into a single communication.
e. Individual communiqués – if you have issues with discipline, or if a child is performing poorly or well and will be promoted/demoted, inform the parents of your reasons
f. Fun stuff – if you have something out of the ordinary planned, involve the parents and get them to assist
5. Records
Keeping a record of your season will assist you immensely as the season progresses. It can cover your butt in the event of a dispute with an irate parent, assist you with trophy allocation at the end of the season, team selection, player assessment, achievement of goals, etc. At least keep record of the following areas:
a. Game time/matches played – keep a record of how many games each player has played. It is not necessary to record the exact amount of time on the field, i.e. substitutions & half-games, but a record of any match in which a player actually played should be kept
b. Training attendance – hold roll-call before every training session and record player attendance
c. Goals scored – football is a team game and this is not an area to highlight, but players like to know how many goals they have scored for the season.
d. Annual report – at the end of the season, take all the information you have kept and compile a short annual report for the season, covering the team achievements and list a brief summary of each players contribution, i.e. matches played, training attended, goals scored, etc.
6. Coaches & Assistants
The Club has appointed the coaching staff for the each age group. It is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you can work together and that everyone abides by these guidelines. We recognize that it helps to work with someone you respect and get along with, so make sure you sort this out before too long. Remember, you will be planning, discussing - and swapping players throughout the season.
As a Coach, you have the benefit of appointing your own Assistant Coach and admin assistants to keep your records and assist with your communication, if necessary. Rope in Mom’s and Dad’s to assist with refreshments and on match days. Take charge of this area. There is usually a good supply of willing and able parents who would love to assist.
If you can’t find the correct people, particularly Assistant Coaches, inform the Club early and we will help you with this.
7. Training start times
As the Coach, you are compelled to set- and lead by example. Get to the training prepared and early enough to set out your drills. It is a bad reflection on yourself if your players are milling around aimlessly after training was scheduled to start
If you know you will be unavailable for any session, inform John Fraser well in advance. Make sure you have made an alternate arrangement, i.e. get one of your assistants to take over, or ask John to help in this regard.
If you are stuck at the office or in traffic – phone someone. Plan for this eventually at the beginning of the season.
8. Training and match equipment
Determine what equipment you need for the season, i.e. bibs, balls – there should be one ball per player, cones, carry-bags, etc. The Club will provide you with this. Get your order in early.
You are responsible for this equipment for the entire season. Check your kit after every training session and match. A tip is not to take too many balls along on match day, just enough to warm up with, 3 balls should be more than enough. You will have enough on your mind to worry about looking after equipment too. And balls grow legs, just look at your own ..
When it comes to washing the match day jerseys, the players are NOT allowed to take their own jerseys home. Wash them yourself or set up a roster and get the Mom’s to share this responsibility each week.
9. Player care
It is our aim to make good footballers out of our players, but we should also instill in them a sense of good sportsmanship and general good manners. Each coach has a different approach and way of dealing with his players, but it is a good reflection on yourself and particularly on your players if they are well mannered, well turned out and play as good sportsman. Consider areas such as:
a. Good manners - encourage your boys to greet you, each other, other coaches and club members at all times – Players are to address coaches as “Coach …” not by their first name.
b. Good sportsmanship – do not tolerate shouting or arguing with the referee or opposing players. Teach them to win with humility and accept defeat with good grace. Shake hands after each game
c. Self respect – Encourage them to dress appropriately and apply the Clubs rules for dress-code. Get them to respect their kit and to bring a kit-bag to practice and matches for their clothing and to bring a bottle of water if they like.
d. Putting the player first – don’t hold a player back because he is valuable to that team. If he deserves a promotion, do it.
e. General approach - be firm, consistent, honest and fair at all times. Avoid sarcasm with juniors, especially the younger ones – they don’t understand it. Don’t ever be afraid to discipline a player for repeat offences. Never, ever swear at a child. This goes without saying, but ….
10. You, the Coach…
Just a few things to remember:
a. You are not alone, you have the support and backing of the Head Coach, the Coaching team and the Committee. We will back you in your decisions and in the event of disputes. Get to know the Committee Members.
b. Make use of the support structures, rope John in to assist, ask for advice, share tips and advice freely
c. Assist with keeping our playing fields and club neat and the fields playable, i.e. keep the boys out of the goalmouths, discourage them from hanging on the goalposts and nets, etc.
d. Get involved with Club activities – it is your Club too.
Gave a great season and enjoy yourself!!
Shaun Johannsen / John FraserJunior Section Representative / Head Coach
Sunningdale City Football Club / Sunningdale City Football Club
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