All Micro to U18 coaches:
A level 3 police records check (PRC) for working with the vulnerable sector is required every 3 years, coaches of all youth teams are required to provide the WCSC with a copy of a current PRC. The WCSC can provide a letter of volunteer status so that the volunteer will not be charged for this service -- we do not provide refunds for those that choose to pay for the service. The PRC online application and ID requirements can be found at this link: Ottawa Police Service for a letter of volunteer status please complete the coach registration form on our website (there is a space there to indicate you need a letter of volunteer status for PRC purposes). Applications are submitted online to the police and are returned directly to the person named on the application form, please forward a copy of the completed check to the Club Administrator at admin@wcsc.ca. Registered coaches that indicate on their application the need for a letter indicating their volunteer status will receive the letter by email. PRC's that have been completed by the police no earlier than Sept 2021 are valid for the 2024 season.
For U8 to U18 coaches:
Courses: Please see the below for the courses required for Coaches (C)/Assistant Coaches (AC) to complete before they can be on the bench at league games for their team. Information and how to register for the required courses can be found by clicking on the course title in the table below, or on the Ontario Soccer website: http://www.ontariosoccer.net/coach
WCSC will reimburse C/AC for the cost of the course at the end of the season if all the following criteria are met:
Once completed, courses will be listed in your "coach locker".
U8 to U18 two required courses (recreation teams):
1. Respect In Sport (RIS) for activity leaders
(expires after 5 years)
2. Coaching in Canada: this course is one module in the online courses theory component: Fundaments, Learn to Train and Soccer for Life. Please choose the appropriate theory course for your team's age group and complete at a minimum the Coaching in Canada module. U8: Fundmentals; U9-U12: Learn to Train; U13+: Soccer for Life.
Course Links:
Information link for:
Additional Weekly Practice Ideas:
Ontario Soccer provides a huge bank of drills:
Drills are broken into suggested age groups:
Active Start: ~ U4-U6
FUNdamentals: ~U8-U10
Learn to Train: ~U10+
Practice Plans
Practice Videos
Generally speaking if you have a specific area you want to work on, a quick youtube search will yield many useful results.
U8+ Retreat Line Explained
A nice video explaining the retreat line rule and reasons behind it.
Note: only fir first 2 minutes of the video are applicable.
U11+ Offiside Explained
These two videos do a good job of explaining the offside rule.
U11+ Throw-in Explained
How to teach a throw in:
Basic throw-in rules:
At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower must:
All opponents must stand at least 2 m from the point at which the throw-in is taken.
Coaching Soccer, What you should know:
What should soccer players learn?
Coaching should build on what kids have learned.
Now in saying that, coaches will always get players of varying levels and this is the art of coaching. The coach must be able to cater to players that have some skills and players that are less experienced.
Here are some thoughts on what the coach should introduced to the players...
Restarts like corners, goal-kicks and indirect kicks begin to come into play at this age.
The players should be introduced to the soccer restarts, but the restarts should not be a point of emphasis, but soccer skills and small sided soccer games should be pushed in the soccer practices...
These fundamentals will set up a good foundation for the player.
Start out by teaching...
The basic dribbling, passing and receiving, ball control and shooting skills are very important. This takes time for the coach to develop and requires some patience.
Once the player is comfortable with the soccer ball this will allow them to lift their head to look around the field...presto, you have a player that can make decisions - well it's not that easy but you get the drift.
How does the triangle relate to small sided games and the relationship between the player and everyone else on the field? The kids start to figure out they can share the soccer ball.
Small 3v3 or 4v4 groups work well, because the triangles show up all over the field, and the kids get lots of touches on the soccer ball.
Once the player receives the soccer ball they have to make a decision to pass or dribble the soccer ball.
At around U8 is where we introduce the players to making decisions on their own. They should be allowed to learn from both their mistakes and accomplishments during games with minimal coaching from the sideline. This is often one of the most difficult things for a new coach to wrap their head around but there is no arguing learning from experience is substantially more effective then being told what to do while paying a game. Just let them play and they will pick it up. Remember, they are there to have fun and experience the joy of soccer, not to play a certain position, win every ball or score all the goals. Trust that they will get there on their own in very little time.
References and Articles for Coaches
Long Term Player Development Wellness to World Cup
Big Field - A blank snapshot of a field that you can print off and draw on (a substitute for a white board).
Five Favorite practices Les Reed - Five practices focusing on using four defenders (backs)
Five Favorite Practices of Chris Apple in the penalty area - These drills focus on getting players comfortable working in the penalty area (on defense and offense).
Game Lineup - A nifty tool to help you get your thoughts in order before the game re: who starts, who is off, and any thoughts you have as the game progresses.
Game Stats - Another nifty tool that allows you to track game stats like # corners/shots/turnover/headers (or any other skill that you are trying to get your players to use in a game situation). Very useful for half time and post game reflection with players.
Sports Psychology/Emotional Intelligence:
Two documents that talk about some of the key mental and emotional skills that high performing athletes need to develop
Mental Skills Training for Soccer Traits of High Achievers
Sports Psych
References
SIRC - Sport Information Resource Centre