This is an extract of
the coaching philosophy and codes of conduct used by my club.
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Our
coaching philosophy
The coaching staff and
officials of [your club name] understand that children participate
in football
(or soccer) to have
fun. If children don’t have fun playing football, they’ll soon pack it in.
We never forget that the game of football is just that - a
game. It’s not about how many wins and losses are accumulated. And, it is
surely not about how many trophies are collected. It’s not about how many
goals we score or concede. It’s all about enjoying the game and, at the
same time, learning and developing football and life skills.
Proper football development requires that children play age
appropriate activities so they are able to experience, comprehend, and
execute the game as it relates to where they are at their own stage of
physical and mental development.
It is about playing in different positions so the player
learns all the skills necessary to develop in the game.
It’s about receiving equal playing time, so the players are
all given equal opportunity to learn.
It’s about learning the techniques of the game through a
variety of fun games where players have as much contact with a ball as
possible and learn at their own rates.
Code of
conduct for parents/carers
-
Be your child's best
fan and support her unconditionally.
-
When you take your
child home after a match or training session, please be supportive and
always focus on the positive aspects of her game.
-
Develop a
responsibility in your child to pack her own kit, clean her boots and
take a drinks bottle (full of water or squash only) to practice and
games.
-
Respect the facilities
at our opponents’ grounds.
-
Do not criticise your
child’s coach to your child or other parents. If you are not happy with
the coach you should raise the issue with the coach.
-
Encourage your child
to speak with the coach. If your child is having difficulties in
training or games, or can’t attend training etc. encourage her to speak
directly to the coaches. This “responsibility taking” is a big part of
becoming a mature person. By handling off the field tasks, your child is
claiming ownership of all aspects of the game.
-
Help your child to
focus on the performance and not the result. Remember - winning is not
as important as the performance.
-
Support all the
players in your child's squad. Do not criticise anyone. Remember – children don’t mean to make mistakes.
-
Do not criticise the
opponents, their parents or their officials.
-
Never audibly dispute
a referee’s decision. They will make mistakes occasionally. We all do.
If you abuse or shout at the referee you are breaking the rules of the
game and risk generating a fine for the club. In extreme circumstances
we could even be expelled from the League, be forced to play all our
games away or play without any spectators present.
-
Parents/carers must
not coach from the touchline during matches or training. Leave this to
the manager/coach or you may cause confusion and erode your child’s
confidence.
-
Parents/carers must
not enter the field of play.
-
Please remember – the
game is for the children. It is not for the glory of the coach, manager
or parents.
download
the complete soccer coaching philosophy and codes of conduct for
parents, players and coaches/officials (zip file)
an U9 players code of conduct
by Chris White
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