Click here to see MYSA course schedule for all towns.
Note that NYS and NGS reimburse coaches for any courses they take, whether in Newton, or another town.

Click here to see MYSA licensing course opportunities sponsored by other towns.

Click here for an explanation of Coaching licensing course levels.  

Coach Registration

Coaches: If you are interested in being part of a coaches' mentoring program that pairs novice and experienced coaches for advice, support, and practice ideas contact Ron Remy  

Games  The game of soccer is inherently fun to play.  This is particularly true for young players because virtually any child can kick a ball and run.  For many young players, kicking the ball and running are ends in themselves.  Your job as coach is to maximize playing time.  During games, each child should be given roughly equal playing time.  New coaches often find that the most challenging aspect of game management is not strategy but keeping track of playing time and substitutions.

Prepare a substitution schedule before the game and try to stick to it.  Prepare a form listing all your players alphabetically in the left-hand column with four columns to the right, one for each quarter.  Check the appropriate column to schedule each player's time.  You will see at a glance who is should be on the field at all times. We recommend that :

• players play entire quarters;
• no-one should play a third quarter until everyone has played two quarters;  and
• no-one should play a fourth quarter until everyone has played three quarters.

Carry this form on a clipboard during games, and mark the form to confirm your substitutions.  (Of course, if Ben is late, or Rebecca leaves early, you must adjust your substitutions on the fly.)  You will know that you've managed time properly, and you can show parents (if any should ask) that playing time is fair.

Perfectly even playing time is difficult to achieve.  In a 6 v 6 game and a roster of 10 players, there are 24 quarters of field time (6 positions X 4 quarters) to divide among 10 players.  Everyone would play 2.4 quarters if time was divided absolutely evenly, which is impractical.  So if Rebecca plays three quarters and Nate plays two quarters one week, let Nate play three and Rebecca play two the following week.  Over the course of the season playing time should even out.

For most children, scoring is the most exciting and satisfying part of soccer.  They are unlikely to score if they only play defense.  Give players the opportunity to play all positions on a regular basis.  One approach is to put a player into a different third of the field (forward, midfield, fullback) each quarter that he plays.  Another is to rotate players (like in volleyball) on the coach's signal.

The least fun part of the game is being the target of yelling:  from coaches, teammates, parents.  Soccer's standard rule is that there is no coaching from the sideline.  NYS varies this rule and does allow coaches to coach from the sideline, but it should be positive, constructive and sensitive.  Do not criticize a player on the field during a game.  The only exception is to correct an unsportsmanlike or dangerous play that requires immediate intervention.  Most game coaching should be in the form of cheer leading, encouragement and efficient playing time management.  Direct your instructions to players on the sidelines, telling them what you want when they are back on the field.  Parents should cheer, applaud and encourage, and should never, ever coach during the game.

Practices  Arrange to have at least one and not more than two practices per week.  You will receive a permit for a practice field;  keep it with you at all practices to show you have the right to be there if a field conflict arises.

Your practice time is limited.  Use it economically.  Practices can and should be as much fun as games.  The key is to maximize the time spent playing, running and kicking and minimize the time spent sitting and watching.  The game will teach itself to a surprising degree but you must create a safe, organized framework for this to happen.  Keep drills to a minimum, or eliminate them entirely.  Try to turn everything into a game.  Maximize the number to touches on the ball.  Play 1v1 and 2v2 games.  End the practice with a scrimmage.  Teach through activity.

Maintain discipline.  Disorganized silliness is frustrating for you and for those players who want to play soccer.  Communicate from the very first practice that you are in charge and that you can create an exciting soccer atmosphere.  Find a way to assemble your players quickly.  For example, counting down from 10 is often successful in getting their attention.  Once assembled, know what you are going to say, say it, and move on.

Sportsmanship  Sportsmanship involves the attitudes of players, coaches and fans towards teammates, opposing players, opposing fans and the referee.  A good sport has a positive attitude towards all.

• Discourage your players from carping about the play of the other team
• Do not tolerate profanity from players, coaches or fans
• Do not allow your players to commit intentional fouls
• Don't run up the score

If one of your players attempts to injure another player or is flagrantly unsportsmanlike call him to the sideline and explain what he did wrong.  Substitute for him at the earliest opportunity and make sure he understands what took place.  It doesn't matter if the referee didn't see it.  If you did, it is your obligation to deal with it.

By your words and by your actions, teach your players to respect the referee.  Referees will make mistakes, some of them glaring, some very frustrating.  Refereeing a soccer game is extremely difficult for the best, most experienced referee.  Your players won't understand how difficult the referee's job is if you criticize, moan, groan, carp and mutter about how terrible he is.  Under no circumstances should you do anything to undermine the referee's authority.  Nothing is more embarrassing to players, parents, coaches and casual passersby than seeing an adult berating a referee over a call, or non-call, in a youth soccer game.  If you cannot behave with maturity and understanding of human frailties during a youth soccer game, don't coach.  You will harm more than you will help.

A youth soccer rule-of-thumb is that a five-goal lead is insurmountable.  If you have a four- or five-goal lead adjust your game.  You could:

• play with fewer field players
• move prolific goal scorers to defense
• put the player with the strong left foot on the right side of the field
• require that each player two- or three-touch the ball before passing

Any one of these adjustments allows your players to continue their development while reducing or avoiding a blowout.

Safety  You should have a first aid kit at all practices and games.  At the bare minimum your kit should include:

• Band-Aids and antiseptic ointment
• cold packs or ice
• players' medical release forms

Players must wear shin guards during games:  no shin guards, no playing time.  Players should wear shin guards during all practices.  NYS strongly recommends shin guards with ankle and Achilles tendon protection.  Review the shin guard requirement with parents. Any object that presents risk of injury to a player is not allowed (such as jewelry, hard cast).

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Coaching Philosophy-BAYS

Player Placement  In the BAYS program, unlike intramurals, we place players on teams with other players who are roughly equal in skill.  Player placement is based on try-outs, which occur each Fall, and on the input of coaches.  BAYS places teams of roughly equal skill in sections for the purpose of providing evenly matched competition.  BAYS would be happy, ideally, if every team had a .500 season.  This system does not work perfectly.  Sometimes players are placed on the wrong team and teams are placed in the wrong section.

Consistent with the NYS philosophy of promoting individual player development, you should bring to the attention of the age group coordinator a player who should obviously be placed on a higher or lower team.  While it is inevitable that you will miss your "best" player if he is moved to a higher ranked team, it is the purpose of the program to allow players to play at their level, not to enhance individual team's win-loss records.  Similarly, you should bring to the attention of the age group coordinator a player who is clearly playing below the skill level of a team.

Team Placement  If, during the season, it appears that your team is placed in the wrong section, you should contact your age group coordinator or the NYS Vice President-BAYS  promptly.  Adjustments can often be made, usually after the second game.  It becomes harder to make a change the longer you wait.  Particularly in the younger age groups, where there is no track record for the team, misplacements are impossible to avoid and BAYS will often make accommodations.

Playing Time  BAYS players are entitled to fair and equitable playing time.  For most coaches that means roughly equal playing time for all players.  Other coaches "guarantee" that players play at least 50% of the game.  Consistent with the NYS philosophy of promoting player development, each player should play a substantial portion of the game, absent special circumstances such as injury or discipline.  Nobody "rides the pine."

Coaching Style  Remember that you are coaching children, for whom you are a very important adult figure.  Especially for younger players, the approval or lack of approval of a coach can be far more significant than you might imagine.  Soccer "burnout" is a major problem for youth soccer and a lot of it comes from the negativity of coaches and parents who create too much pressure and place too much emphasis on winning.  The experts tell us that children love competition on the field, but care far less than do adults about competition in terms of results and league standings.

REMEMBER:

• Let your players play.  Don't micro manage their game.  Avoid shouting commands, directions or criticisms at your field players.  Usually they cannot even hear you and, if they can, they cannot absorb your message.  Even the best advice is hard to take when bellowed.  You will have better results if you coach, instruct, talk to or admonish your players after they come off the field or when play has stopped.  Yelling suggestions at the player with the ball is just bad coaching.  The best coaches are quiet and composed.  It makes for a more pleasant experience for everyone.
   
• The game is your classroom.  Talk with your substitutes about what is happening on the field.  Keep them near you and point out the things you want them to learn.  If the substitutes run around the sideline playing tag don't be surprised if they are unfocused when they go in.  When you substitute explain to the players coming off the field what they did well and what they should do differently.  Be concrete.  "Sandwich" any constructive criticism:  get the player's attention with a positive comment, make your constructive point (or points) and explain how the correction will improve the player or team.  The sooner you reinforce a good play or correct a bad play the more likely the player will learn from the moment.
   
• YOU must set the example of fair play and good sportsmanship.  You set the tone for your players, their parents and the rest of your sideline.  If one of your players is out of control, negative towards his opponents, teammates or referee, reign him in, whether or not the referee has noticed.  Negativity is infectious, whether it starts on the touch lines or on the field.  Players' and parents' conduct is your responsibility.

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Newton Youth Soccer sponsors a number of coaching clinics throughout the year.  Some clinics are part of the licensing process (licenses run from the introductory "G" license to the top-of-the-line "A" license) and others are of a more general nature.  We will post information about specific clinics on-line as they are scheduled.  In addition to licenses and coach clinics there are many other resources available for soccer coaches:

•  Newton Public Library has a vast collection of soccer coaching tapes, any one of which will give you material for many practices.  Especially good are the Wiel Coerver series (particularly for ball handling) and the Vogelsinger tapes, which provide excellent progressive drills for basic soccer skills.  Be considerate of others and check out only one or two at a time.
   
• There are a number of excellent coaching books.  One of the best for younger age group coaches is Andrew Caruso, Soccer Coaching Ages 5-12.  NYS provides one free of charge to each U-9 team.  It is available through Reed Swain and at most soccer stores for about $14.00 and is also valuable for age groups above 12.  Caruso has two other great books, Soccer Coaching Development and Tactics, the Great Game (Rev. Ed. 1996), which is significantly more advanced, and Soccer's Dynamic Shortsided Games, a collection of favorite short sided games from famous coaches.
   
• The Bay Stater and other publications have practice tips.  Dean Conway writes a "practice outline" column in the Bay Stater that is first-rate.
   
• Try to learn soccer techniques yourself.  Even though you may not have any experience or skill at playing soccer, it is invaluable to attempt the skills yourself so that you can teach them.
   
• There is "professional" coaching available through Play Soccer and other organizations.  Play Soccer will provide professional coaches for a session or a season.  NYS has had good experience with them.  Call Joe Bradley or Geoff Wheeler at 508-754-5844 to make arrangements.
   
• Do not overlook other resources that may be under your nose.  If you know a more experienced coach, invite him or her to come to a practice.  If you know (or kids on your team know) an older brother or sister who plays on a high school or college team, invite them to a practice and have them demonstrate a special skill.  Kids love it and you will probably learn as well.
   
• Keep your practice outlines in your coach's notebook so that you have a library.  Go to other coaches' practices and keep notes on good games and exercises.  At levels U-12 and below, the major coaching point is always technique, technique, technique.  Your main task is to make the repetitive and sometimes boring task of learning technique fresh and interesting and, above all, fun.

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Publications  You may want to consider receiving some of the regional and national soccer publications:

• The Bay Stater, published by MYSA, usually monthly during soccer season.  It comes free to MYSA-registered players and coaches, but the mailing list is unreliable.  If you don't receive it and would like to contact MYSA at Keefe Road, Acton, MA  01720.
   
• Soccer New England, a regional soccer magazine, published monthly.  Excellent source for tournaments.  Contact it at Post Office Box 636, Dover, MA  02030.
   
• Soccer America, a weekly that includes news from all over the world of soccer as well as coverage of youth soccer.  Contact it at Post Office Box 16718, North Hollywood, CA, 91615-6718.

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