Success begins with energy, enthusiasm, and passion for coaching

Coaches,

The start of the fall season begins on Monday with teams starting their official training sessions.  While there are many returning coaches, that are familiar with your teams, there are also a large number of new coaches. This first week is the best time to begin to know your players, establish your relationships, set the tone for the season ahead.

There are a couple of things that will be a tremendous asset as a coach-energy and enthusiasm. A good number of these players have either not played soccer in the past, or have limited experience.  Still others may be brand new a new level of soccer within CASL's challenge program. Make the effort to come into the new season with a burst of energy, positivity, enthusiasm, and passion.  As coaches, that is why we are out there on the field, to make a positive impact in the lives of the youth in which we coach by teaching the game of soccer.

I am attaching a link on training sessions from SAY soccer (Soccer Association for Youth).  Attached are several age-specific links to training sessions and activities,
http://www.nscaa.com/news/2012/08/say-soccer-training-sessions

With planning, preparation, energy, and excitement you can all get your CASL soccer season of on a positive note for your players.

I wish everyone a fantastic CASL fall season ahead.

CASL Kickoff Event Coaching Education Schedule

CASL Annual Kickoff Event

August 16^th

Wake Med Soccer Park

3-6pm on Field #3

Coaching Education/Clinic Schedule (in process)

3-4pm	Bryan Farnsworth Director of Coaching Education and Player Development U7-U8 coach meeting
4-4:30pm	Andy Tait U9-U11 Girls Youth Director “When to Dribble and When to Pass”	Bryan Farnsworth Director of Coaching Education and Player Development U5-U6 “Grid Activities”
4:30-5pm	Matt Brown Director of Goalkeeping “How to integrate goalkeepers into a possession session”	Bryan Farnsworth Director of Coaching Education and Player Development “How to plan, layout, and transition efficiently through a training session with the end goal in mind”
5-5:30pm	Tim Evans U12-U14 Boys Program Director U12-U14 Boys Director “Passing Combinations	David Costa and Steve Cox NC State Men’s Soccer Session 1
5:30-6pm	Wake Med - Discussion about Concussion Awareness	David Costa and Steve Cox NC State Men’s Soccer Session 2

What Makes Great Teachers!!!

Quick. Take a moment and thing about the single greatest teacher you ever had.  Someone who inspired you, engaged you, and maybe even changed the trajectory of your life.

Perhaps it’s a coach, maybe a high-school teacher, maybe a relative—it doesn’t matter.

Now, picture their face. (Got it?)

When you think about this person, which of the following come to mind?

1. A.      A life lesson that person taught you?
2. B.      A goal that person helped you to achieve?
3. C.      The way that person made you feel?

If you are like most people, it’s no contest, the answer is C.

The lesson of this simple exercise is simple—the greatest teachers aren't great just because they deliver information; they are great because they create lasting connections.  They’re not about the words they say, but more about the way they make you feel.

As volunteer youth soccer coaches, you have the opportunity to make lasting impressions with young people on a weekly basis.  You have the ability to connect with players and be the impressionable person in someone’s life that can have a profound impact in the trajectory in one’s life.  You have the opportunity in front of you to BE that special and profound teacher and coach.

I believe that there are two important aspects to being an impactful teacher and coach—what you say and how you say it.  In being a youth soccer coach there are many different situations that present themselves, either in training or in games.  You have the choice as to what type of teacher, coach, and mentor you will become with what you say and how you say it.  The same phrase can be screamed at a 10 year old boy 50 yards across the field, or it can be done more personably with your arm around them.  You have the choice as to the type of teacher and coach you will become.

This is a very important aspect to consider as a volunteer soccer coach, because of the lasting impact and connections that you are able to make with your players.  As a recreation and challenge soccer coach, you may have the good fortune to have a player or two that may develop into a high level soccer player who plays in college or even at the professional level.  Most of your current and future players will not achieve this level of success in their soccer careers, but they are the future of the game regardless.  Every player that you have the opportunity to coach and mentor, is a potential future soccer coach, soccer dad or soccer mom so the environment you create today, no doubt has potential long-range impacts on that player for future generations.

CASL Fall Kickoff Event - August 16th

CASL Fall 2014 Kickoff Event

August 16th

Wake Med Soccer Park field #3

3-6pm

CASL Annual Kickoff event is scheduled on August 16^th form 3-6pm at Wake Med soccer park.  Immediately following this event is a Railhawks game, so this is a great way to “kick off” the new CASL fall season.

Distribution of team packets and information will be held from 3-6pm on Wake Med field #3.  For any coaches that are interested in attending the Railhawks game this evening, we have secured 150 parking spaces in the VIP lot (parking passes will be provided).

Highlights of the event:

• ·         Multiple door prizes will be awarded to any coach that attends the event (each coach gets a raffle ticket with drawing as the end of the event)

o   Ex: Training goals, Ball bags, Coach dry erase boards, training bibs, cones, coaching kit, etc.

• ·         Scheduled coaching education session for recreation and challenge coaches from 3-6pm

o   Specific schedule will be updated and communicated

• ·         Free play area setup for your kids that come and attend
• ·         Opportunity to meet and greet the CASL staff
• ·         Carolina Railhawks players will attend to engage with players and coaches

CASL Recreation Families,

Reminder that the NCYSA is hosting a recreation-only camp July 28- August 1 at the WRAL Soccer Center.

CASL Recreation Camp July 28-Aug 1, 2014

3 Most common mistakes first time soccer coaches make and how to avoid them

If you are new to world of soccer coaching and the challenge feels daunting then here’s some great advice on some of the most common mistakes and the steps required to avoid them.

1. Planning
Choose drills that are fun. All kids need to have fun otherwise you will loose their attention quickly. If you choose drills that are fun then the players will focus allowing you the coach to concentrate on teaching.  One of the greatest skills that a coach of young soccer players can develop is how to create fun, engaging activities that allow the players to learn and develop at the same time.

2. Over-coaching
Over-coaching means talking too much or in the wrong place. Trying to do too many drills or moving on too quickly. Don’t try to put too much into each session. You will often find that drills go on longer than intended. A good idea would be to have a buffer in place. For example an extension of a drill that can be skipped or included depending on whether or not the session is running to schedule.

One observation that I often see with coaches of very young players is that they talk too long.  Training sessions should be about the players playing and developing skills, not sitting in a circle on the ground with long conversations by the coach.  Additionally, spending only a few minutes speaking with the players before the game at at halftime and keep focus to 3 points.  Too much talking and addressing too many ideas can be overload to young players.  You will keep their focus and attention with brief, concise conversations better than long talks.

3. Focus
Finally focus. Remember that you are a development/youth level coach. It is therefore key that the players are developing each session. Even if the team isn't winning its important that the players can identify progress in their game and overall ability. Structure training sessions and the activities in each session to progress through a particular theme.  This keeps the players focus on one topic and allows you as the coach to focus on key coaching points over a 90 minute period of time.