CASL Coaches Connection

Coaches,

Please read this message in its entirety and pass along any pertinent information on to your families.

Well, the season is all set to begin tomorrow!!  With that in mind I wanted to get out a communication to all coaches on a few items that I believe are critically important to having a successful season.  I will be out for the majority of tomorrow observing games, so if you see me feel free to stop me to chat, ask questions, or anything you like.  I am here for you!!!

Important for this weekend:

1.      Regardless of how nice it the weather is today and in the morning, please be sure to check the weather hotline before departing for your game. 

2.      Know exactly what field you match is on and the exact location.  Also, be sure to allow yourself plenty of extra time to arrive before your first game. 

3.      When travelling in and around WRAL soccer center, please slow down.  There will be kids everywhere, so please be extra cautious.

4.      Ensure that if you are the coach for a U9 or older team that you must have a printed copy of your match roster and your match report for the game.  Please do not forget.

Rules:

Please, know and be familiar with the rules for your age group before showing up to the field.  There have been a few changes in both the 4v4 and 6v6 format.  An updated link to all the rules can be located on the recreation blog.

Community:

This item is probably the most important of everything that I wish to communicate with you and will continue to do so this season and in seasons to come.  It is my vision that each coach and team to develop a mindset that the CASL recreation is a community.  Do everything that you can to work together, to compromise with other coaches and teams, to communicate always with respect and professionalism, and most importantly of all, facilitate a positive and enjoyable soccer experience for the players and families.

Something that I expressed at the recreation coaches meeting was that soccer pathway of a typical older CASL player.  While not all of our graduating soccer players played CASL recreation soccer, I can bet that a tremendous majority started playing soccer in a recreation league of some town/community.  At one time the players were dispersed throughout many different recreation teams, competing against one another with their dad’s and mom’s coaching.  Now, many years later, several of these players are playing, competing, and traveling together.  It all starts now in recreation soccer, so we, the CASL recreation community, needs to foster this idea of community while you compete and develop your current roster of youth soccer players.

Code of Conduct:

Simply, if you are a coach, you need to be familiar with the code of conduct.  If you have not read it, read it before coaching this weekend.  You can reference the general code of conduct and the coach’s code of conduct in the CASL Rule Book. 

“Ignorance of the law is no excuse. That's the standard line motorists hear when they say they weren't aware of the speed limit.”