Past experience with other in-town teams has prompted me to write this note to the parents. Let me apologise in
advance for the tone if it sounds preachy, but we as coaches have been burned once too often if we do not lay some
ground rules up front.
First of all, please check my youth soccer Webpage. I will be regularly updating
our current season page with scores, news and other updates - plus maps and/or
directions to away games.
My email address is at
so if you would like to email me with your address, I would very much appreciate it.
In-Town or Travel Soccer?
Owing to the lack of boys playing Boys U-12 In-Town Rec Soccer in Madison this fall, Madison
Youth Soccer Club (MYSC) only have enough U-12 players to make up ONE team - ours! Obviously, we have no
opponents in Madison, so the MYSC has arranged with Guilford Youth Soccer
Club for us to play their teams. This means we will be playing some, perhaps all of our games in Guilford.
This is not as bad as it seems. Guilford is only 10 minutes or less from downtown Madison. Guilford teams are renown
to be very good and this can only help us to improve if we are playing challenging soccer every week. Guilford
soccer fields are plentiful and in much better shape than Madison's. So, this may all be a blessing in disguise.
Which brings up the point of home games in Madison. As you all may know there is a severe shortage of soccer fields
in Madison, and especially so for the older kids. MYSC has assigned Brown
Middle School as our practice field and our home game field. The field at Brown Middle School is in HORRENDOUS
condition. It could even be classed as dangerous to play on. I have already refused to have our home games on it
and would prefer to play ALL of our games in Guilford. This all depends on the schedule and if Guilford have available
fields on the days when we have been scheduled to play at home. If there are no fields available in Guilford, we
may have to play our home games at Brown. At this time of writing I have not been given any contact information
for Guilford Youth Soccer Club, so I can't give you more definite information at this time. The plan, however,
is to practice at Brown but play all games in Guilford.
Player Commitment to the Team and Fair Playing Time for
All
In past Spring or Fall seasons some players have signed up for more than one sport and when there is a schedule
conflict, soccer has always taken last place. It has a negative impact on our teams more so when we are already
struggling for numbers and the other sports may not be.
We have 17 players signed up. These will be 11-a-side games for 40-minute halves / 80-minute games on field sizes
adults play on. At most we will have 6 subs for any game. Actually, this is a lot of players if everyone shows
up.
Even if all 17 players showed up everyone will get plenty of playing time, perhaps more than 10 and 11-year olds
can handle if they are not fit enough. I'm hoping for an average of 14 players a game at least. So, hopefully you
may appreciate the situation if we have less than this at a game, impacted even more severely if we have less than
11 players.
If we play short it reduces morale on the team. It is also not fair to your player's teammates if they have to
consistently play short. There is also a responsibility to our opponents to give them a game. If we are short or
cannot field a team, it is extremely disappointing to everyone on both teams.
I would have to add that all scheduled games are important. When you sign up for a sport you are making a commitment
to many people -- teammates, opponents, coaches and officials who are all committing time and effort to make this
work - for you and your player -- and most importantly, make this fun.
I appreciate that it may not be possible to make every game and practice, but please be considerate to all concerned
and let at least the coaches know when you cannot make games.
I will be taking attendance for all games and practices. At the end of the season I may reward players with the
best attendance.
If your player decides to drop out from the team for whatever reason please let me know as soon as possible. It
seems we always have one or two dropouts every season, unfortunately.
If your player cannot make a game, please let me know as soon as possible. It may be crucial in knowing if we have
enough players to play. I must have time to call the other team if our numbers are too few (FIFA
rules state 7 players are needed, minimally, but for this age group 7 v 11 would be tantamount to a disaster on
the field).
My major concern is if we start losing players and have to play games with minimal numbers or minimal strength.
I'd rather enjoy it than be worrying about it week after week, if you see what I mean.
Game Days
For travel games I will always have maps and directions available. I am hoping, however, that all of our games
in Guilford will be at the same location.
For all games please be early. I like players to be there 40 minutes before kick-off to (a) know how many players
we have (b) warm the players up (c) be inspected by the referee (d) talk to them about the game.
Please pick up your player from practices and games ON TIME! The coaches cannot leave until all the kids are picked
up. We have had cases where some parents haven't picked up their player until over an hour after the game has finished!
Incredible as it may seem, but we are NOT babysitters!
The Madison Youth Soccer Club will make team shirts available, but for rec teams they do not supply shorts and
socks. Please have your player wear BLACK SHORTS and WHITE SOCKS for all games. We'll play better as a team if
we look like a team.
For games and practices please have your player bring water or a sports drink, i.e., Gatorade, to every game and
practice. They will badly need it!
For practices all players must bring their own ball if possible. This age group plays games with a size 4 ball,
but for practices I would like to practice with size 5. This is the same size the adults play with. Practicing
with a size 5 ball will prepare them very well. So, please bring a size 5 ball if possible or a size 4 ball at
the very least.
Player Attitude and Discipline
At this age group and beyond, particularly with boys, the players' attitude and behaviour can sometimes be a problem
(as if you didn't know that already!). I tend to be lax about discipline because I try to encourage a fun environment.
Some players take this as a hint to mess around. If a player is giving me problems on a consistent basis I will
be calling you about it. In worse case scenarios I will suggest the player withdraw from the team. I'm not in favour
of adhering strict discipline because first and foremost I believe we're all out there to have some fun, but if
I have to, I will be strict and I may restrict playing time if a player displays a poor attitude or causes any
trouble.
Parents may not know this, but Madison Youth Soccer Club requires coaches to grade their players after the season.
This knowledge helps the Club to build balanced teams for subsequent seasons. It does no good assigning all the
best players to one team (even unknowingly) and all the weaker players to another team, for example. This grade
is an "overall" grade, but most coaches probably treat it as a way of recognising who the stars are on
a team. I always grade fairly and take into account all sorts of factors.
Coaching Philosophies
While this is a rec (recreational) and not a comp (competitive) team we will still endeavour to play to the best
of our abilities and we may even have a better team than some comp teams in some cases. Some comp players prefer
playing on the rec teams because there is less pressure. I have heard some negative things about some comp coaches
because winning means everything and anything less is communicated negatively to the players. I find this appalling.
I will coach them hard, but I will not go over the top. We will try to win, but even if we have a losing season
we will have fun playing, that is a key factor.
For more details about my coaching philosophies please my Introduction to Coach Archer
Web page.
Apologies, finally, for a long note! It got longer than I originally had intended, but I hope it conveys some additional
information that is useful for all concerned.
If you have any problems or comments with this note or my philosophies, please let me know. You can leave messages
on my home phone at 421-5816, email me at
or see me in person at games or practices.
Here's to a fun season. Cheers!
Garry Archer
PRACTICES
Brown Middle School
(field is behind gymnasium)
Every Tuesday, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (or until dark whichever comes first)
Mandatory: Everyone must bring his own ball. Size 5 is preferred, Size 4 minimally.
Mandatory: Everyone must wear shinguards and the must be worn under their socks!
Please bring water/Gatorade.
Mandatory: Everyone must have fun and lots of scrimmage time.
GAMES
Please arrive at games 40 minutes before kick-off time.
This is for warm-ups, referee checks and team talks and is a very important time.
All games will be versus teams from Guilford Youth Soccer Club
(Boys U-12 Rec).
Home field is Brown Middle School.
This is subject to change and is only a last resort.
I am planning to have us play all of our games in Guilford.
Uniform/Kit: Black shorts and white socks with the shirt I will give to you.
Mandatory: Everyone must wear shinguards and the must be worn under their socks!
Please bring water/Gatorade.
Please, no snacks like cookies, doughnuts or oranges, etc., until after the game.
This is very important since these things can severely impede a player's performance or health while playing. Only
water/Gatorade/any other sports drink is permissible at half-time.
THANK YOU!