Past experience with other travel 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.
In past Spring 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 only have 15 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 4 subs for any game.
Even if all 15 players showed up everyone will get plenty of playing time, perhaps more than 11 and 12-year olds
can handle if they are not fit enough. I'm hoping for an average of 13 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.
From this age group on, our schedule includes CJSA sanctioned League games. If we fail to play a League game, for
whatever reason, the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association will fine the
Madison Youth Soccer Club. There may be other repercussions also.
In a worst case scenario our team and coaches could be suspended from the league and possibly not allowed to play
next season.
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 already know of some kids on the team signed up
for more than one sport.
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).
Please remember that this is a travel team. While most of our away games will be close to Madison (Clinton, North
Branford and North Haven), there are at least two games relatively far away (Woodbridge and Southington). It is
important that you do not regard away games as potential ones to miss just because of the travel, otherwise we
will always be short of players for those games.
For travel games I will always have maps and directions available. For the longer trips (Cheshire and Southington)
we can either meet-up in Madison first and follow each other, or we can meet-up at the away field. None of the
trips will be too difficult.
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 I don't think they 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.
Please have your player bring water or a sports drink, i.e., Gatorade, to every game and practice. They will badly
need it!
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.
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.
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. My major concern is if we start losing players and have to play games
with minimal numbers or minimal strength. It's a fully loaded 3-month season with as many as 18 games. I'd rather
enjoy it than be worrying about it week after week, if you see what I mean.
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