For Coaches

Respect

Please show a little respect

Practice plans - Guidelines for running Team Practices

Please use the information provided in the linked documents as your guide to prepare and manage training sessions, from first introductions to the final whistle

Shooting Stars
U6
U8
U10

Interested in Volunteering as a Coach?

Each season Stoneham Soccer Club credentials over 150 coaches for our Town and Travel programs. This is an important and valued role, and our league would not exist without these volunteers.

All those interested in volunteering are asked to follow a specific process:

Reach out to your child's program commissioner to determine if a coach is needed
Register on our website as a volunteer in the program/age group you would like to coach
Await information from the SSC risk manager for specific steps to complete the credentialing process

Each volunteer must be credentialed before meeting with the team (this includes practices). Credentialing is complete when the coach receives a lanyard to wear at all times while with the team. No lanyard? No coaching.

The process is cumbersome and does take time. Those who are asked to go through the process should start as soon as they receive instructions, and those instructions must be followed exactly as outlined. Failure to follow these steps creates delays, headaches, and the possibility of not being able to be with your team from the start.

If you have any general questions, please reach out to [email protected].

Important RESPECT Video

Each year we hear stories of coaches who lose control at a game, and take frustrations out on referees, parents and, worst of all, players.

If a coach could see a video of himself or herself during one of these moments, he or she would be stunned.

Please watch this video as an example of what this unacceptable behavior looks like, and the effects it can have: RESPECT

Important Information for All Coaches

Hello Town Coaches - The SSC Board would like to extend its Thanks to each of you for volunteering your time, effort and energy to coach the youth of Stoneham in the sport of soccer. Each of you is making a tremendous commitment and contribution to these players and it is very much appreciated.

The following are some important reminders for the upcoming season.

SSC encourages coaches to develop their skills, and will fully reimburse (with a receipt of completion) those who complete a coaching course through Mass Youth Soccer. Please visit their website ( www.mayouthsoccer.org ) for details.
Contact all of the players on your team and welcome any new players to your team. Let them know how you will be communicating with them this season. All the schedules will be posted on the website.
All teams must practice at least once per week (except clinic and U14coed); PRACTICES SHOULD NOT INCLUDE THE USE OF THE LOCKED GOALS!!! PLEASE KEEP ALL CHILDREN OFF THESE GOALS to prevent injury and net damage.
Coaches with the first game on a field need to set up their respective fields with the proper equipment so please arrive at least 15 minute before your game time. If the games do NOT start on time this throws our schedule off for the whole day. The coaches with the last game are required to put the equipment back in the shed.
Ice packs and other First-Aid supplies are in the shed.
Clinic coaches should let new parents know how the program works, with ½ hour of practice and ½ hour of play on Sundays.
Each child should receive equal playing time. They should also experience all the positions (unless a child does not want to play goal; please don't make them).
All coaches should lead by example, maintain a positive attitude, communicate with the parents, and respect each other (DO NOT RUN UP SCORES!!)
If your team is up 5 or more goals, you as the coach MUST to do the following to encourage good sportsmanship: move your stronger players back on defense; encourage passing (5 passes before they shoot); have them take shots with their weaker foot; The Club will NOT tolerate coaches that don't make the attempt to do this!!!
Be aware of the cancellation procedure. You will be contacted by your commissioner and in turn you will then contact your team. Also the cancellation will be put on the website home page as well. This decision is made at 7am by the commissioners.
All coaches and assistant coaches MUST be registered on the website (https://clubs.bluesombrero.com/default.aspx?portalid=50128 ). If you are NOT registered then you will not be allowed to coach.
Unregistered players may not participate in practices or games for insurance reasons.
For any players who have not previously played soccer please notify the parents that the uniforms can be purchased at Soccer.com, prior to the start of the season. FULL UNIFORMS ARE REQUIRED TO PLAY ON SATURDAY/SUNDAY.
The Referees need to be treated respectfully as well and the club will NOT tolerate abuse from coaches or parents!!!
Town rule reminders: NO PENALTY KICKS IN TOWN GAMES (there are direct free kicks but from outside the penalty area)! There are NO distance restrictions on goal kicks. The restriction on Keeper distributions (throws, punts or drop kicks) needing to hit the ground or be played before crossing midfield has been changed. Keeper distributions must now hit the ground or be played before entering the other penalty area.
SSC will do its best to be sure to have a Board member at the shed on game days in case you have any problems or questions. Just look for one of us in our black jacket or polo shirt.

If you have any problems and/or questions, please contact your commissioner. Thanks again for all your help and we look forward to a GREAT season!!!

PROformance Curriculum

The PROformance Soccer Academy is the leading soccer training organization in Massachusetts, founded in 2009. The training curriculum of all our programs was developed by Miles Alden-Dunn (MLS practice player and professional trainer) and Shalrie Joseph (8 Time MLS All-Star). The curriculum and core philosophies are derived from a combined 40 years of playing, coaching, and learning from some of the most respected clubs and brightest minds from around the world. Unlike other soccer training programs, our main focus is on individual player development. We want to teach players the correct way to execute the fundamental skills, so that they can excel when playing on their teams!

Safety

Please see "Safety Reminders"

Browadway Field Practices -

Please use the kickwalls during all practices at the Broadway Soccer Fields, and avoid using all existing goal boxes to allow for field regeneration.

Also, please assure that children not play on the goal posts or nets, as this may accelerate their wear and, more importantly, place children at risk for injury.

Thank you.

US Soccer's Safe Soccer Framework - Protecting the Safety of all Players and Participants

Registration Process for all Coaches, Managers, Board members, Volunteers, and Associates of Stoneham Youth Soccer

In 2018, congress passed the Abuse Prevention Act and U.S. Soccer established requirements for all adults involved in youth soccer know as US Soccer’s Safe Soccer Framework. In support, and collective efforts to provide the safest possible soccer environment for all players and participants, Massachusetts Youth Soccer created MA Safe Soccer.

What does this mean to you as an adult involved in your organization’s soccer activities? The key elements are:

Expansion of Background Checks, including State and National Sex Offender Searches
Abuse Prevention Education and Training
Concussion Training: CDC’s Heads Up Coaches Course
Use of New Membership Management System for Adult Registrations
Adherence to new Mass Youth Soccer Player and Participant Safety Policy
New MA Safe Soccer Platform

For more information, please see the MA Safe Soccer Adult Introduction Letter and visit the MA Safe Soccer website.

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Stoneham Soccer

Club