Coaches' Corner
Longmeadow Soccer and the Pioneer Valley Soccer Assocation are
under the auspices of the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Assocation.
Coaches and other parent volunteers must submit CORI forms to
Mass Youth Soccer before participating in Longmeadow Travel or
In-Town Soccer programs.
During the registration period, parents and high school students
can volunteer to coach. On the last weekend of the season,
coaches can pick up medals for their players and return the league
equipment and balls at the snack bar (Wolfswamp) or trailer
(Glenbrook). If a coach did not have an opportunity to return
equipment on the last weekend, please send an email to
LsaBoard@LongmeadowSoccer.com, so a pickup can be arranged.
Directors of Coaching
Beginning this year, the LSA Board has brought in two Directors of Coaching,
one for the in-town league and one for the travel league. Their jobs are to
develop a unified approach to coaching and to help our volunteer coaches
implement the approach.
Our in-town Director is Richard Yam. Coaches can reach him via email
at
InTownDirector@LongmeadowSoccer.com for any coaching issues.
Assignment/Team Problems
If coaches have any problems with team assignments
or other non-coaching issues, please contact the LSA board at
LsaBoard@LongmeadowSoccer.com for in-town, and the LSA Travel coordinator at
LsaTravel@LongmeadowSoccer.com for travel.
Coaching Clinics
Our Director of Coaching for the in-town teams, Richard Yam would like to
invite all coaches (in-town or travel) to clinics on the following dates
at the Wolfswamp Road Fields:
8/1 Fri 5:30 to 7 pm
8/2 Sat 5:30 to 7 pm
8/3 Sun 10:30 am to 12 noon
|
8/8 Fri 5:30 to 7 pm
8/9 Sat 5:30 to 7 pm
8/10 Sun 10:30 am to 12 noon
|
Content: basic techniques and fundamental skills such as ball handling,
dribbling, trapping, passing, juggling, kicking, heading, shooting, 1 v 1,
3 v 1, 3 v 2 etc.; Foot work will be emphasized and other defensive
concepts such as ball-U-man, spacing, passing lane, etc will also be
taught. Pick up game at the end of each session!
Coach Yam will run one-hour of practice with the coaches and have small
sided pick up games. There will be time for sharing drills, coaching
tips at the end of each session. Coaches can come to all 6 sessions or
whenever they are available.
Please take a look at
Coach Yam's Tips for some good
coaching ideas on skills and drills.
Any coaches with questions or needing help can reach Coach Yam via email at:
InTownDirector@LongmeadowSoccer.com.
"G" License
This summer, about 32 local and area coaches were able to obtain their
"G" SOCCER LICENSE. On June 21, 2008 from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm at
Performance Rehabilitation in East Longmeadow, Mass Youth Soccer Instructor
Laura Ray showed the U6 to U10 coaches how to keep the players attention
while teaching them Technical, Tactical, Psychological and Physical aspects
of the game.
The Longmeadow Soccer Association plans to continue organizing and
sponsoring a course for the "G" license offered by Massachusetts
Youth Soccer Association. This beginning course for coaches teaches
coaching organization and theory. The intention of the "G" course
is to help you to become a more resourceful and confident "activity
leader". The course will cover teaching and correcting dribbling,
passing and shooting techniques.
Longmeadow Soccer Association strongly recommends that Travel
coaches attend and acquire this license. The course
will be available and recommended for In-Town coaches as well.
The cost for all registered coaches will be covered by Longmeadow Youth Soccer.
Web Links
The following websites provide practice plans and coaching suggestions.
(Select "coaches" from the menus.)
www.mayouthsoccer.org
www.usyouthsoccer.org
www.canadasoccer.com (choose English)
In-Town Coaches Meeting
The following information is from last year. It will be updated soon
for the 2008 season.
The in-town coaches' meetings will be held Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007
in the Longmeadow Community House.
K-2nd 6:30-7:00 pm
3rd-8th 7:15-7:45 pm
PLEASE BE PROMPT. We have intentionally shortened these meetings to
just 30 minutes to get coaches in and out as quickly as possible.
Coaches will receive a brief presentation on the program's philosophy,
coaching guidelines, important differences between age groups, and
injury prevention. Rosters, uniforms, schedules and practice equipment
will be distributed. Time will also be available for Q&A.
If a parent is coaching a K-2nd team and a 3rd-8th team, we
recommend that he or she attend the later meeting. (Equipment for only
grades K-2nd will be available at the early meeting.)
Travel Coaches' Meeting
The following information is from last year. It will be updated soon
for the 2008 season.
The travel coaches' meeting will be Monday, August 20, 2007 at 5:30pm
in the Blueberry Hill School parking lot.
Uniforms and equipment will be distributed. If a coach has not already
received his or her roster, please send an email to
LsaTravel@LongmeadowSoccer.com.
