COACHING TOPSoccer

1. COACHING TOPSoccer US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer Certificate

2. Coaching TOPSoccer Players • Course Objectives • Why People Play Soccer • Players’ Challenges • Qualities of Coaches • Prevention and Care of Injuries Risk Management • Communication • Ideas for Coaching

3. Course Objectives • Apply existing coaching skills and experiences to meet the needs of players with disabilities • Establish basic communication skills • Appropriate safety and medical considerations • How do we modify activities to include all players • Demonstrate coaching methods

4. Ideas for coaching Characteristics of well-selected games and inclusion activities Organizing a training session Coaching TOPSoccer Players

5. US Youth SoccerTOPSoccer

6. “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” John Wooden WHY DO PEOPLE PLAY SOCCER?

7. Why do people play soccer? • Improve fitness • Enjoyment • Achieve competition • Learn to take responsibility • Make friends • Gain recognition • Develop new skills • Experience personal challenge

8. Why do people play soccer? • Handling pressure and stress • Coping with disappointments as well as success • Self-esteem

9. Why do people play soccer? Because They Can

10. “It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.” Archie Griffin, 5’ 9” Two-time Heisman Award winner PLAYERS’ CHALLENGES

11. Players’ Challenges

12. Who is a TOPSoccer player? • TOPSoccer players are anyone who for physical, mental or behavioral reasons cannot successfully play in a recreation soccer program • TOPSoccer players develop at their own pace • TOPSoccer players are grouped by ability, not by age • TOPSoccer players should not be defined by the disability

13. Coaching in TOPSoccer • Is there a difference coaching TOPSoccer players? • Does it matter how many years you have been coaching? • Do your coaching credentials matter? • Do you learn as you coach?

14. Players’ Challenges The most common TOPSoccer conditions are: • Down syndrome • Autism • ADHD • Cerebral Palsy

15. Players’ Challenges • Down syndrome • Vision and/or hearing problems are common • Varying degrees of mental retardation • Possible attention deficit symptoms or temper • Often become frustrated • Often understand better than they can express • Often sociable – social skills and empathy are typical strengths!

16. Players’ Challenges Down syndrome Individuals with Down syndrome are usually smaller than their non-disabled peers and their physical, as well as intellectual development is slower. Besides having a distinct physical appearance, children with Down syndrome frequently have specific health problems. A lowered resistance to infection makes these children more prone to respiratory problems. Visual problems such as crossed eyes and far-sightedness or near-sightedness occur, as well as mild to moderate hearing loss and speech difficulty.

17. Players’ Challenges • Autism • Difficulty with communication • Often easily distracted • Difficulty with socialization • Have restricted interest • Non-verbal skills are often a strength! • Generalization and sequencing can be challenging

18. Players’ Challenges Autism Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities defined by significant impairments in social interaction and communication and the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with ASDs also have unusual ways of learning, paying attention or reacting to different sensations. The thinking and learning abilities of people with ASDs can vary – from gifted to severely challenged.

19. Players’ Challenges • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • Varying degrees of: • Short attention span • Disorganization • Impulsivity • Distractibility • Hyperactivity • Stimulation seeking

20. Players’ Challenges ADHD The term is a misnomer since ADDers pay attention to everything. The problem is filtering out what is going on. Players with ADHD are easily distracted, impulsive and highly reactive to their environment. They tend to be disorganized, have difficulty planning, executing and finishing tasks (particularly those involving sequential steps). ADDers have difficulty comprehending only verbal instructions and are often unacceptably active in settings such as training sessions.

21. Players’ Challenges • Cerebral Palsy • Motor control impairment (non-progressive) • May have balance and coordination struggles • Occasionally exhibit speech impairment • Quick to dehydrate and fatigue • Socially and cognitively strong!

22. Players’ Challenges Cerebral Palsy Cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. It is due to a non-progressive brain abnormality, which means that it does not get worse over time, though the exact symptoms can change over a person's lifetime.

23. “Coaching is a profession of love. You can't coach people unless you love them.” Eddie Robinson QUALITIES OF COACHES

24. Coaching TOPSoccer Players • The “Coaching TOPSoccer” course is designed for the coach who may be coaching TOPSoccer players for the first time and may or may not have any playing background. • Some participants in the course have played soccer and may have children participating in TOPSoccer.

25. Coaching TOPSoccer Players The course focuses on activities that will identify ability-based games necessary to play soccer at any level. The course also gives candidates ideas on how to successfully plan and conduct training sessions geared towards enhancing individual performance.

26. Coaching TOPSoccer Players • Training activities presented during the course will aid you in developing players in the game. The course continues your education about TOPSoccer and the enjoyment of participating with these players.

27. Group Activity • Break into pairs/groups • Without using written words draw a picture of the qualities of a good coach in TOPSoccer

28. Qualities of a Good Coach They won’t care what you know … … until they know that you care! Good communication skills Ability to evaluate Adaptable Enthusiastic Strong integrity Sense of humor Open minded Motivated Knowledge of the game

29. Qualities of a Good Coach • Planning/organizational skills • Desire to learn • Create a safe and enjoyable environment • Willingness to help others improve • Patience and understanding • Reliable • Evenhanded

30. Qualities of a good coach Firm, but fair, and able to discipline players when necessary. Gives praise to players when needed and warranted. Able and willing to demonstrate the skill to be learned. Includes everyone in practices and games. Flexible and relaxed approach while teaching skills. Able to give clear, brief and simple instructions. Makes learning new skills and playing soccer FUN!

31. Qualities of a Good Coach

32. “You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.” Michael Jordan PRENVENTION AND CARE OF INJURIESRISK MANAGEMENT

33. Group Activity • What are safety considerations when coaching TOPSoccer players? • Down syndrome • Autism • ADHD • Cerebral Palsy

34. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • Have a parent or guardian present at all times • Identify players’ disabilities • Understand the players being coached • Understanding the playing environment as it relates to players’ disabilities • Emergency information and first aid

35. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • The first line of defense in the treatment of sports injuries is to PREVENT them with: • A well-planned program • Competition among equal ability and size groups • Proper warm-up/cool-down • Understanding each player’s abilities and challenges

36. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • Other factors that lead to the prevention of injuries: • Proper use of equipment (shin guards, goals anchored) • Continuous upkeep of the playing surface • Proper fitting shoes and proper shoes for the surface • Ample water supply and breaks to give players a rest

37. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • Other factors that lead to the prevention of injuries: • Avoid scheduling activity during intense heat and humidity • Use proper pre-season screening program by qualified personnel • Designate team personnel to be certified in first aid and CPR

38. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • Each team should have and know how to use a first aid kit that includes but is not limited to: • Team safety and information cards • Plastic bags/ties for ice/ice in a cooler • Athletic tape and Ace bandages • Antiseptic sterile pads and gauze pads • Towelettes • Antibiotic crème • Non-latex rubber gloves and non-latex band aids • Care should be taken to avoid contact with blood and bodily fluids

39. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • The care of the injured player will begin the moment an injury occurs • Full rehabilitation of injury prior to the return to play (written medical release) • Immediate care will reduce the severity of the injury and possible long term recovery

40. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • The coach, upon seeing an injured player should: • Check the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) • Call 911 service for a severe injury • Ask the player where it hurts • Ask how the injury occurred • If the player has a communication disability then get assistance from parents or others • Be calm

41. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • The coach, upon seeing an injured player should: • If the player is unable to continue, he or she should be checked to determine the extent of the injury • Do not be in a hurry to move the player off the field! • Having an Action Plan is a must!

42. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • After determining that the injury is NOT life threatening, you can find out more about the injury: • If you did not see what happened ask the player and/or teammates as well as any spectators what happened • Note the position of the injured part • Look for swelling and deformity • Compare with the opposite side

43. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • REST – Remove the player from the activity • ICE – Apply ice to the injured part • COMPRESSION – Apply compression bandage • ELEVATION – Elevate the injured body part (above heart height)

44. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management Why R.I.C.E.? • It is the only safe treatment for a sports injury without professional advice R.I.C.E. helps in three ways: • Applying ice chills the injured area • Blood vessels contract • Constricts circulation to the injured area (15-20 minutes at a time)

45. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • Why R.I.C.E.? • Applying pressure with an elastic bandage inhibits the accumulation of blood and fluids in the area, thereby minimizing pain and swelling • Elevating the injured area decreases fluid accumulation to the injured area, puts the area to rest and helps reduce painful muscle spasms

46. Prevention & Care of InjuriesRisk Management • Follow up should be considered if: • Gross swelling or deformity is present • Player is unable to bear weight on the injured part • Severe pain or discomfort is present • Coaches should always follow up with a phone call to the parents regarding the injury especially if a parent was not present

47. “Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt COMMUNICATION

48. Communication • Information • Giving and receiving • Verbal and non-verbal

49. Communication • Effective communication is a key element • Coaching skills are revealed through the ability to build relationships and communicate • 90% of information is non-verbal • Listen and ask questions

50. Communication • Give the right amount of information, no over-coaching • Learn about the players • Use proper names • Be encouraging, not patronizing • Why to not use the word handicapped