Highland Groveland Recreation Association

1. Highland Groveland Recreation Association HGRA Soccer 2015 Coaches Meeting

2. Agenda Welcome & Introductions Soccer Program HGRA Soccer Coach Expectations (game/practice) Practice Space Sign-up Weather Related Issues Equipment Requirements Equipment Distribution Rosters & Schedules Equipment Reuse Program & Goalie Clinic Soccer Season Field Location & Condition Communication/Contacts/Resources Next Steps Concussion Action Plan Brief Concussion Training

3. Introductions Soccer Committee Jean Bannick Bill Driver Gary Findell Euan Kerr Rick Macpherson

4. Small Sided Soccer Leagues 5U • Tuesdays or Sundays • HGRA led (professional coaches) • No parent involvement • No practice

5. Small Sided Soccer Leagues 6U & 7U • Partnership with Blackhawks Soccer Club • Parent coach/referee and lead scrimmage • Practice for the first 30 minutes followed by scrimmage against another team for 30 minutes • Small sided soccer 4 v. 4 • Sub on the fly • No goalies • Respect the arc! • Each team will have two portable goals to keep for the season • Practice once per week

6. Small Sided Soccer Leagues 8U (Coed) Small sided soccer 4 v. 4 • Parents coach & referee • Teams split into two each week to play against another team which is also split into two teams • Games consist of 25 minute halves- take more breaks during hot days or when you have less or no subs • Sub on the fly • No goalies • Respect the arc! • Each team will have two portable goals to keep for the season • One game and one practice weekly

7. HGRA Soccer Leagues 10U, 12U & 14U (gender specific) Full HGRA field • Parents coach • HGRA referee officiate games (No off-sides for 10U) • No slide tackling • 7v7 • Halves consisting of 25 minutes 18U, 35U & Premier (coed) Full HGRA field • No coaches • HGRA referee officiate games • No slide tackling • 7v7 • Halves consisting of 30 minutes for 18U, 40 minutes for 35U & Premier

8. HGRA Soccer • Highland Groveland Recreation Association • Here for fun! • HGRA does not keep score (most of the players do!) • No standings and no trophies • Focus on soccer skills, sportsmanship, and fun • Okay to be competitive

9. Coach Expectations • Hold one practice per week for 60 minutes • Arrive 10 minutes early to practice and games to set up and get team ready • Be prepared. Know your plan for practice • Keep the kids moving / ball to player ratio • Search for practice ideas on YouTube Communicate with your team if you need to cancel a practice • Ask parents to help if you need a sub

10. Coach Expectations- Cont. • Respect the decision of the referees • Many are doing this for the first time • If there are major issues, look for one of us on the field or email us at your league specific email address • Don’t confront the referee, fellow coaches or parents on the field • Contact the field manager if necessary • Kids are watching you!

11. Coach Expectations Risk Management • Background check & concussion training • Ask parents to stay at practice and games • Need their support in case of emergencies • Don’t provide rides to players • Ask another parent to stay if there is a player waiting to be picked up so you’re not alone with them

12. Practice Space Sign-up • Limited space available at Carondelet & Talmud Torah fields • Available space will be posted on the Soccer section of the website • Practice schedules will be emailed as soon as possible • Use public parks for practice • Respect the space!

13. Weather Related Issues • Unless you hear otherwise, assume the game is on • and come to the field • Games will be played in the rain • Games are cancelled when severe weather and/or lightning is present • Game cancellation decisions are mostly made on the field • Most decisions are made as soon as we have a clear sign of the bad weather • Some decisions could be made up to 15 minutes prior to game time • Don’t assume that 2nd game is canceled just because the 1st game of the night was canceled • Check Facebook and website for up to date info • Do not email or call the HGRA number • Make up games may be scheduled when possible

14. Weather Related Issue- cont. • If severe weather occurs during practice, use caution • Severe weather or lightning- cancel the practice • Different HGRA sports (Baseball, Soccer & Track) have different weather policies • Safety first!

15. Equipment Requirements • Must wear HGRA provided shirt to play • Must wear shin guards and socks that cover them – remind players/parents that shin guards go under the socks • No metal cleats • Players should bring their own soccer ball to practice • Check the garage at Carondelet fields for items donated through the Equipment Reuse Program • Socks and shin guards available for sale at the garage

16. Equipment Requirements- cont. No Jewelry • Jewelry is not allowed during play • Earrings or other piercings are not allowed – can’t play with it taped • No watches, bracelets, etc. • Medical alerts items must be taped down • It’s for the safety of the players!

17. Equipment Distribution • All HGRA equipment will be distributed during the each leagues first night(May 11-15). Stop at the garage on Carondelet first to pick up your equipment. • Equipment: team shirt, equipment bag: • Soccer balls • Scrimmage vests • Flat cones • Tall cones • Ball pump • Whistle • Clipboard Ice pack • Portable goals for small sided leagues (6U,7U & 8U) • Goal handoff during game nights

18. Rosters & Schedules • Rosters emailed to families shortly • Changes still possible • Coaches will receive a new roster every time a change is made • Do not make any roster changes! • Confirm players are on your team before giving them a shirt and letting them play. • Ask parents to email league specific email address with any roster issues • Schedules almost final • Both rosters and schedules will be online

19. Equipment Reuse Program & Goalie Clinic • Equipment Reuse Program (1st two weeks of season) • Turn in any cleats and/or shin guards to the shed at the Carondelet field • Pick up cleats/shin guards at the shed- remind families • Goalie Clinic - free • Jason Kallsen & Euan Kerr • Open to players from 10U-18U • Coaches welcome • Monday, June 8th (12U, 14U, 18U) and Wednesday June 10th (8U & 10U), 6:30pm • Emails will be sent to eligible leagues

20. HGRA Soccer Season • Season starts the week of May 11 • “Practice week” get to know the team, distribute shirts, communicate practice day, time and location • Confirm contact information • No games on Sunday/Monday- Memorial Day weekend • No games the week of 4th of July (Tuesday-Thursday) except for on Monday, 10U programs will have their make up game from Memorial day • Season end the last full week of July (20th)

21. Field Location & Condition • Carondelet Field • Behind Expo Elementary and Albert Street south of Randolph Ave • Talmud Torah • Between Hamline & Syndicate and Ford Parkway & Pinehurst Ave • CDH is still using the field • Fields will be lined as soon as possible • Ask a staff for help with field location or team issues • No snacks/food on the fields! No treats after games

23. Communication/Resources • Issues with field staff/referee should be directed to hgrareferee@mail.com or league specific email address • Look for someone from Soccer Committee on the field • Familiarize yourself with the Soccer section of the website and direct parents there for info • Check Facebook for most up to date info • Website will also be updated with any new information as soon as possible • HGRA Emergencies- Call the HGRA cell phone at 651-699-9898

24. Next Steps Practice Space Request • Connect with your co-coach • Agree on practice day and time • Communicate with HGRA Soccer hgrafields@mail.com

25. Next Steps- Cont. • Wait for final roster and email from Jeremy or me before contacting your players • Contact your team (phone/email) • Introduce yourself as the coach • Remind them about the first week of games(week of May 11- schedules should be ready by then) • Remind them about shin guards/socks that cover them and to bring a soccer ball and water • Visit the soccer section of hgra.org for more info.

26. Thank you for volunteering!