Coaches Guide
The Objective of Niceville Pal Soccer is to provide a wholesome environment for the development of players and the enjoyment of soccer, with sportsmanship and proper conduct by coaches, players, parents, and spectators. This is going to be an exciting year!
General Information
1. CALL YOUR PLAYERS AND PARENTS BY SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 25!
2. ORGANIZING YOUR TEAM SUPPORT. Have a meeting with your team’s parents as soon as possible to go over the following:
a. Find an assistant coach if you need one. (Every coach must complete a PAL Coach’s Registration form and an SAY Volunteer Application, available from your commissioner, before he/she can participate in practices or games. Only registered coaches may be in the technical areas during games or participate in practices on a frequent or recurring basis. Up to three coaches per U6 through U14 team are authorized. (Coach registration cut-off: Tuesday, September 4, 2007. You may fax completed coach registrations and SAY forms to 729-9282.)
b. Recruit a parent to be your team coordinator and give him/her the team coordinator responsibilities checklist. Have the team coordinator complete an SAY Volunteer Application and return it to your PAL Commissioner.
c. Let parents know what you expect plus when, where and how long you will practice. d. Advise parents of their transportation responsibilities. (Parents are responsible for getting their children to practices and picking them up on time. Ask parents to let you know if their child is carpooling or being picked up by someone other than his/her parent. Do not leave your players stranded after a game or practice. If a player is still waiting for a ride 15 minutes after the scheduled endtime, take the player to his/her house or home with you and call the parents, reminding them of their responsibility. Report recurring problems to your PAL Commissioner.)
e. Ask parents if there are any medical conditions that you should be aware of but were not annotated on the PAL player registration forms. You should privately discuss with the applicable parents any steps or measures you should take or observe.
f. Emphasize to parents that soccer goals are not playthings for players to climb on or hang from (they can tip over). Ask them to stop any abuse of goals or nets they see.
g. Stress SHINGUARDS: Must be worn at all practices and games under socks.
h. Inform parents that all players must show up in uniform for pictures, but no one is required to purchase anything.
i. Other topics to discuss with your parents: COACHES COACH, PARENTS CHEER; positive parent support and conduct during games and practices; how long before kickoff players should arrive; 50% player participation rule; team discipline; notifying you if their children will miss practices or games; season schedules. (The PAL Rules and the informational handouts contain a wealth of pertinent information. Parents were provided an informational handout at registration; your packet contains enough copies of the Season Handout to distribute to your players’ parents.)
3. “TIMES TWO” REQUIREMENT. SAY requires that no less than two adults be assigned to be present at all team functions (e.g., games, practices, parties). The adults can be coaches or parents. The purpose is two-fold: to protect the children as well as to provide protection for volunteers in case of misunderstandings.
4. 30-30 Rule regarding lightening and thunder: From National Weather Service
- 30 seconds or less “flash to boom” - Take cover immediately.
- Stay under cover until 30 minutes after last clap of thunder.
5. ANCHORING AND TREATMENT OF GOALS. Ensure anchors are in place before using any goals during practices or games. Stress to your players that hanging or climbing on goals is dangerous. Notify Howard Hill of any problems with the goals.
6. PRACTICE FIELDS. Not having enough practice space is a long-standing problem. Teams will be limited to one hour on the field at a time. Adhere to the times arranged with the scheduler, Hoover Hodge, 678-9730, so you don’t conflict with a team already assigned to use the site. Keep practice areas clean.
7. SCRIMMAGES OR PRACTICES WITH NON-PAL TEAMS. PAL teams are limited to practicing or scrimmaging only against PAL and Destin Rec teams.
8. SEASON. VIP and U6 through U14 teams play on Saturdays from September 8 to November 3 (except no games on October 20) but may make up canceled games on Sunday afternoons. Teams in an age group with an odd number of teams may have weeknight matches.
9. GAME SITES.
‑ VIP/U6: Niceville Rec Complex Fld #1 (behind Niceville City Hall)
‑ U8: Twin Oaks Park (Mullet Festival site, corner of Hwy 85 and College Blvd.)
‑ U10: Niceville Rec Complex Fld #2 and Fld #4 (some may be in Destin)
‑ U12: Niceville Rec Complex Fld #3 (some may be in Destin)
‑ U14: Twin Oaks Park (some may be in Destin)
(Games in Destin will be played at Morgan Sports Center, behind Destin City Hall.)
10. GAME DAY DUTIES.
‑ First Game Of The Day ‑ Home team will place goals, nets, corner flags and team benches on the field, as needed.
‑ Games During The Day ‑ Each team is responsible for policing area and placing trash in the trash cans after each game.
‑ Last Game Of The Day ‑ Home team will return corner flags to the concession stand.
11. TREATMENT OF REFEREES.
‑ We will not tolerate referee abuse, including verbal disrespect.
‑ Players, coaches, parents and spectators are expected to show respect to referees.
‑ Anyone with a complaint or adverse opinion about a referee must refrain from causing an incident or disturbance. Anyone causing a confrontation or altercation with a referee will lose because we will back the referees; period! Problems need to be resolved in a proper, mature manner. If anyone has a complaint or other concern about referees, refer the matter to PAL President, Howard Hill, 678-2182 or howard_hill@cox.net.
12. FIRST AID.
‑ In case of a serious injury, err on the side of caution and summon help if you are not trained in first aid or medicine.
‑ For most injuries, the RICE method works. (R is for Rest, I is Ice, C is Compression and E is Elevation.)
13. EMERGENCY INFORMATION. Carry your players’ yellow registration forms to all practices and games. They include information on each player and allow you to seek emergency medical assistance for your players.
14. REPORTING SERIOUS INJURIES.
‑ Notify your commissioner of any players who require emergency medical treatment.
‑ To report a claim, the injured player’s parent must call SAY National Headquarters at (800) 233-7291. Military parents who take their children to Eglin AFB Hospital or to a civilian medical facility that accepts Tricare must notify SAY because Eglin will file for reimbursement from SAY’s carrier.
15. TEAM PICTURES. Pro Image Photography, 897-1888, will coordinate taking team and individual pictures. A Memory Mate (team and player picture in a paper frame) will cost about $8.50, with a menu of other packages available. (Picture costs are not included in the player registration fees.) All players must show up in uniform for pictures, but no one is required to purchase anything.
16. PLAYER TROPHIES/AWARDS. Except for the tournament, PAL does not provide individual or team trophies or awards. It’s up to the parents of each team
17. END-OF-SEASON TOURNAMENT.
‑ Slated for November 5-17.
‑ Optional for PAL and Destin Recreation U8, U10, U12 and U14 teams, with separate divisions for boys’ and girls’ teams.
‑ Coaches will be provided entry forms, which must be completed and returned with entry fees by the entry deadline OF October 13, 2007.
‑ U8 entry fee per team will be $60; U10, U12 and U14, $90. Also, there is another $25 refundable performance bond. (Do not ask sponsors for your team’s entry fees. If a sponsor offers, you may accept.)
‑ Winners and runners-up in each boys’ and girls’ age group receive individual awards for each player with trophies provided for their teams.
18. PAL Soccer’s recreation program gives players a chance to learn soccer while having fun. To rephrase an old saying, “Taking play out of playing sports ruins them.” A positive environment is vital in youth recreational sports. Sportsmanship and teamwork should be primary; winning and scoring, secondary. As a coach, your example and actions can keep children playing soccer or turn them off. Remember, “they’re just kids and this is just a game.”
19. PAL WEBSITE. Check out www.nicevillepalsoccer.org for good info.
20. Call your PAL Board members if you need assistance.
President Howard Hill 678-2182
Vice President Kenneth Farrell 897-8626
Treasurer Kathy Haugen 678-1557
Secretary Terresa Teutenberg (314) 503-0069
Registrar Brenda Zins 678-8220
VIP (Special Needs) Greg Wade 729-8410
U6 Commissioner Kathy Gaubron 897-5530
U8B Commissioner Brenda Zins 678-8220
U10B Commissioner Jillian Southerland 835-5156
U12B Commissioner Kim Piccorossi 678-4671
U14B Commissioner Kevin Dillard 897-5624
U19B/G Commissioner Brenda Zins 678-8220
U8G Commissioner Bob Bachelor 678-0131
U10G Commissioner Bernie DeLong 897-5437
U12G Commissioner Ken Farrell 897-8626
U14G Commissioner Kevin Dillard 897-5624
Fields Assignor Hoover Hodge 678-9730
Head Coach Fred Teutenberg (314) 503-0069
Head Referee Ron Comeau 897-4145
Concessions Manager Sandra Hotaling 729-1147
Computer Manager Joe Amy 678-8681
Referee Scheduling Ken Farrell 897-8626
PAL Webmaster J Hughes 729-7838
RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEAM COORDINATOR
1. Team coordinators need to have a completed and signed SAY Volunteer Application on file with PAL. If you have not filled one out this year, contact your commissioner to obtain one.
2. Set up a telephone and/or e-mail notification network to inform parents about practice times, cancellations/rescheduling or any other information that needs to be relayed to parents quickly.
3. Arrange for parents to work concession stand. Each team will be assigned a two-hour shift during the season. Proceeds from the concession stand go into our soccer program and help reduce player registration fees. No one is paid or receives any compensation for managing or operating our concession stands. Call Concessions Manager Sandra Hotaling, with any problems.
4. Schedule parents for game day duties. First game of the day: Home team sets up goals, nets, corner flags and team benches. Last game of the day: Home team takes corner flags to concession stand. Every game: Have your team parents (home or visiting) make sure all trash is picked up after each game and placed in the trash receptacles.
5. Schedule parents to bring coach-approved refreshments for half-time and for after the game.
6. Uniforms should be ready Thursday, September 6, but call first to coordinate pick-up. Call American Athletic Uniforms, 90 Eastview Avenue, Valparaiso at 729-1205. Before leaving AAU, inventory your team’s order using the team’s uniform roster (with the order) and resolve any discrepancies. (Mistakes made by AAU or PAL will be corrected at no cost. Mistakes made by parents, such as ordering wrong size, require parents to pay for replacement.) Pass out uniforms according to sizes on the roster.
7. Team pictures will be arranged by Pro Image Photography, 897-1888. Every player on your team must show up in uniform for pictures, but no one is required to buy anything. A Memory Mate (5x7 team photo and 3x5 player picture in paper frame) will cost about $8.50, with a menu of other items available.
8. Sponsors’ plaques will be provided by PAL and will be available for pick-up at the concession stands near the end of the season. Person picking up a sponsor’s plaque must sign for it and commit to deliver it to the appropriate sponsor.
9. Individual trophies and awards are up to each team. Pal only provides trophies for the winners and runners-up in the optional end-of-season tournament.
Contact
Questions or comments regarding this site or Niceville PAL Soccer League?
ContactHoward Hill.