Coaches
Thank you for volunteering your time to help develop soccer players in Hempfield! We want the experience to be rewarding for players, coaches, and parents. Below are some guidelines and resources to help you out, especially if you are new to coaching soccer.
Mandatory Training and Background Checks
Background Checks
All coaches and team managers are required to complete the State-mandated State Police background check, Child Abuse background check, and either the FBI background check or the affidavit stating you have lived in Pennsylvania for at least 10 years. Click on the PA West Risk Management System below to register in the system and upload your clearances after you have obtained them. The club will pay for any fees incurred in obtaining these clearances, but if you have received them already just upload what you already have.
PA West Risk Management System
Concussion Training
(Please present a copy of your certificate to the coaching coordinator when complete.)
US Soccer Coaching Licenses
New coaches should establish an account with the US Soccer Digital Coaching Center.
All PAWest coaches are expected to complete the National Grassroots Introduction Course (free).
As of September 2019, all coaches who were not a registered coach with PA West prior to September 2018 will be expected to complete the age-appropriate course (11v11, 9v9, 7v7) for the team(s) they are coaching. The club will pay the fees associated with completing these courses.
Age Appropriate Goals
Age Appropriate Development (pdf) from the US Soccer Curriculum
(Full curriculum here: https://dcc.ussoccer.com/public/uploads/4/8263a91d8424d2648e60786736999ead.pdf).
U10 Goals
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Be able to dribble the ball in a straight line and maintain control.
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Be able to control the ball coming straight at them.
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Be able to make short (5-10 yards) accurate passes to players who are open.
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Be able to tackle the ball when the player with the ball is coming straight at the defender.
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Be able to shoot the ball at the goal with the instep.
Practices should involve as many fun games and small group activities as possible. Minimize the amount of time playing 7v7 – players need as many touches on the ball as possible and they do not get that playing full-sided scrimmages.
U12 Goals
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Be able to dribble the ball and maintain possession while changing direction.
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Be able to control the ball coming in the air, or coming a yard or so to either side of their body.
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Be able to make intermediate (20 yards) accurate passes to players who are open. Be able to make short (5-10 yards) accurate passes to players who are moving.
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Be able to tackle the ball when the offensive player is moving at an angle to the defender.
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Be able to head the ball in a specific direction.
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Be able to shoot the ball hard to one side of the goal or the other accurately from inside the penalty box.
Practices should involve a lot of 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, and 4v4 drills. Players should begin thinking about where they are on the field, and what they should be trying to accomplish with the ball in different locations (e.g. defenders play the ball out wide to the touchlines, midfielders come back to the ball and look to move the ball down the sideline, forwards look to cross the ball into the penalty box.) The formation would be 3-3-2 (3 defenders, 3 midfielders, 2 forwards) for 9v9.
U14 Goals
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Be able to dribble the ball and maintain possession under pressure. Be able to beat defenders off the dribble.
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Be able to control the ball when receiving it under pressure. Be able to control the ball with chest, thighs, feet, on the ground or in the air.
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Be able to make intermediate (20 yards) accurate passes to players who are moving. Be able to make long distance (30 yards) passes to stationary players, on the ground or in the air.
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Be able to tackle the ball at speed, be able to win 50-50 balls, be able to head the ball aggressively in the air.
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Be able to shoot accurately to the corners of the goal while moving inside the penalty box. Be able to shoot on goal from outside the penalty box.
Players should begin developing more tactical awareness, understanding of position and space, where defensive dangers are and where offensive opportunities are. Players should start developing a competitive mindset for games.
Formation 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.
U16 Goals
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Master all the U14 goals, plus
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be able to play the ball 40+ yards in the air
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be able to serve the ball accurately into the box, in the air or on the ground
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be able to score off of headers
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Develop more intense physical training habits
Players continue to develop tactical awareness and anticipation, and their ability to see the field. Players continue to develop a competitive mindset.
Formation 4-4-2, 4-5-1
U19 Goals
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Continue to develop ball skills at high speed and under pressure
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Focus on improved anticipation and field awareness, proper tactical decision-making
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Continue to develop a competitive mindset
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Continue development of intense physical workouts
Formation 4-4-2, 4-5-1
Coaching Resources
Check out the US Youth Soccer YouTube channel.
The US Youth Soccer Coaching Education page has several pdf documents outlining practice drills.
US Youth Soccer practice guidelines:
(This page also has a template for practice outlines.)
Basic Goalkeeping (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpBF6gETKo8)
http://www.coaching-kids-soccer.com/goalkeeper-training.html