Player, Parent, and Coach Expectations

Hempfield Area Soccer Club

 

 

The Hempfield Area Soccer Club strives to provide a positive experience for players, parents, coaches, and referees. It is important for everyone involved to understand that while travel soccer is more competitive than recreational soccer, it is a developmental program. Everyone involved with the club should place the highest priority on good sportsmanship and treating others with respect. The guidelines below are meant to provide a framework, but they cannot cover every conceivable scenario – it is up to the participants to approach youth soccer with the proper attitude in all circumstances.

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Player Expectations

 

• Players are expected to attend each practice and game if physically able to do so.

• Players are expected to bring the appropriate equipment to practices and games, including proper practice wear or uniform (including alternate jerseys), shin guards, cleats, a soccer ball (if needed), and water or other drink.

• Players are expected to be good teammates. This means putting the needs of the team first, being well behaved and not being disruptive during practices and games. It also means not directing negative comments to other players or to the coaches. Players should encourage their teammates when they make mistakes and should acknowledge their own mistakes without getting down on themselves.

• Players are expected to listen to and obey the coach at all times. They are expected to give full effort during all parts of practices and games.

• Players should only speak to referees or linesmen, or opposing players and coaches, in a respectful manner. Referees will make mistakes, but players are expected to show respect for their decisions by prompt compliance with their requests. If a player does not understand a call the best thing to do is to ask his or her coach about it when the opportunity arises.

• Players will exhibit good sportsmanship on the field. This means respecting the opponent, respecting the rules of the game, and controlling oneself during adverse conditions. Players should not taunt or try to embarrass opponents, including running up the score. Players should not get into arguments or fights with opponents and should not retaliate if an opponent says or does something inappropriate.

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Parent or Guardian Expectations

 

• Parents are expected to place the needs of the team first. This means treating the players, including his or her child, and the coaches with respect. Parents should refrain from making disparaging comments about players or coaches. Parents should remember that HASC coaches are volunteers who may not have extensive experience or training, and who invest a significant amount of time and energy into coaching.

• If parents have concerns about what a coach or player is doing, they should address it calmly after practice with the coach without players or other parents present. The preferred method is in person, with a phone call the next best option. Email is also acceptable for less sensitive or emotional situations, but it is easier for there to be misunderstandings via email so parents are encouraged to consider carefully before sending emails. Any communication with a coach should be at least 24 hours after a game, and generally should be avoided immediately before practices or games. If the situation is not resolved to the parent’s satisfaction, the parent should contact the club president. Please note that decisions about playing time and position are considered the prerogative of the coach and are typically not something the HASC Board would address.

• Parents are expected to ensure that their child attends all practices and games and are encouraged to attend all games to support the team.

• Parents are expected to go over the player expectations with their child, and to help them live up to those expectations.

• Parents are expected to conduct themselves in a positive manner at all games. Parents should treat the referees and opposing team with respect. Parents should refrain from loud and/or frequent criticism of referees calls or non-calls and should not address opposing players or coaches during the game. Parents should not coach from the sideline or direct negative comments towards HASC players or coaches.

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Coach Expectations

 

• Coaches should have as their primary focus the creation of a positive environment for the players and parents on the team, with a view towards the players’ long-term development as soccer players, athletes, and young adults. Winning games is part of this process but should not be the primary focus.

• Coaches should place the safety of players, both their own and their opponents, above the goal of winning games. This means using good judgement with regard to playing conditions and weather during practices and games. It also means not having players play when they are injured or too sick to play safely.

• Coaches should place good sportsmanship above the goal of winning games. This means coaches should not encourage their players to violate the rules of the game in order to gain a competitive advantage. It also means that coaches need to keep control of their emotions during close games and avoid yelling negative comments at their own players, the opposing players and coaches, and the referees. Coaches should discipline any of their players who are exhibiting poor sportsmanship, for example by removing them from the game.

• Coaches are expected to take measures to avoid running up the score (i.e. a score differential larger than 10), including removing stronger players from the game, moving stronger players to the back or goal, instructing players not to score, etc.

• Coaches should run organized practices that give their players opportunities to develop skills using drills, small-sided games and scrimmages, and full-field scrimmages, minimizing time spent standing in line or listening to instructions. Coaches should make use of resources from the US Soccer association, PA West, and HASC for learning new drills and techniques for developing age-appropriate skills.

• Coaches should try to promote the development of all players, according to their soccer skills, athletic ability, and personality. They should emphasize effort and improvement over relative abilities. They should emphasize to the team that everyone on the team has a role to play, and that it is important that all players recognize the importance of all roles, not just that of scoring goals.

• Decisions about playing time and positions are left up to the coach. Each team will have differences in the number of substitutes, the mix of playing abilities, etc. Playing time is Rev. 6/18 not required to be equal for all players, but coaches should strive for an equitable distribution of playing time. For age groups U12 and younger, all players must play at least half the game. For age groups U13 and older, only in rare circumstances should a player play less than a quarter of the game; in most cases players ought to play at least one third of the game. Especially at younger ages (U12 and younger), players should not be “locked in” to a specific position but should be given opportunities to play two or more different positions.

• Coaches may not use alcohol or tobacco during practices or games, including immediately preceding or after games or practices.

• Coaches may not use profanity under any circumstances.

• Failure to abide by these guidelines can cause coaches to be subject to disciplinary measures enacted by the HASC Board, up to and including removal from the coaching position.