PO Box 467
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Northern Blast Soccer Club
Club Coaching 101
Club Soccer 101
So, you think you want to have a club team!! Why are you doing this? Do you love the game? Do you have a group of kids that just live, eat and breathe soccer? Do you have enough players? Can you coordinate this effort on your own? Where are you going to need help? Try and answer these and any other questions before moving on. Do not be afraid. With a little guidance and patience, you may find yourself on the club board volunteering to do all kinds of crazy things all for the love of a game we Americans call soccer. (Football, actually using the foot!!)
Basics
U10 plays with 6 on the field, including the goalie. You should have a minimum of 8 players on your roster.
U11/U12 play with 8 on the field, including the goalie. You should have a minimum of 11 players on your roster, more if playing in higher temperatures.
What are you going to need?
Dues for the fully rostered traveling club team are $60.00 per player.
U10 teams participating at the local level should talk with the club president to see what can be worked out to participate in our local tournament.
Tournament entry fees are in the $300.00 range.
There is a sample club due fee excel spreadsheet in the forms section that may also be helpful as an example. If you need help modifying this form, contact a tournament director.
The items listed below are generally required when entering a tournament. Some tournaments may also require a special liability waiver. Make sure to check each tournament’s registration information, and to bring all material listed. Use a binder with clear folders to organize each player’s information, alphabetized to match your roster.
Passes
Most tournaments will require a player pass and, maybe a pass for the coaches. When the partially completed pass is issued the registrar, a copy of the birth certificate for each player will need to be presented. The pass will be issued, to the coach/manager, signed by the player, the players’ photo will then be attached, the pass returned to the registrar for signature, and lamination. Punch a hole in the corner of each pass and put the passes on ring. This will keep the passes organized and ready for team check in. These passes will be checked and indicated by some method at team check in for tournament participation to ensure that only qualified players participate. Prior to each game, the referee will check in the players using the player passes and maybe the official team roster. One of the assistant referees usually holds the player passes during the game. Remember to collect them after the game. You can also ask for them back after the team is checked in. Some referees will let you have them back, and others will hold the passes. If these passes are lost there is a high chance you are done participating in that tournament. Guard these with utmost care. Have your assistant coach also on watchful guard to ensure player passes are kept track of and stored in a secure/safe spot. It is an option to make a copy of the front and back of the player passes and keep them as a back up.
Official Roster
This roster is submitted to the state registrar by the club registrar. You need to provide the list of names to the club registrar so the roster can be prepared and forwarded to the state registrar. Coordinate with the club registrar when/how to receive the official roster. Make several copies of the roster when you receive it, and put the copies in one of the clear folders in your coaching binder.
Birth Certificate
A copy of each player’s birth certificate will need to be kept in the coach’s binder to be presented at tournament registration.
Medical Release Form
The Medical Release Form is available online under forms and is to be completed by the player’s parent/guardian. Some tournaments may require a special liability waiver to be completed in advance. Make sure you read carefully all of each tournament’s registration requirements.
Northern Blast Registration Form
The Northern Blast Registration Form is available online under forms and is to be completed by the players parent/guardian.
Tournaments
Determine where you want to play and at what level. Talk with your player’s parents to determine if enough players are available for each tournament that you want to participate in. Be flexible. This is not cheap and requires all parties to communicate and cooperate.
Application for Travel
For participation in tournaments out of state, you must request permission to travel from the state registrar. The Application for Travel form is available online under forms. Send the forms in early, maybe when you are even thinking about signing up for an out of state tournament. There is no harm if you do not go. If the Application for Travel form is not submitted 30 days prior to the tournament, there is a $25.00 late fee.
Out of Town Tournaments
Bring the tournament director/club contact information. If you have issues, you will have someone to call and see if anything can be done.
Bring the hotel address and phone number to team registration. If the tournament director needs to inform you of a change in schedule, this may be a vital piece of information.
Be prepared to provide the coaches cell phone numbers at team registration.
Bring other teams participating schedules. If your team is done for the day, it may be nice to go and cheer on friends from other Blast Teams.
See if there is a professional soccer game the team can attend to boost team spirit.
Guest Players
Pick-up players, also called guest players can be added to your roster. These players will require all the information that rostered players need at team registration, along with a guest player form. The club registrar will complete the guest player form. Make sure you allow sufficient time to make player passes for pick-up players. If you have players that you intend to use as pick-up players, complete their passes when the rostered players passes are completed. This will save a hassle later in the season.
Help
Do you have the time and desire to “Do it all”?? Do not be afraid to ask for help from the club or your parents. Find an assistant coach or a team manager. Ask questions of people that have been where you are. The purpose of this document is to help you be successful, and avoid issues that we have already been through the learning curve. You hit the power curve, go out and have fun.
Competition
Do not measure your success only by how well your team did during that season. We often learn more when we lose than we do winning every game. Watch, learn and develop. Develop as a coach, as players. These players will be exposed to a level of soccer that is not seen at the recreational level. The teams you play will be full of stars, gifted kids that have the ability to play excellent soccer. If you are lucky, your team will develop a relationship and a love of the game that can carry them and you through to a successful club soccer season that is fun and rewarding. It is fun to win tournaments. Remember, the big picture is to develop these players to have continued success at the high school and perhaps even the college level.
Information
When signing up your players, also have parents provide home, work, and cell phone numbers and email (work/home/mom/dad). If you have a cell phone, provide that number to the parents. This will come in handy when trying to find players not at the field at game time. Also, provide maps and directions to fields and hotels. The easier this can be made, the more all will enjoy. Also provide copies of games schedules field locations and maps.