AYSO Region 678 Coaching

Welcome to the Home Page for Region 678 coaches. This is the central hub for coaching information and announcements.

Advanced Coaching Clinic — Every Friday
As part of our Advanced Coach Training we will be offering Clinics on Advanced Coaching Points to help coaches develop advanced club level strategies for set plays, corner kicks, to Coaching The U14 and U16 player. Although all coaches are welcome to attend, the sessions will be designed for teaching both advanced tactical and technical skills to already experienced coaches who want to advance their game and allowing them to educate their players.

Each Session will be taught by a professional club level coach, with either an E, D License (or above) or the European equivalent. These seminars will be held at Placerita Junior High.

To sign up, click here and space is limited to 20 coaches.

All Sessions Will be at 4:30 pm at Placerita Junior High at 4:30 to 6 p.m.

September 19, 2014

Direct Kicks. We all do them. But can they be done better. Where should your players be on an 20 yard kick? How about a 30 yard kick? What if you have it in the corner area? How many should be in the wall? Who creates the wall? Where should the players make their runs, and how do you teach your players these things. These and other questions will be answered in the session.

September 26, 2014

Corner Kicks. Do you need to teach them? How? Who needs to be on the near post? Do you play the man or the space? What role do the defenders have? How Do you defend the Short corner? These and other advanced issues will be presented?

Other topics will be identified later.
Three New Special Coaching Field Trainings To Help You Get To The Champions League
As Part of AYSO 678’s commitment to continuing the advancement of our coaches, AYSO 678 is proud to offer three new hour long field trainings designed to help coaches to develop advanced coaching techniques and methods. These sessions will be led by advanced professional coaches, including but not limited to Challenger trainers, and USSF certified club coaches. The sessions will include:
- Training of coaches on the specific advanced topic
- Handouts of drills and practice sessions directly on topic
- An opportunity to see how the practice session will work with youth teams.
- Space will be limited in these seminars so please sign up as soon as possible.
September 16 — Seven Surefire Ways How Your Team Can Beat the Opposing All Star Player.

You have seen it before. The all star player on the other team just steams through your defense like a hot knife through butter. How can you stop this player or players? Learn tried and tested techniques on how you can stop the Lionel Messi or Christiano Ronaldo of your division.
- DATE: September 16
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Place: Placerita Junior High
- Limited to 15 coaches from U10 through U14.
How to Sign Up: click on the following link to sign up now! Beating The All Star Player

September 23 — Five Proven Ways Your Team Can Create or Beat the Offside Trap

Offside. Not again. Just when you thought you had momentum, the other team got your players offside again. Don’t you wish you could teach your players how to avoid that offside trap. Learn proven techniques for teaching your players to beat the offside trap and how to create the trap for the other team.

DATE: September 23
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Place: Placerita Junior High
- Limited to 15 coaches from U10 through U14.
How to Sign Up: click on the following link to sign up now! Beating The Offside Trap

September 30 — Four Unique Corner Kicks That Can Take You To the Champions League

Did you know that the corner kick is one of the most effective ways to score a goal. In the Pros approximately 13-15% of all goals are scored from a corner kick. Wouldn’t you like to be able to increase your chances? Learn 4 corner kicks directly from the pros and learn how you can teach your players how to do them.
- DATE: September 30
- Time: 6:00 p.m.
- Place: Placerita Junior High
- Limited to 15 coaches from U10 through U14.
How to Sign Up: click on the following link to sign up now! Corner Kick and Goaaaaaaal!
2014 Coach Classes Important INFO
There are only a few more Coaches Classes Left in Our Region.

U12 Division

U12 — 8/23 Check in 8:30 a.m. at Placerita Junior High, Classroom P7. Class ends at 4:00 p.m.

U12 — 9/3 & 4. Check in at 5:00 p.m. at Placerita Junior High, Classroom P7, TWO NIGHTS.

All coaches who wish to be recommended by the Coach Administrator to coach in Region 678 must complete pre course work before attending the class. The pre-course work is a mandatory prerequisite to be recommended to coach in Region 678.
The Pre-course work can be found at: U12 Pre-Course Assignment

You must sign up at EAYSO.org for the class.

U10 Division

U10 — 8/23 Check in 8:30 a.m. at Placerita Junior High, Classroom P7. Class ends at 4:00 p.m.

U10 — 9/3 & 4. Check in at 5:00 p.m. at Placerita Junior High, Classroom P7, TWO NIGHTS.

All coaches who wish to be recommended by the Coach Administrator to coach in Region 678 must complete pre course work before attending the class. The pre-course work is a mandatory prerequisite for completion to be recommended to coach in Region 678.
The Pre-course work can be found at: U10 Pre-Course Assignment

You must sign up at EAYSO.org for the class.

U10 Field Session

U10 — 8/23 Check in 12:30 p.m. at Placerita Junior High, fields. Class ends at 4:00 p.m.

U10 — 9/4. Check in at 5:00 p.m. at Placerita Junior High, fields.

All coaches who wish to be recommended by the Coach Administrator to coach in Region 678 must complete pre course work before attending the class. The pre-course work is a mandatory prerequisite to be recommended to coach in Region 678.
The Pre-course work can be found at: U10 Pre-Course Assignment

You must sign up at EAYSO.org for the class.
Placerita Practice Fields Open WITH RESTRICTIONS
Coaches,

Placerita Fields open for practices on Monday, August 18, 2014. ALL FIELDS MUST BE VACATED BY 7:30 PM. Please note the following additional restrictions:

Only fields 5, 6 & 7 may be used, with Challenger using one of the fields.

P4 (center football field) is NOT to be used.

The U12 fields are also OFF LIMITS (with the exception of one field for Challenger).

Coaches identified practicing on restricted fields may be subject to disciplinary action and a loss of practice field privileges at Placerita Jr. High.
Sharing Precious Field Space is a Must — Tips on How to Do So
- All Field space is available on a first come first serve basis. There are no claims of priority to a field. Even if you happen to practice at the same field every single week, you don’t have a claim to that space. If someone else comes to that space before you do, you will need to find space.
- You will have to share the field with other AYSO teams. As there is limited space, don’t be a hog. Work with the other coaches so that everyone may have equal access to the fields and make the best of what is a difficult situation. Remember what you learned in kindergarten! If you have conflicts that you cannot resolve, contact your division coordinator.
- If the field is shared with non-AYSO teams (per the permits) then once again, work with them on equal access.
- If you are practicing on a school field, school functions have priority and will supercede your permit.
- Park and Rec activities will supercede your permit.
- Coaches are expected to cooperate in the use of field facilities and limit practice space when space is limited by the number of teams.
- Full field scrimmages must be approved in advance and not done at the expense of other AYSO teams who share the same fields.
- All teams are responsible for cleaning up after practices or games and for returning all equipment to its proper place. All coaches are asked to help in monitoring the activities that take place at the practice fields, and to assist in keeping fields clean, safe and secure.
The key to any successful practice is preparation. As coaches we need to know how much grass/turf space we have so we can create the needed grids or areas we would use during our team training. But sometimes all of that planning can go out the window when we arrive at the field and realize that we are sharing the accommodations with two other teams! The show must go on as they say and coaches do need to be fast thinkers.

Tips On Sharing Small Spaces:
- Communicate with the other coach while your team is going through their stretching and warm-up routine.
- Decide which team will have the goals for which parts of the time slot.
- Determine if one team needs more space than the other due to number of players or what they are trying to accomplish.
- Perhaps you can share the space for some skill builders to make enough room for both teams.
- Compromise as needed. We do not want our young players to see conflict amongst coaches.
What to do if you lack adequate equipment?
- In some cases, youth coaches must purchase or use their own pinnies, balls, and cones. What if you do not have those items or just forget to bring them to practice…improvise.
- Instead of cones, use player water bottles.
- Instead of pinnies, match players up by colors of their shirts or just dark colors versus light colors.
- Instead of goals, use player bags or even parents to act as goals.
- Be creative and the team will respond!
-Tips provided by: http://www.korrio.com/soccer-2/soccer-practice-tips-for-limited-space-or-equipment/
What To Do When You Think There Will Be A Blowout
Recently, I witnessed a blowout game from a child’s perspective. The child on the losing team was crying. The child was sobbing I don’t want to play soccer. I hate soccer. The child did not want to go back in the game. This is not an abnormal response for a child in a game when there is a blowout. The reason the children are out there is to have fun. However, when there is a blowout it is not fun. Nor is it fun for the winning team. The winning team players were no longer celebrating goals. It was just another goal. For both teams, soccer became a chore. The score was 12-1. The antithesis of why kids play.

I have also seen the game where a blowout was going to be obvious in the 2nd quarter. But what happened after that made the losing team happy that they played. The winning coach pulled the top players for the 3rd and 4th quarter; shifted their positions by putting the top scorer in goal; played the other stronger players in defense and then allowed the game to go forward. The game ended 6-2. The second half score was the losing team scoring two goals and the winning team scoring 1. Both sides were happy.

During your term as a coach within AYSO, it is inevitable that you will be on one (if not both) side(s) of a lopsided game. What can you do to ensure AYSO philosophies are upheld and a learning atmosphere is maintained for both teams? Glad you asked.
Below are some general concepts on how to handle blowouts.

Suggestions for the Winning Coach
1. Emphasize division appropriate advanced tactics. For example, you might work on passing back when you can’t go forward.
2. Encourage the other team’s players when you see something done well
3. Incentives and creativity are two tools to use to incorporate new game challenges. Individual challenges could be like limiting the number of touches to each player. Your top players may only be allowed one touch; others may have two. Add a challenge that when a certain (like your top goal scorer recieves, he/she must cross the ball across the width. Have a challenge to complete a certain number of passes in a row in their end of the field.
4. Challenge team to score using new methods (e.g. only score off of headers from corner crosses)
5. Use two touch with give and go combos as only means to bring ball up field. Tell them that the only way that the ball can go up the field is if the ball has gone to both sides of the width of the field before going upwards
6. Have certain players use their weaker foot. (I did this in a game and it really made the players better)
7. Allow multiple touches towards the goal but only one player (usually weaker) can shoot.
8. Make a weaker player in the center midfield position, and require that all attacks must be started through him initiating the attack in the attacking half.
9. Bring the goalkeeper forward as a defensive player at the midfield. The goal is now empty.
10. When all else fails, tell the team they may only score using a bicycle kick or a diving header
11. This is the time to let your best players rest and let your weaker players have more playing time.
12. Play keep away (tactfully) in your own end.
13. Have all players use their weaker foot.
Suggestions for the Losing Coach
1. Motivation begins with you, the coach. Understand when the kids need a boost. It goes without saying that if your head drops, so does the team’s…
2. Focus on what you are doing right and not what you are doing wrong. Constant encouragement and reinforcement when something good happens needs to be verbally recognized during the flow of play and not just at halftime or fulltime.
3. Encourage parents and spectators to applaud good play when it happens despite the score
4. Emphasize skill development
5. Concentrate on basic drill ideas during the game (e.g. 3 passes in a row 5 x’s until halftime)
6. Create your own goal and forget about scoring them (e.g. hold them offside multiple times, disallow their best player to touch the ball, do not allow a shot within the 18 box)
7. Allow players to try different positions
The beginning of a blowout may occur. But what you do as a coach, after you recognize the blowout can change the way your child and other’s react at the end of the game.

As a region, it is important to know that being on the winning side of a blowout can risk your sportsmanship points. Allowing a blowout to occur and not trying to do something about it is a violation of good sportsmanship and can result substantial points being deducted by the region.
British Soccer Coach Clinics are Back
Mondays and Fridays Challenger Coaches will provide skills clinics for all AYSO 678 players.

AYSO Region 678 is delighted to welcome back Challenger Sports’ British Soccer Coaches to help with our 2013 Fall Soccer Season! Challenger Coaches are hosted by families in our region and committed to coaching our AYSO teams, players and coaches between August 12 and October 5. They also help train our Extra teams for the first few weeks of their season. Look for the coaches in their bright Red Challenger jerseys on your soccer field ready to help teams during practice. We are also introducing Monday and Friday Academy clinics open to all players. Please see information below to take advantage of these free clinics for your team members. Let’s not forget their guidance of our U5 & U6 teams on Saturday mornings as we start the new generation of soccer stars on the right foot! Read more below about all the great opportunities our AYSO teams, coaches and players have to learn from these terrific coaches who are here from all over Great Britain.
- Clinics – send your players and come yourself to observe!
All clinics are FREE to AYSO 678 players

Monday Academy phase of play clinics

8 WEEK CURRICULUM: Focusing on each aspect of the game from defense to midfield to striking and putting the ball in the back of the net.

U8: Monday 4:30pm – 5:30pm
U10: Monday 5:30pm – 6:30pm
U12: Monday 6:30pm – 6:30pm
U14+: Monday 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Mondays: Aug 12 – Sept 30 at Placerita

Friday Academy skills clinics – 8 Week Program focusing on technical skills

U8       4:30PM – 5:30PM
U10     5:30PM – 6:30PM
U12     6:30PM – 7:30PM
U14+   6:30PM – 7:30PM

Fridays: Friday Aug 16 – Oct 4 at Placerita

Friday Goal Keeper Clinics
U10     4:30PM – 5:30PM
U12     5:30PM – 6:30PM
U14+   6:30PM – 7:30PM

Coaches: Reserve a trainer for your own team sessions – Tues / Wed / Thurs

Visit http://www.wejoinin.com/sheets/lugkm to register for a session with one of our Challenger trainers. You will receive an email reply and can communicate to session expectations, ideas and questions. Any coach can reserve up to two sessions in advance on a first come first serve basis. Then on Friday at 6:0

678 Coaching News

Do I Really Need an Assistant Coach?

Absolutely, you do. This year AYSO is really focusing on having a certified assistant coach on the touchline along with the fully trained coach. There are many reasons for this requirement.

First, and foremost, every team needs to have a fully trained, and certified assistant coach for the SAFETY OF THE KIDS. The AYSO training helps to train a coach as to what conduct and game activities are age appropriate. For example, should U-10 players be taught how to do headers? If a coach is not certified and trained properly, the kids’ safety is compromised. AYSO goes through a rigorous process to try to make sure that the volunteers are properly screened and trained. At the end of the day, it is all about the kids having fun in a SAFE environment. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Second, there is the safety of the volunteer. The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 only gives protection to a volunteer if they are (1) registered as a volunteer; (2) trained by a process such as Safe Haven and (3) trained for the job that they are doing. If a parent simply jumps in as an assistant coach, they would not be properly trained through Safe Haven or trained as a coach. In otherwords, they wouldn’t be protected if something were to go wrong such as an injury or liability.

Third, AYSO’s national policy requires that each team have BOTH a certified and trained coach and assistant coach for practice and games. The national rules require that if a certified coach is not present for the games, the game is forfeited. Without the certified assistant coach, if a coach is sick or out of town, the team would not have a qualified coach, and would have to forfeit. No one wants that for their kids on a Saturday.

AYSO, however, provides many opportunities for coaches and assistant coaches to get certified. See below to see dates for training.

So How Do You Get An Assistant Coach? Simple, at the first meeting, you explain to the parents that EVERY TEAM needs a certified assistant coach. You can explain the reasons above and then if no one jumps in, you assign someone to jump in. Then you guide them to the online training options so they can get certified.

Coaching Class Schedule

For All Classes, Please Sign Up At EAYSO.ORG

U-6 Courses — Always available 24 hours a day at aysotraining.org
U-8 Courses — Always available 24 hours a day at aysotraining.org
U-10 — Always available 24 hours a day at aysotraining.org
08/03/13 — U6, U8, U10, U12 Coaches Course –Placerita Junior High
08/06/13 U-12 Course (over two nights on 8/6 and 8/7) at Placerita
08/07/13 – U-10 Field Certification
08/10/13 U-12 coaches course — placerita Junior High
08/10/13 — U-10 Field Certification — Placerita Junior High
Other coaching courses for all divisions are scheduled in our area. To see additional classes, go to EAYSO.ORG

U6-U8 Drill of the Week

Robin Hood

A great fun game that works on dribbling and keeping your head up to look for opportunities is Robin Hood. Essentially, all balls are in the middle of the field. 4 teams go their corner and when the coach says go, all teams run and get a ball and put it in their corner. When all balls are gone, teams can snatch balls from other teams. At the end of the time, the coach counts which team has the highest number of balls to be the winner. To see the drill click here .

U10-U14 Olders Drill of the Week

Knock off the Middle

This is a simple game that works on passing and shooting and defense. 4 players in a small area with a cone with a ball on top of the cone in the middle. Three play keep away with the 4th with another ball. Whenever, any of the three get a chance, they try to knock off the ball in the middle. If they do, they get points. Each player gets a minute to be in the middle.

To see the drill, Click here

2013 Coach Update

Welcome coaches to the 2013 year. We are excited about the upcoming season and are looking forward to seeing the kids play. There are a few important updates for this year. Here is a brief summary of some of the new requirements:

All Coaches U6 through U12 must be age appropriately certified. This means that if you are coaching any of these divisions, regardless of what prior experience you may have had coaching, you must make sure that you have a certification to coach the specific year that you are coaching. For example, if you have a u-12 certificate, but want to coach your younger child in U-8, you will need to get the specific U-8 certification. Don’t worry, though! Getting certified is easier than ever. See below to see all the ways you can get certified and trained.
All teams must have BOTH A COACH AND ASSISTANT COACH. All assistant coaches must be fully certified and trained.
Newly certified u-10 coaches must take a field certification if they get certified on-line.

Important Dates

Mon, Jul 29 Core Prog Coaches Meeting U05 – U08 Placerita Junior High, 6:30 p.m.
Wed, Jul 31 Core Prog Coaches Meeting U10 – U19 6:30 p.m., Placerita Junior High
Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013. First Day You are allowed To Practice
Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013. U-10 Orientation Meeting. All U-10 Parents and Coaches Must Attend. 6:00-7:00 Girls Division; 7:30 to 8:30 Boys Division, Placerita Junior High (Teams will be distributed to Coaches At This meeting)

678 Coaching Tip

Preparation for your coaching session is key. A prepared coach who spends some time to think about a theme for the practice, and then organizes his or her thoughts to have a flow for the session that emphasizes the practice will be far more successful than just winging it.

Remember, People never prepare to fail, they fail to prepare.

All Coaches must be Safe Haven Certified (and have taken Safe haven in 2012 or later). This training can be found at www.aysotraining.org.
All Coaches Must have a concussion certificate. This training can be found at www.aysotraining.org .
This year, we will be strictly enforcing AYSO’s Kids Zone policy in the U-10 division. The Kids Zone policy is designed to protect the kids. Soccer is a player’s game. Players learn the game by trying new things, making mistakes and trying again. Sideline critics who scream instructions at players or criticize referees or coaches who shout just slow down the learning process and make it less fun for everyone.
Negative, even violent, behavior of players, coaches and parents involved in youth sports has become almost epidemic in the U.S. Kids Zone® is a proactive effort to counteract this trend. To learn more, click here.

Fun, Fair and Safe!

Rules and Policies for Competitive Divisions

Competitive Divisions consist of U10, U12 and U14 teams. Below are several documents explaining the Region 678 rules and policies for these divisions. Click on each document to open it, read it carefully and print a copy for your coach binder.

Rules & Policies for U10-U14
Download 1.07 MB 260 downloads
Thinking of Coaching?
Download 48.65 KB 54 downloads
Offsite Setup Guidelines
Download 105.13 KB 58 downloads
Assembly Instructions for Square Tubing Portable Goal
Download 836.39 KB 61 downloads
Kicks from the Mark
Download 62.51 KB 65 downloads
Evaluation & Draft Procedures
Download 287.01 KB 54 downloads
U10 Orientation
Download 5.44 MB 81 downloads

Rules and Policies for Non-Competitive Divisions

Non-Competitive Divisions consist of U5, U6, U7 and U8 teams. Below are several documents explaining the Region 678 rules and policies for these divisions. Click on each document to open it, read it carefully and print a copy for your coach binder.

Division U5 & U6 Field Rules
Download 68.03 KB 70 downloads
Division U7 Field Rules
Download 66.67 KB 68 downloads
Division U8 Field Rules
Download 68.33 KB 70 downloads
AYSO Region 678 U5 & U6 Rules Summary and Referee Duties
Download 71.80 KB 69 downloads
AYSO Region 678 U7 & U8 Rules Summary and Referee Duties
Download 72.68 KB 75 downloads
Supervision Requirements
Download 323.44 KB 55 downloads

Coach

U12 Division

U10 Division

Suggestions for the Winning Coach

Suggestions for the Losing Coach

Rules and Policies for Competitive Divisions

Rules and Policies for Non-Competitive Divisions