Coaches Guide

The McDonalds skills zone coaching handbook, which can be found below is a very useful tool for all team coaches. 

• The first decision to be made is the day and time of training sessions. These usually start between 3.30 pm and 5.00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday for an hour. Some teams opt to train through the school holidays, some don’t.
• Early on your sessions you MUST explain to the children to respect the club equipment. Balls, cones and nets are very expensive. It could be their job to pack the gear in at the end of the sessions.
• The coaching of children is as much about encouragement and enthusiasm as it is about skills. As a Club we are working on ways of improving Coaches skill levels, but as a Coach the most important thing you can provide your team with is enthusiasm.
• Introduce yourself to the opposition coach and discuss the game with them prior to starting. Agree on how your subs will change and how closely particular rules are to be played i.e. throw ins.
• REMEMBER: If you are asked to change game rules you are quite in your rights to say NO. RULES ARE RULES. i.e. if you do agree to the opposition playing more players than allowed or any other rule changes and they win, you cannot protest if you agreed to these changes prior to the game start.
• Knowledge of the rules for your grade is important so that you are confident in the decisions you make. Carry our Corner Kick Magazine which contains the rules and show the opposition to settle any disputes . These aren't Glenview's rules, they are the WaiBop Federation rules.
• BE AWARE, A REFEREE CAN DISALLOW A PLAYER ONTO THE FIELD IF THEY ARE NOT WEARING BOOTS OR SHINPADS. NO ARGUMENT! THIS IS NOT NEGOTIABLE