Coach Guidelines

This document is designed to provide an overview of Club principles and administrative requirements associated with coaching a competitive or recreational team

General

As a coach, you are viewed by parents, players, opponents, officials and the Club as the team leader. You are the primary Club contact with players, opponents, officials and spectators. How you conduct yourself as a coach will reflect directly on yourself and the Club.

Our governing body, the EODSA, require that coaches be fully qualified in accordance with their ruling. Currently that is; OSA Senior Community (the former OSA Level 3) for all competitive teams . Coaching certification is not required for recreational teams. Fully qualified means having successfully completed all three components of the OSA Coaching Certification Program at the required level. The three components being; Youth 1, Youth 2 and Senior Community courses. The Club endorses the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) and suggests that all coaches be qualified at Level 1, as a minimum.

The OCSL defines whether a division is competitive or recreational. Currently, for youths, all Premier and Division 1 teams U10 and older are defined competitive. All other youth divisions are defined as recreational. For adult divisions, Premier, Division 1 and Divison 2 are competitive, all others are designated as recreational.

Coaching Ethics

The Club established a set of coaching ethics and expects all coaches to adhere to them. They are:

• Treat all players, opponents, parents, officials and spectators with respect.
• Respect the judgment and interpretation of the rules by officials.
• Exercise self-control at all times, setting an example for others.
• Accept winning graciously and defeat with dignity.
• Cooperate with peer coaches and Executive for the betterment of the Club.
• Applaud positive performances, handle lesser performances fairly and privately.
• Understand the rules and attempt to improve coaching techniques by availing themselves of educational opportunities.
• Conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Club objectives and principles.
• Foster Club loyalty.

Formation of Teams

The Club's objectives are best served when players of approximately equal ability compete against each other. This principle should be followed when teams are being selected, including instances where the Club enters more than one team in a given division.

Teams, for the outdoor season, are normally formed in the Spring as soon as possible after the close of registration. Selection is based on formal tryouts open to all eligible members of the Club.

On registration players will be assigned to the team of their choice or a division 1 team according to their age. Coaches may request a list of currently registered players from the Club Registrar.

Tryouts

As stated earlier team selection is based on formal tryouts open to all eligible members of the Club. Players participating in tryouts must be officially registered with the Club.

To ensure equal opportunity the coach should set and publish, to the participants, and for youths, their parents, a clear selection criteria, their expectations, and level of player commitment expected of those who will be selected.

Maximum and minimum number of players per team is stated in rules of the governing bodies. However, the Club may from time to time limit the team complement to less than the maximum number, as it deems necessary.

Team selection should not be prolonged more than necessary and, for Division 1 teams no later than April 30th. Where more than one team is entered in a given division the coaches should hold joint tryouts and cooperate with each other. All teams playing in the OCSL must be formed and registered with the EODSA before May 15th.

Player Selection

Player non-selection must be handled with diplomacy. Coaches should prepare the individual, and for youths, their parents for the likelihood of non-selection early enough so that the player has the opportunity to find another team of the similar calibre. The final decision and notice should be conducted in private between the player, and for youths, their parents and the coach. The coach should outline reasons for non-selection as succinctly as possible with regard for the feelings of the player.

The Club strongly suggest that coaches hold a players/parents meeting as soon as possible after team selection. At that time players should be reminded of the commitment, coach's expectations and an outline of the season plan presented.

Team Organization

Team organization is key to team success. The coach should not be encumbered with administrative and time consuming non-coaching activities, such as calling players, arranging tournaments, uniforms, finances and a host of other things. He/she must be free to spend the greatest time available with the athletes. The coach should enlist parents to assume the roles of team manager, trainer, equipment handler, treasurer, transportation coordinator, tournament coordinator, emergency coordinator and communication officer. This will allow the coach to concentrate on player and team skill development.

As coach you may appoint an assistant coach to help you. Sharing coaching tasks allows for greater flexibility, variety and permits individual or small group attention. The assistant must be qualified to the same extent as the head coach. The Club also recommend that the individual have some soccer playing or coaching experience.

The Club reserve the right to veto any coach made appointment for just cause.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

All teams are required to have in place an EAP. This plan should include vital player health information, police and ambulance emergency numbers, location of nearest hospital (regardless of where the game is played) and access to a cellular phone. This information should be readily available at all practices and games.

The appropriate vice-presidents and the Club Manager have the authority to examine any team's EAP on request. Coaches are expected to comply when such a request is made.

Athlete Information Card

This is a form that team/club representatives and/or club coaches have found to be an important part of their athlete's file. In the event of an injury while participating in events, the information provided can be of assistance to attending medical staff.

Words of advice for coaches

The following general information (extracted from the OSA INSURANCE HANDBOOK) regarding the standard of care required should be fully understood by all coaches.

Risk is a natural part of life and therefore a part of many sports. There is always a risk of injury when participating in sports. Because of this risk of injury there is also a risk of a lawsuit. The lawsuit in many cases will have to be proven on an unintentional tort (negligence) against you or the club. If so, in order to prove that negligence occurred, the injured party must establish three facts:

• damages were sustained
• duty relationship existed between the parties
• the conduct of the negligent party was below an acceptable standard of care

In Canada we have a defense in sport called the "Volenti Doctrine". The courts have recognized and understand that in any sport there are risks. which are "obvious", i.e."foreseeable" and "necessary". In other words, the risk of minor injury or injury is both foreseeable and necessary if one is to learn the sport. The risk of receiving blows to the body are both foreseeable and necessary to boxing, football, soccer, rugby, hockey or any other bodily contact sports if one is to accomplish the end result of the sport.

Nevertheless, in the case of an accident or injury you must understand and conduct yourself in the standard of care required by the situation. Therefore if your participant is injured, then:

• secure proper medical attention immediately
• if injury is serious, notify or transport individual to the nearest hospital
• make sure you have coaches/participants data sheet
• notify parents and follow-up on condition

The last word:

Since Williams v. Eady (1893), the legal precedent was set that an individual (coach) owed a duty to act as the "careful parent of a large family", a concept adopted almost universally since then to present day.

The ruling was, "Once a youngster had become hurt, would not a prudent father want to know how and why his child had become hurt in order to avoid the same kind of risk to another child? I think he would have."

Therefore, as a coach it is paramount that supervision of activities under your control are directly related to the complexity of the training session at hand. The rule of thumb is how much supervision would you give, if it was your child?

Your answer to this question should dictate your actions.

Practices/Games

Players must be officially registered with the Club and EODSA to participate in tryouts, practices and games (including exhibition games).

Game sheets and any authorized playing-up or trial permits must be completed and turned in to the referee prior to the start of all games. For all games player books/cards must be checked prior to the start of games and in accordance with league rules. For tournaments game sheets and player identification should be handled in accordance with tournament rules.

The Club will make every effort to acquire indoor and outdoor practice space to accommodate all the teams. However, coaches are encouraged to find practice facilities for their own team.

Practice commitment varies depending upon the age, calibre of play and team objectives. Normally practices are a two hour duration once or twice a week. For youth players the Club does not recommend practices in excess of this without agreement of all players, and for youths, their parents.

Travel permits are required for all exhibition games and tournaments held outside the EODSA area of jurisdiction.

Game Discipline

Players, during the course of a game, may be subject to referee discipline in the form of cautions (yellow cards) or ejection from the game (red cards). The referee may also take action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may at his/her discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds.

There are OCSL and EODSA rules with respect to game disciplines handed out by the referee which must be adhered to. On accumulation of three yellow cards players are suspended for next game and fined $25. If a second yellow card is issued to the same player in a single game it is an automatic game ejection (equivalent red card) with a subsequent next game suspension and fine of $25. A game ejection is an automatic next game suspension and $25 fine with possible longer suspension and larger fine depending upon the reason for ejection.

For all game ejections the coach must turn the player book/card to the OCSL Office, within 48 hour of game time. The coach is responsible for ensuring that game suspensions are upheld and must include the players name on the game sheet with a notation indicating the suspension. Since these rules are fairly onerous and can lead to further suspensions and fines, if not adhered to, the coach should track player discipline on a regular basis.

Coaches must be aware of and advise players that they are personally responsible for all fines levied by leagues or EODSA. The Club shall not accept responsibility for any monies owing to leagues or EODSA for coach or player discipline.

Rescheduling OCSL Games

The Club discourages the arbitrary rescheduling of games. Should coaches wish to reschedule a game they must have the concurrence of their opponent's coach, advise the League Office and person responsible for referee assignment. The coach is also responsible for obtaining a field for the rescheduled game.

Inclement Weather

The referee or fields groundkeeper are the sole judges of when a game should be abandoned for any reason. Coaches do not have the authority to abandon games.

Weather conditions are the most likely reason to cause game delays or abandonment. Occasions will arise when severe weather conditions occur immediately before or during the game. Youth referees may be unaware of the dangers or intimidated by forceful and aggressive coaches and continue play during storm warnings, thunder storms and distant lightning strikes.

However, coaches should consider the safety of their players as a first priority and as such may request, of the referee, the abandonment the game due to unsafe conditions. Particularly during thunder storms and adjacent lightning strikes the coach should move his players to the safety of nearby automobiles. Players should not be permtted to shelter in open spaces or under trees.

Should the referee insist that the game proceed during adjacent storms and lightning strikes the coach should, inform the referee of his/her decision and remove his/her players to safety regardless of the outcome. It is unlikely that coaches or teams would be disciplined when acting in good faith and in the interests of player safety.

Playing Time

It is not in the Club's best interest to have marginally participating youth players. Youth players must be given appropriate amount playing time if they are expected to progress and mature. To the extent possible youth players, particularly at the younger age categories, should be given a minimum of one half a game playing time. This does not necessarily mean per game, but over several games or a season it should average out to that.

Playing-up/down

For OCSL games playing-up is governed by League Rules which coaches must adhere to. For league games playing down (e.g. a U15 eligible player registered on a U16 team cannot play "down" on a U15 team) is not permitted. For tournament play, playing-up or down is determined by the particular tournament rules set by the Host organization. Coaches should be aware of those rules before making player commitment. In league games officially documented Playing-up or Trial Permits must be completed for all playing-up instances and turned in with game sheets.

The Club encourages the concept of playing-up but insists that the team "calling-up" has no priority over those of the younger or lower level team. In addition the player "called-up" must be afforded reasonable playing time. Players "called-up" should not be used to the detriment of regular players and should be considered in a substitute role.

For league games and tournaments, the Club also encourages the concept of playing-up within the Club rather than using guest players from other clubs.

On all occasions the requesting coach must deal the the target player's coach before an approach is made to the player. Common courtesy requires that both coaches concur on any situation involving playing-up or down. The final decision on whether to play up or down rests with the player and, for youths, their parents.

Club Organized Activities

In an effort to foster Club loyalty, the Club encourages all teams to participate. Coaches are expected to promote and support the participation of their team in such activities. Teams will not receive funding for alternate or other conflicting activities on their part.

Complaints

From time to time differences of opinion between players, coaches and parents will give rise to complaints. These should be handled in private, courteously and without animosity. If differences are still unresolved the complainant should be made aware that the issue should be taken up with the appropriate vice-president.

Similarly, if parents or players have lost sight of the Club's Code of Conduct as it applies to them, the coach should request assistance of their vice-president to address the issue.

Should a member wish to proceed further with an unresolved complaint please contact Roy Hillier at royhil2001@yahoo.ca.