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Coaches

Last Updated: Jan 30th, 2012

Coach's Creed

The Primary responsibility of a youth soccer coach is to help the young player to have fun, learn and improve. This responsibility makes a youth coach different from any other official in the club, league or association. We (coaches) coach for the joy and success of the players - and no other reason.

Role of the Coach

A coach should help to improve the performance of the players (and the team) both physically and psychologically. The position of coach is demanding and multi-faceted. Parent, teacher, counselor, disciplinarian, organizer.....these are some of the duties demanded of the coach. When players sign-up with a league, team or club, they expect to receive something for their registration fee. They want to play and learn and they also want to do so in an enjoyable environment.

Shaping the lives of young people is a large responsibility, effected not only through what we teach, but also the way we teach. The "process" of learning is at least as important as the "product". In addition to what they learn about soccer, children may learn to be better people. You may be overwhelmed by your influence, but you accept that influence when you assume the position of coach.

To develop players, you must have a sound knowledge of the game. This knowledge relates to skill, technique, tactics, fitness, and Laws of the Game. Coaches are generally knowledgeable about some of these aspects, but weak in others. Good coaches are always seeking new ideas to develop their knowledge of the game and players.

As coaches, we must try to find out what potential a player has so that we can develop that potential and make the player the best player he or she can be.

Coach Development Fund

In 2010, the NWT Soccer Association began a 'Coach Development Fund' to help our northern coaches continue their education and certification. On an annual basis $3000 will be available for coaches to apply to cover the cost of travel, food, and accommodations associated with any courses or programs that supports coach education and certification. Please click here to apply.

FREE Soccer Coaching, Drills, Tips and Advice

Free advice from Premier League academy coaches, easy to coach warm-ups and small-sided games sent directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit the "Better Soccer Coaching" website to talk to other coaches in a forum to discuss hot topics and receive "10 Proven Tips for a more successful Soccer Season Report" when you sign up.

Check out our Practice Plan for coaches.

Respect In Sport

NWT Soccer has recently implemented the "Respect In Sport" program to ensure the safety of our participants and provide an additonal tool to our coaches and volunteers.

Through procactive education, NWT Soccer is providing an easy-to-use 3 hour online program for all of our recereation leaders, coaches, officials and volunteers by making them less vulnerable and more confident in dealing with issues of abuse, bullying and harassment, and legal and moral responsibilities.

All coaches wishing to travel outside of the Northwest Territories for soccer-related events are required to take this online course. All required and interested individuals wishing to take the course should contact our Executive Director, Lyric Sandhals for log-in details.

click here to visit the "Respect In Sport" website

Do you have an injured player on your soccer team?

If so, NWT Soccer would like to introduce Angela Pace. Angela works as a physiotherapist in Yellowknife and and has extensive experience working with soccer injuries in the UK. She worked as the physiotherapist for the Bristol City Football Club in the English championship league, treated several international players, and has worked within the academy with players aging from 8-18.

Angela is interested in being involved with soccer in the NWT and has volunteered to lend her expertise to help our northern soccer teams. She specializes in fitness testing, rehabilitation and injury prevention and is available to answer any simple questions you may have. If you have an injured player on the bench and you're wondering what kind of fitness and skill development they can do to stay in shape and maintain their training, please contact Angela by e-mail.