I have never coached a team before, how will I know what to do?
WSA will provide you with a coaching handbook, a curriculum for the age group, as well as equipment--these will be provided at the Coaches’ Meeting.  We also have a Player Development Officer who can provide one-on-one training on how to conduct a practice.   We also encourage you to team up with someone who does not have a restrictive schedule to be your Assistant Coach.

How are teams selected?
Teams are created and developed on the premise of fairness to promote FUN over winning at all costs.  Head coaches and Assistants will have their child/children on their team.  Teams are created by an electronic team-building program and coaches are not involved in the team-building or selection process.  U5 and U6 teams are created by balancing the teams based on age and gender.  Under 7 – Under 12 age groups are balanced based on gender and Skills Assessment scores.  While team-balancing is not an exact science, we try to create evenly matched teams.  Therefore, we do not have teams with children with like skills (e.g. advanced players or beginners) all on one team because the level of competition would not make it enjoyable for the children.  Although MiniWee teams are initially built by age and gender, teams are then manually adjusted to meet all requests for children playing together. U5 - U12 Coaches cannot request players (other than their own child or the child of one Assistant).   Requests from parents for a specific coach will not be honored.  The game schedules are created using a software program so there is always a possibility that siblings may have games at the same time at two different locations--we will not honor requests to adjust the schedule or for children to switch teams to resolve scheduling conflicts.  WSA recommends that single parents, or families where one parent may not be available on game days, not register multiple children in our programs to avoid disappointment due to scheduling conflicts.  Due to the up-front costs related to facilities, fields, equipment, uniforms, administration and insurance, etc., once a player is registered, no refunds will be issued after the refund deadline published on the website and payment made for one season cannot be credited/applied to another.

What commitment is expected regarding practices?
The Head Coach sets the practice days/times for his/her team.  MiniWee teams do not have practices.   Typically U5 & U6 teams practice one day a week.  U8 – U12 teams usually practice two days a week.  U7 teams are in between the two groups; some coaches practice once a week while others have two weekday practices.   Coaches will instruct the children on the basic skills and rules of the game geared toward the age level and skill level that the children display so it is important that children attend their own team’s practices.  Requests from parents to switch to another team due to conflicts or transportation issues, will not be honored.

When will the games be played?
Games will be played on Saturdays unless field space restrictions or extenuating circumstances force us to re-schedule games.  Requests from parents to switch to another team due to conflicts or transportation issues, will not be honored.  The game schedules are created using a software program so there is always a possibility that siblings may have games at the same time at two different locations--we will not honor requests to adjust the schedule or for children to switch teams to resolve scheduling conflicts.  WSA recommends that single parents, or families where one parent may not be available on game days, not register multiple children in our programs to avoid disappointment due to scheduling conflicts. 


When will we know the game schedule?
Each coach will receive copies of the schedules at the Coaches' Meeting for distribution to parents.   The game schedule will be published on our website no later than the Monday prior to the first of two Practice Saturdays.  The U5 through U12 programs consists of 2 Saturday Practices followed by 8 Saturday Games.  Weekday Practices will begin the week following the first Saturday Practice.   Requests from parents to switch to another team due to conflicts or transportation issues, will not be honored.  The game schedules are created using a software program so there is always a possibility that siblings may have games at the same time at two different locations--we will not honor requests to adjust the schedule or for children to switch teams to resolve scheduling conflicts.  WSA recommends that single parents, or families where one parent may not be available on game days, not register multiple children in our programs to avoid disappointment due to scheduling conflicts.   Weekday and Saturday soccer activities may be scheduled on religious holidays or may conflict with personal activities--due to the tight timelines and vendor deadlines involved with organizing the league, we will not be able to accommodate requests to reschedule events and/or adjust game schedules, Picture Day, etc.

When will teams get uniforms?
WSA orders the uniforms for all teams; uniforms will be available by the first game day.  Coaches will be asked to send a team representative to pick up the uniforms from a designated distribution location.  Since many parents are reluctant to volunteer, WSA has to do the best with the limited volunteer resources available for uniform distribution.  We do not have the volunteer resources to deliver the uniforms to coaches or allow coaches/teams to pick up at their convenience from someone’s home.  Coaches do not have to pick up the team’s uniforms, they just need to send ONE parent from the team or a friend or neighbor.


What happens if there is inclement weather?
If threatening weather arises, practices should be cancelled.  The decision to cancel practice will be up to the coach.  Parents are expected to remain with their child at practices.

The rule of thumb is that games will be played in the rain as long as there is no lightning.   Coaches will call the WSA Status Line to determine if games are suspended or cancelled due to inclement weather and will inform parents.  The Status Line number will be listed in the Coaches' Handbook and must NOT be given out to parents.  Unless a game is cancelled, parents are expected to bring players to the field because the decision regarding when the delayed game will be played will be made at the field.  Refunds will not be issued due to inclement weather, illnesses, injuries or other circumstances beyond WSA's control.

Why are the teams and spectators placed on opposite sides of the field?
Players and spectators are kept separate to aid the coach and referees in team management.   It helps the coach to have all the players in one place.  It helps the player to understand that instructions should come from the coach during the game and he/she should not have the distractions of family around.  Coaches must enforce this rule--this is also a safety requirement as only those who have been approved to coach (i.e. passed the background check and selected by WSA) should be on the coaches' side of the field.

How do I become a coach?
If you sign up to to coach, your child will be placed on your team.  You may download a copy of the Volunteer Application form from the Coaches’ Corner on our website.  ALL sections, including your social security number (which is mandatory),  must be completed  and a copy of your Driver's License must be included for us to perform a background check.   Bring the completed form with you to turn in when you register your child.  You will also need to check the "Coach" box on your child’s registration form.  Volunteer Application forms will also be available at registration.  There are no qualifications for one to volunteer to coach. We only ask that you be dedicated to the kids of WSA! It's just that easy.  If you will not be registering a child and wish to coach, please complete the form and submit to WSA by the Final Registration date published on the website.  Email and mailing addresses are included with the Volunteer Application.
 
U5 – U12 Head Coaches will determine the weekly practice days and times for their teams based on their own personal schedules.  Weekday practices will begin the week following the first Practice Saturday.  Equipment and curriculum guides for the age group will be provided by WSA as well as a Coach's Handbook.  The Player Development Officer (PDO) will also be available to provide one-on-one training on how to conduct a practice.  Weekday and Saturday soccer activities may be scheduled on religious holidays or may conflict with personal activities--due to the tight timelines and vendor deadlines involved with organizing the league, we will not be able to accommodate requests to reschedule events and/or adjust game schedules, Picture Day, etc.

MiniWee—the commitment to be a MiniWee Assistant coach is very minimal because the Player Development Officer (PDO) will be the Head Coach and will run the first 30 minutes of the MiniWee sessions (which are held on five Saturdays only).  The MiniWee Assistant Coach (one assigned per team) will assist the PDO during the first 30 minutes and will be left to run the last 15 minutes of the session after receiving guidance/instructions from the PDO.   The role of the MiniWee Assistant Coach is more administrative.  A MiniWee Assistant Coach Handbook will be provided to guide you with the tasks required.  Sessions will be held on Saturdays only and it is expected that the MiniWee Assistant will be available for all five Saturdays of the program.  Depending on the number of teams, team session times may begin between the hours of 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and team session times will change from week to week as the schedule rotates.  MiniWee Assistants must have a flexible business/personal schedule.   Weekday and Saturday soccer activities may be scheduled on religious holidays or may conflict with personal activities--due to the tight timelines and vendor deadlines involved with organizing the league, we will not be able to accommodate requests to reschedule events and/or adjust game schedules, Picture Day, etc. 

Can I team up with other parents to help with coaching?
U5 - U12 Head Coaches may select one Assistant.  Requests will be honored providing both volunteers are in good standing (e.g. valid certification) with the league.  If both you and your Assistant have busy travel schedules, you will have to organize with another authorized WSA coach to assist with team practices when both the Coach and Assistant are unavailable.  Coaches may also make arrangements with the Player Development Officer to conduct their team’s practices when the Coach and Assistant are unavailable, if there are no other WSA coaches available to run practice.   We recommend that Head Coaches and Assistants do not team up if they both have busy or restrictive schedules involving travel.  The WSA Board’s policy is that coaches cannot select more than one Assistant as it may compromise the integrity of the team-balancing, plus there may not be enough assistant coaches.  One MiniWee Assistant Coach will be assigned to each MiniWee Team; as a result, volunteers may not team up to be assigned to a MiniWee team.

What if parents say their child cannot attend because they don't like the practice day/time selected by the coach?
Parents may indicate their practice day restrictions on their child’s registration form so coaches may be aware of their preference.  However, If the coach’s schedule does not permit him/her to be flexible and accommodating, a refund will not be issued if the team’s practice time conflicts with the parent's schedule.  Children cannot switch teams or practice with other teams and coaches are not authorized to permit players to practice or play with another team.  Participants must attend their team’s practices in order to get their guaranteed 50% playing time in games.   If a child is involved with other activities that do not have a flexible schedule, we recommend that parents do not register their child in our league.  Requests from parents to switch to another team due to conflicts or transportation issues, will not be honored.  Due to the up-front costs related to facilities, fields, equipment, uniforms, administration and insurance, etc., once a player is registered, no refunds will be issued after the refund deadline published on the website and payment made for one season cannot be credited/applied to another.

Do coaches have to set up the fields on Saturday?
The organizers of the league arrange for volunteers to line the fields.  The first teams to play on a field on Saturday are responsible for setting up and anchoring the goals (one per team), and the last teams to play on a field on Saturday are responsible for returning and locking them (one per team).