First visit to this page? Read ALL postings.
9-2-8pm DC United tickets will be given away to some lucky attendee. Already coached for the MSP or can’t stay for the meeting? No problem - you may come at 5:30 and pick-up your items (after helping me unload my car) or pick them up and leave. Bringing a date? We do need volunteers (adults) to help hand out items.
8-28-8pm Coach Meeting - 6pm Sept 4 at Smartt’s Mill Middle School in Leesburg. (Directions can be found using the Fields Directions link on the Homepage). Assistant Coaches are invited but don’t have to attend. Coaches that can not attend, please ask your assistant coach to attend for you. ONLY ONE OF YOU ( coach OR assistant coach) can pick up the shirts & packets so please coordinate.
8-26-08am Read the lists below and make sure to pass on the information to parents. We are still waiting for the rec schedules - "sorry" to those of you coaching multiple teams. Fields are now posted - that you for the reminder. Repeat after me: Go find the rosters, contact the parents with info, don’t panic, contact Sharon with ?’s. Remember not to email player info - it’s against the law.
8-21-8pm Please make sure all Coaches & Assistant Coaches complete the Kidsafe form asap. Call 703-777-9977 for information. Sorry, I posted but did not contact AC’s. Leesburg - there were so many coaches that I contact everyone and those that called me back to confirm were given teams. So sorry but I didn’t know how else to do it.
Due to problems with too many adults on the fields, we will only have 1 AC. Coaches may have more but remember, they must have an approved completed Kidsafe form but only 2 adults at most should be on the field (preferably 1 on the field).
8-21-8am Coaches Meeting has not been confirmed yet. It is being rescheduled for the first week of Sept. and will be posted here when we know the vitals.
There are still a few issues with coaches of multiple teams so things may/will change. Watch the website.
Posted 8-4-8
Hello Coaches/Assistant Coaches and Thank You for Volunteering!
Please make sure that you can receive and please read any email from bellbell99@aol.com or msp@loudounsoccer.com. I rely on posting for everything so please don’t wait for emails. Emails are just sent for special issues only.
Don’t read the Coaches Corner (link on Homepage) for information about our coach meetings (unless it says MSP or Mini Soccer Program). I will post everything in the Mini Soccer Program area.
1 - Our MSP meeting has yet to be confirmed. It is planned for 1st week of Sept.
2- Please read the rest of the MSP pages and call your parents (do not send player information over the internet) when the rosters are turned on (I was told Aug 19) to let them know that you exist, your phone number, the website and that things may change so they need to check the website and their Registration information for their team. Please feel free to add other valuable information you would like to share.
3 - ALL coaches and assistant coaches MUST complete the KIDSAFE application by Aug. 20. Contact kidsafe@loudounsoccer.com with questions.
4 - Picture schedules will be posted on the website when they are ready. This is a great feature we added several seasons ago and works great IF everyone remembers their team number sssoooooo please make sure to impress upon your team the importance of knowing it. Coaches receive a complementary picture of the team.
Coaches, please make sure to contact all of the player’s parents on your roster (when it is posted) and let them know:
1) All players need to have shin guards, a size 3 ball, water and to dress for the weather.
2) The weather line information is on the main page of the website
3) Where and when the team will be playing (when the schedule is posted)
4) How to access the website information
5) There are no pets or smoking permitted on any fields or complexes
6) This is not a drop-off program; a responsible adult must be there for each player
7) There should not be any snacks with nuts, nut pieces or nut oils. This is for the safety of not only the players but any tiny siblings that wander around looking into unaccompanied containers
8) There are no refunds for this program
9)
Jerseys will be handed out on the first day
10) Do not email player information (name, dob, phone number, address, etc...) - it’s illegal.
11) All sessions are sequential. If we are rained out, then we just pick up where we left off. Make-ups will be posted
12) There may be some movement of players while we try and work out conflicts, our mantra is "flexibility"
13) There are no outside practices
14) Parents are expected to volunteer and clean field sidelines
15) This program is designed to provide the youngest player a fun soccer experience while learning the basics of soccer. We cheer for all of the players and do not keep score. Hooligans will receive a gentle reminder that this is All In Fun.
A coach list will be posted for each separate area. Team numbers, assistant coaches, times, fields and schedules will be added later.
When you get on the field:
Please remind all parents and players to clean up after each session (even if it was the team before you that left the trash) and that there are no pets or drinking of alcohol beverages allowed. These are serious issues and will result in our losing fields (or arrest) if caught on school grounds. These rules are not our rules but in order to use the fields we must abide by them.
Please contact the Field/Site Coordinator (the trainer on field #1) the first session if you need a coach shirt or an extra jersey for added players. Also, please give them back your extra jerseys. We need to make sure to get them to the players without jerseys.
Please contact the office if you are not receiving a weekly newsletter from Loudoun Soccer. Not that I care if you read it all, but if you do not get it, but it means you can not receive our emails for some reason and we your help to figure out why.
Some U5 coaches might have too many medium sized shirts (when they arrive) so please be kind and trade some of the "smalls" you have to help the tiny ones a bit.
If you find yourself on a field without another team to play or with 3 teams, something is amiss. Please check with the Site Coordinator (or trainer on field #1).
Please take team you are playing under your wing at any session if their coach is MIA. Unavoidable stuff happens.
Ask the parents to fill out the emergency medical information sheet and remind them it is not a drop off program.
Enjoy the trainers and feel free to ask them questions - they are here for you & the kids.
Please email Sharon at msp@loudounsoccer.com or call 540-338-3205 with concerns, notice of missing information, suggestions.
A coach list will be posted for each separate area. Team numbers, assistant coaches, times, fields and schedules will be added later.
We play 3 v 3 to increase the amount of "touches on the ball" for each child. Easy to do when it’s hot outside and few players want to be on the field or if you have minimal players. What happens when it’s freezing, both teams show up with 9 player or there are one or two who wake up in the morning and declare they aren’t going to move that day?
There are no soccer police so you just have to try and do the best you can for your team. Talk with the other coach and work things out. Try playing 4 v 4*(see below), 3 v 4, make the field larger (goals are movable, ignore the lines just like the kids do), or use 2 or 3 balls on the field at a time. This last one is great believe it or not. Make sure to have 2 balls in your hands at all time to quickly replace those that leave the field. Notice that I didn’t say "have the parents throw the balls in"?
Think about where you throw the ball in when it goes out. Sometimes it’s necessary to almost stand in front of the goal and feed the slowest player the ball in order for them to touch the ball or have the thrill of scoring. Watch the game as a whole and make sure the scoring is about even and take action accordingly. If you have any questions, ask a trainer/director that are close at hand or give us a call - we’re here to help you.
*4 v 4 is not recommended for regular play because the field is too crowded for this age group. Injuries are more likely to occur and the slower players become very frustrated. 4 v 4 is a tool to use when needed in evening out the game. Use 4 v 4, for instance, when you have a player or two who are basically there in name only, when it’s very cold and players need to stay warm, it’s the last session and you’ve really gotten good at controlling movement on the field using more than one ball so everyone can enjoy the game.
Another way of saying the same thing - We play 3 versus 3 in the U5 games. Less players on the field = more touches per child. What to do if there are tons of kids, you feel sorry for the ones waiting on the sideline because you think they aren’t getting enough time on the field or have someone who is constantly running away with the ball? Try using 2 balls on the field ..... and you can even add more players. Start with one ball and then roll another out to someone who rarely touches the ball while saying "New Ball - two balls on the field". This alerts them to look for another ball while allowing you to control the flow of play. You can also use this to your advantage by throwing the ball of into a far corner so the scoring machine chases it while allowing the other players to attack a second or even a third ball on the field. This practice allows more balls on the field, more touches on the ball, develops field sight (looking around continuously for the ball and other players) and even helps coaches (remember that the point of recreational soccer is to tire them out so you can have date night). It doesn’t matter what the score is, because we’re making sure they in end ties (right?), but it does matter that everyone gets to touch the ball. 
