Frequently Asked Questions
How much time is required for me to commit?
For 6U and 8U, practice is 45-60 minutes one to two nights per week. Practices usually stop once game start due to time out restrictions. For 10U, 12U, and 14U, practice is 60-90 minutes one to two nights per week. Once games begin, the upper age divisions can opt to hold one practice a week if you choose. You’ll also spend a small amount of time planning your practice using your appropriate coaching manual. You should arrive ~10 minutes early to set up so you’re relaxed and ready to go when the kids show up.
All divisions – 6U through 14U – usually play a game on Saturday (there will be exemptions for holidays and tournaments). For 6U-8U, games don’t require much advance prep for games. For 10U, 12U, and 14U, Coaches generally spend some time on creating a lineup and deciding on game strategy. The spring season runs from April to June with possible playoffs, if time allows, in June for 10U, 12U, and 14U.
Head coaches generally have some administrative duties such as contacting parents and answering their questions, etc., which are heaviest before the season starts. Some of these duties can be delegated to your Assistant Coach or Team Manager or Team Parent if you have one. Once games begin, these administrative duties are minimal.
Do I have to actually know the rules and techniques of soccer to coach?
AYSO will teach you what you need to know. As long as you have a desire to help kids learn and have fun, you’re good to go. Year after year, Region 140 says that it’s more important for a coach to be fun vs. competitive. You just have to know more about soccer than your <fill in the blank> year-old player.
The referees are taught the Laws of the Game and how to apply them to little kids. That said, you’re welcome to learn as much as you can, and the more you learn, the more you bring to the kids. Once you start coaching, you’ll have a better idea of what information to look for.
Will there be coach training? If so, when and for how long?
AYSO provides the nation’s only accredited coach training program. Coaches take an age-appropriate Coach training class every other year to be certified to coach in a specific division. These classes get progressively longer and more detailed as your players age. These courses are in-person and are offered in the Carson City and surrounding areas. In addition, all AYSO volunteers have to take safety and child protection courses that are mandated by law. These include one in-person and three online safety courses. You can find these courses on AYSOU in your volunteer profile.
Do I need to have soccer practice equipment?
AYSO Region 140 provides every coach with a basic soccer equipment: a Coach bag with balls, a pump, cones, pinnies, and a first aid kit. Many coaches like to supplement this with additional balls, cones, etc. Some also buy mini pop up goals but the cones provided work as well.
A folding cart is also useful to lug your gear around but not required or necessary.
Will I have an Assistant Coach?
We try to make sure each team has at least a Head Coach or an Assistant Coach which will most likely become the Head Coach if not enough volunteers sign up.
When and where is practice?
One of the perks to coaching is that the Head coaches decide when and where their team practices. You may practice at any one of the region’s pre approved field locations on the list.
When and where are the games?
During the regular season, almost all games are on Saturdays, starting at 9:00 am. There will be midweek games as well on one night chosen for each age division.
Can I coach more than one team?
Yes! Many volunteers choose to coach multiple teams. If you do coach more than one team, we will attempt (and are almost always successful) to schedule your games so that you can coach (and travel between) multiple games. This benefit is mainly for Head Coaches, but we also will try to accommodate Assistant Coaches too.
Can my teenager get community service credit for coaching?
Yes. While he/she can’t be an “official” coach until age 18, we welcome youth volunteers to watch the coach class, take the Safe Haven course, and help out as much as they want. We’ll sign off on volunteer hours, and, if they want to referee, they can ref for players two years younger than them.
Will I be required to wear certain outfits, or can I be myself?
Region 140 provides coaches with an AYSO Coach matching jersey, which we encourage coaches to wear for games, but you can wear whatever you want.
What happens if I can’t make a game? Or if something changes so that I can no longer coach?
Often, either the Head Coach or Assistant Coach will miss a few games during the season. This is why we try to have two coaches and why both coaches receive the same training. If both coaches will miss a game, contact your Coach Administrator or RC about a replacement or rescheduling a game. For safety reasons, only vetted, certified and trained volunteers can fill in for you.
If you’re unable to continue to coach at all, we ask the Ass’t Coach to step in full-time.