INFORMATION: recreation COACHES

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL COACHES:

• Pass a background check.
• Complete the Abuse Prevention Training (to be assigned by the club administrator)
• Attend the mandatory coach meeting (virtual meeting before the start of the season)
• Read and follow the Coaches Pledge
• Read and follow the Coach's Code of Conduct (below)

Start of Season:
Recreation coaches are required to attend the coach's meeting prior to the start of the season. (This meeting is virtual).

new for spring 2025

• SPRING 2025 - REC COACHES MEETING PRESENTATION (PDF)

Coaches Bag:
Head coaches can arrange to pick up their coach's bags (balls, scrimmage pinnies, cones, gloves, first-aid kit) by contacting the club administrator.

Players Uniforms (Rec):
Please advise the parents that they are responsible for purchasing uniforms at the Sterling soccer retail store (see uniform page) for new players. Uniforms numbers are required for the U11 and over age groups, and all numbers are always assigned by the club administrator.

Communication with Parents:
After you have been contacted by the club administrator and have received your team roster, be sure to contact the team parents as soon as possible before the first week of practice.

You will need to inform the parents about:

• Your team's practice schedules & location
• Game schedules
• Required equipment (balls, water bottles, etc..)
• Safety practice measures (COVID)
• Your expectations, philosophy,  and discipline procedures

Inform parents that Sterling Soccer's focus on the recreation side is on skills development, sportsmanship, making new friends, having fun, and learning the game. Not winning games.

Parent Volunteers:
The club administrator will email you the names of the parents who volunteered as team parents or game day assistants.  Please make sure to assign them to team tasks such as game-day support, snack scheduler, and other logistical help that you may need.

Field closures:
Ensure that team parents opted-in to text messages in our league's system. If they aren’t certain, have them log back in and check their Sports Engine user's profiles to receive texts and emails from the club administrator. This way they get league-wide text and email notifications when fields close. As the coach, you can also communicate with the team parents by using text and email on the Team app.

Team Portal:
Please familiarize yourself with the team portal app (read below), as this is a valuable tool for communicating with parents and players for games & practices, alerts for weather cancellations, and other important team events.

Sterling Soccer Club has adopted the following Code of Conduct, expected of all spectators at Sterling Soccer events, to create the best possible environment for our children and to foster sportsmanship by positive example.

Sterling Soccer has a Zero Tolerance policy for verbal or physical abuse toward players, coaches, referees, or parents, be they part of Sterling Soccer or associated with an opposing team. Parents or coaches who verbally or physically abuse another player, coach, referee, or parent, will be banned from Sterling Soccer events.

CONDUCT TOWARD PLAYERS
 

I RECOGNIZE:

• Children participate in soccer to have fun. The game is for the players, not the spectators.
• Children learn best by a good example and have much more need for example than criticism.
• Younger egos are fragile and are greatly and negatively influenced by criticism, ridicule, and pressure.
• The attitudes, actions, and words of parents and spectators have a significant impact on the children and the playing atmosphere of the match.
• The benefits of development, teamwork, and fun far outweigh the benefits of or emphasis on winning.

I PLEDGE:

• I will be a positive role model, encouraging sportsmanship by my example at all times.
• I will make soccer a positive experience for all players, including my child, encouraging and supportive whether the team wins or loses.
• I pledge unconditional support for my child. I will not force my child to participate in soccer and I will never modulate my level of affection or attention based on my child’s performance.
• In the excitement of the matches, I will control my emotions and my words. I will refrain from all criticism and negative comments, limiting my participation to cheering and applauding good play from both teams.
• I will place the emotional and physical well-being of the children above my personal desire to win.

CONDUCT TOWARD OTHER COACHES
 

I RECOGNIZE:

• Coaches make a substantial commitment to the soccer players.
• All coaches have earned the right to direct their players during practices and matches in a positive manner that helps in the development of the overall player.

I PLEDGE:

• I will show respect for all coaches and support them in any way that I can.

CONDUCT TOWARD REFEREES

I RECOGNIZE:

• Refereeing is a difficult job, requiring physical and mental endurance, constant attention, and split-second decisions.
• Many referees are children or young adults. They are developing skills on the job.
• Since they are human, they will make mistakes. If I yell at and discourage referees who are themselves still learning, I realize it is likely they will not continue to referee games and without referees, games cannot be played. Referees will only get better with real practice. I know this is recreational soccer, not the World Cup Final.
• Our referees have undergone considerable training to earn the right to officiate the match. They are under constant evaluation by those knowledgeable of the Laws of the Game in order to improve their skills.
• By the Laws of the Game - The Referee is given the full and sole authority to judge the match. Even if they make a mistake, their word is final.
• Any issues with the referee may be conveyed to the Club Administrator, the Referee Assignor, or Referee Mentor, but NEVER THE REFEREE.
• Each year the Sterling Soccer Club loses good young referees due to abuse by players, parents, spectators, and coaches.

I PLEDGE:

• I will not address the referee during the match.
• I will not openly show dissent, question the judgment, or otherwise undermine referee authority during or after a match.
• I will not use sarcasm, verbal harassment, intimidation, or pose physical threats.
• I will respect and support the referee, accepting their judgments in a sporting manner.
• I understand that the unsporting conduct of coaches, parents, spectators, and players is not tolerated by Sterling Soccer, the VYSA, or US Youth Soccer and may result in my suspension and the suspension of my child. Physical assault or threats of any kind will result in banishment from Sterling Soccer Club events.

NEW!

• SPRING 2025 - Rec Coaches Meeting Presentation (PDF)

U8 to U12 Age Groups

• Session 1 U8-U12 Topic Dribbling
• Session 2 U8-U12 Topic Passing
• Session 3 U8-U12 Topic Ball Control
• Session 4 U8-U12 Topic Shooting

U13 to U19 Age Groups

• Session 1 U13-U19 Topic Passing
• Session 2 U13-U19 Topic Dribbling
• Session 3 U13-U19 Topic Shooting
• Session 4 U13-U19 Topic Ball Control

• Game Rules - Division Structure
• U6-U10 Rules & Guidelines
• U9-U10 Build Out Line Rules (updated Spring 2024)
• U9-U11 (Build Out Video)
• U11-U19
• FIFA Law of the Game (2020)

• Coaches Pledge
• Schedules
• Fields
• All-Stars Tournaments
• Concussions (Fact Sheet)
• Concussions (Policy)

Coaches Resources (EXTERNAL LINKS):

• US Youth Soccer - Rules of the Game
• Changing the Game Project
• US Soccer (Coaching)
• Virginia Youth Soccer (VYSA)

STERLING FIELDS

Field status

SPORTS ENGINE TEAM - MOBILE APP (INSTALL)

On an iOS Device

• On your device, open the App Store. 
• Search for SportsEngine. 
• Tap the Get button to begin installing the app.
• Open the app on your device.
• On the Settings tab, tap Account > Sign In.
• Use your login information to sign in to your account.

On an Android Device

• On your device, open Google Play. 
• Search for SportsEngine. 
• Tap the Install button to begin installing the app.
• Open the app on your device.
• On the Settings tab, tap Account > Sign In.
• Use your login information to sign in to your account.

SportsEngine Mobile Start-Up Guide

LOGGING IN:
To log in to the SportsEngine app, you will use your email address that you registered with us, and your password.

USING A PASSWORD:

• Enter the "Email Address" associated with your SportsEngine account.
• Click Next. 
• Enter your "Password", then click Sign In to type in your password manually.

FIND AND FOLLOW TEAMS:
Finding and following a team is a little different based on whether you are a guardian of or a rostered member of a team, or a fan.

Following a Team as a Rostered Member or Guardian
If you are a Rostered Member or a Guardian of a rostered athlete on an active team, your team will appear on the Teams tab by default. If you are unsure whether or not your league has activated your team, you can check if your team is visible on the league's SportsEngine website. 

MESSAGING:
From the Home tab, select the "Team" you wish to manage.
Tap Messages.

How to Send a Team Chat
NOTE: "Team Chats" are Push Notifications. Unlike text messages, which go through a mobile carrier, push notifications are sent/received by your phone's operating system.

• Within the Home tab, tap the Chat button in the team you wish to message.
• Enter the desired message.
• To include attachments, tap the camera icon in the message bar.
• Once satisfied, tap the paper airplane icon to send.
   

You can view all FAQs and support links on the Sports Engine support website page for team parents here.

How to Add a Guardian to a Player's Profile Using the Mobile App

You must be the Team's Creator or assigned Team Manager privileges to add a guardian on behalf of an athlete through the mobile app. 

NOTE: Pending Members will first need to accept their team invite before additional guardians can be added. 

• From the Home tab, select the "Team" you wish to manage.
• Tap Roster.
• If applicable, filter by season.
• Ensure the "Players" tab is selected.
• Locate and tap on the "Player" you wish to manage.
• Tap the Guardian button. 
• Enter the "Email Address" of the new guardian.
• Once complete, tap Send Invite. 
• This action will invite the user to accept and confirm the email address entered.  Once confirmed, full Guardian Privileges will be granted.

Need SPORTS ENGINE help NOW?
Please contact our club administrator if you have any issues/questions on using Sports Engine.