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Coaches

BASIC INFORMATION: rec 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).

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 SportEngine 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.


COACHES CODE OF CONDUCT

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! Recreation Coaches Meeting Presentation Spring 2023

Review the latest information for rec coaches for Spring 2023.

STERLING FIELDS

Field status


Fields Status
Algonkian ES (AE) CLOSED 6/8
Hencken Fields #5, 6,7 CLOSED 6/8
Hencken Turf Fields #8,9 CLOSED 6/8
River Bend Middle School CLOSED 6/8
NOVA Fields CLOSED 6/8
Park View HS Turf not available
Claude Moore Field #7 CLOSED 6/8

GAME GUIDELINES

  • TEAM LOCATION ON THE FIELD
    • During games, coaches and their teams need to be on the opposite side of the field from parents and spectators.
    • For younger age groups, this policy may not apply
       
  • SUBSTITUTION/GAMESMANSHIP
    • Games are much more fun when evenly matched and competitive. Use the time to have fun, help players learn new skills, and demonstrate good sportsmanship.
    • Substitute fairly, and try to give each player at least 50% of playing time, regardless of experience and skill
       
  • REFEREES
    • Respect the referees! Show them respect during the game and expect the same from your team. Do not challenge a call during the game.
    • If you do have any issues with game officiating, please address them with the club administrator and the referee coordinator via email after the game.
       
  • RUNNING UP THE SCORE
    • Mercy rule - please try to not run up the score. For example, if a team is winning the game 4 – 1 and scores another goal, they must reduce the number of players on the field by at least one player, if it scores another goal, then another player must be removed, etc. 
    • Note that in the SFL League for ages 11-19, running up the score may lead to disqualification, and the game being awarded to the losing team.
  • COMPLAINTS/DISPUTES
    • Coaches and parents are to address any disputes or complaints against the SFL league, referees or other team with our own team administrator. Please do not contact any outside clubs or organizations.

QUESTIONS?

Please direct any questions to Tara, our club administrator.

Sports Engine Team Portal

FOR COACHES
The Sports Engine Team portal for coaches is available as a mobile app, and can also be accessed by using our website. This app allows our Sterling Soccer Club coaches and assistants to communicate with their team's players and parents.

The team portal site and app includes:

  • Team messaging & email
  • Practice & Game scheduling
  • Posting of events
  • Team chat

ACCESS: There are two options to access the Sports Engine team portal – as a mobile app on your cellphone or tablet, or online through our Sterling Soccer Club website.

NOTE: Sports Engine account: If you have registered as a coach, or were assigned a team by our administrator, you will be using the same email account that you use to register as a coach or register your children with.

MOBILE USERS:

On an iOS Device

  1. On your device, open the App Store
  2. Search for SportsEngine. 
  3. Tap the Get button to begin installing the app.
  4. Open the app on your device.
  5. On the Settings tab, tap Account and tap the Sign In button to sign in to your SportsEngine account.

On an Android Device

  1. On your device, open Google Play. 
  2. Search for SportsEngine. 
  3. Tap the Install button to begin installing the app.
  4. Open the app on your device.
  5. On the Settings tab, tap Account and tap the Sign In button to sign in to your SportsEngine account.

BROWSER USERS: For web users, go to the Sterling soccer website and click the Sign In link on the top right corner.

Team App Assistance: