Travel Soccer Coaching 101

Manager Responsibilities

Key Aspects of Good Coaching 

Ordering Uniforms

Reporting Scores
Safety
Tournaments
Player Development
Trainer Database 

Clinics/Camps 

Local Press Contacts
State Cup
Olympic Development Program
WYSL/ODP Select

This section of the website is designed to provide basic general information needed by coaches and managers. Especially helpful to new (and not so new) coaches and managers are Travel Soccer 101 and Manager Responsibilities.

Instructions for Ordering Uniforms, Reporting Scores, and making Local Press Contacts are provided below.

For coaches and players who want even more soccer than provided by training and WYSL games, options include State Cup, Olympic Development Program, and WYSL Select. Information is included below for each of these activities. (See also Tournaments.)

Player Development includes a Player Evaluation form. Check the "News" section of the LJSL Home Page for updates on special clinics, etc. for players.

LJSL's Travel Program introduced new uniforms in Spring 2007, with a yellow dominant jersey and blue shorts. League-wide new uniforms will be selected approximately every two years (three to four playing seasons).  The jersey will alternate between yellow-dominant and blue-dominant, with the shorts remaining blue. 

Each team is responsible for placing its own uniform order directly with the the LJSL supplier, Eurosport.  Orders may be placed for an entire team, or on a fill-in basis for new team members or for those players needing larger sizes or extra items.   Shorts, jerseys, socks and backpacks may be ordered.  

At the end of each season, the Uniform Coordinator will provide coaches/managers with instructions on how to place an order for the coming season.  Teams are advised to place their orders well in advance of the start of a season to allow for potential backorders and other unexpected delays.  Teams anticipating adding new players may wish to order an extra set or two, with numbers but without names. (Printwear Plus in Mamaroneck can add names to the jerseys.)  Note that replacements/additional items may be ordered at any time, with the understanding that some items may not be as readily available during the "off" ordering times.

The Uniform Committee may have a few extra uniform items in inventory for situations such as a player being added between orders.

Click here to download the Uniform Order Form and the Manager Guide. 

Please contact the Uniform Coordinator - Nadine Rote - with any questions about uniforms.

• Scores need to be reported to the Score Coordinator (Rory Ellis) BY 6:00 P.M. EVERY SUNDAY AT THE LATEST. The score reporters should e-mail scores to her at: Raceyellis@yahoo.com.

• If your game doesn't end until after 6 pm, you will have a short grace periord. If your score report is late, your team will be fined. The fine is $25 for the first offense, and will double with each offense. The collected funds support the Larchmont Travel Soccer Scholarship program.

• Each team should have 2 parent score reporters. The score of your game must be reported by 6 pm each Sunday. If your game doesn't end until after 6 pm, you will have a short grace periord. If your score report is late, your team will be fined. The fine is $25 for the first offense, and double with each offense. The collected funds support the Larchmont Travel Soccer Scholarship program.
  
  

• The score report should include the name of your team and the division in the subject header. The text of your email should include:

- Name of your team (include Larchmont in the name)

- Name of opponent's club AND team

- Division of play

- Date game was played

- Score

- Coach of your team

- Phone number at which the score reporter can be contacted that evening

• Example:
  
  SUBJ: Score report for GU 15-1 Larchmont Tigers
  
  Team: Larchmont Tigers
  Opponent: Briarcliff Blue
  Division: GU 15-1
  Date of game: June 17, 2007
  Score: Larchmont TIgers 3     Briarcliff Blue 2
  Coach: Josh Rubinstein
  Contact info: xxx-yyyy

• Other Points:
  - YOU NEED TO REPORT EVEN IF YOUR GAME IS RAINED OUT OR YOU HAVE A "BYE." (Just give the usual info and in place of the score, indicate that you were rained out or that you had a "Bye.").
  
  - If you play a make-up game during the week, report the score as soon as the game is over. If you wait until Sunday, you are likely to forget.
  
  - It will be helpful if you print the name of your team in your e-mail subject line (Example -- Subject: GU11 - Div I Larchmont Power Score Reporting for Sunday, 9/15.)
  
  - Please e-mail the Score Reporting Coordinator (TBD) if you have any questions.

• This is a single elimination tournament that is played over a year's time, so as long as you win you continue to play.
  
  
• The program is run by ENYYSA (Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association) http://www.enysoccer.com/
  
  
• This tournament is divided into two territories - The North which is Westchester and places north towards Albany (including Manhattan) and the South which is all of Long Island. Teams may travel from places as far as West Point, Newburgh, Albany or Rockville Center, Stonybrook and Massapequa, just to name a few.
  
  
• As a Westchester team, the initial few games would be played only in the North territory. Then the two territories come together and play could take place in either North or South depending on the outcome of the games. Most North games are played on Saturdays since most North teams have their regularly scheduled league games on Sundays, but some South leagues have the opposite schedule so many State Cup games against South teams (when they have home field) are played on Sundays and your regularly scheduled league games must be re-scheduled.

A brief overview of the State Cup program is discussed below.  For details, including current fees and procedures, please see the ENYYSA website. 

• Once you register, you receive a booklet with instructions; brackets for the line-up of games and you are assigned an Age Group Commissioner, who will help you through the details. (You can also find the brackets and game results online at the website noted above.)
  
  
• U10 & U11 must register by July and the play begins in the Fall; U 12 - 18 must register by January and the play begins in the Spring.
  
• A player may only be registered on one team
  
  
• The coach must have the signed State Cup approved roster before the start of the first Cup game, (instructions for getting that done are in the booklet).
  
  
• All State Cup games take precedence over all other youth league games
  
  
• The Home Team is listed in the top Cup draw bracket. The only exception to this is if the top team in the Cup draw was at home during its preceding Cup game and the bottom team in the Cup Draw bracket was away during its preceding Cup game. In that case, the bottom team is the home team.
  
  
• The home team determines the kick off time and whether the game will be played on Saturday or Sunday of the specific weekend. This must be established within twenty-one days prior to the first game and within 24 hours after each succeeding game. These details must be given to your Age Group Commissioner who arranges for the referees.
  
  
• Coaches must contact the LJSL Travel Field Master (see Travel Program Personnel) about receiving a field if you are the home team. Also, coaches should coordinate a few days in advance with Jim Hanley, Field Maintenance, at hanfam@aol.com for flags.
  
  
• All games shall start at or after 9:00am. The home team must set the time. Teams traveling in excess of 100 miles are not expected to play before 12:00 noon. Teams traveling in excess of 25 miles are not expected to play before 10:00am.
  
  
• If the home team fails to contact the opposing team and make the necessary arrangements, the home team shall be fined $50.00 for the first offense.
  
  
• Please make sure to discuss team colors and resolve potential color conflicts at that time. The home team must change their uniform color (alternative jersey) in the case of conflicts.
  
  
• Home team is responsible for the game ball.
  
  
• Home team must verify the start time of the game and give directions no less than five days prior to the scheduled game. Failure to provide accurate directions may result in the Home team forfeiture.
  
  
• Any game can be played before the scheduled date with the consent of both coaches and notification to the Age Group Commissioner 7 days prior to game date.
  
  
• In the event a scheduled match is cancelled, the home team must contact and inform the Age Group Commissioner who will then coordinate the rescheduling of the match.
  
  
• If the home team is unable to provide a field, the match may be played on the opposing team's field.
  
  
• The home team is responsible for paying the referee.
  
  
• There is a fifteen minute grace period allowed for both teams
  
  
• Any team intending to forfeit must give advance notice no less than seven days prior or the team could be fined and declared ineligible to play the following year.
  
  
• Game Times
  10 - Ball size 4 - 2 x 25 min (no overtime, PKs in the event of a tie)
  11 & 12 - Ball size 4 - 2 x 30min (2 x 10 overtime)
  13 & 14 - Ball size 5 - 2 x 35min (2 x 10 overtime)
  15 & 16 - Ball size 5 - 2 x 40 min (2 x 15 overtime)
  
  
• ONLY PLAYERS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY AT THE END OF THE SECOND OVERTIME PERIOD ARE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN PENALTY KICKS IF IT IS STILL A TIE BREAKER AFTER THE OVERTIME PERIOD. FIVE PLAYERS FROM EACH TEAM ARE SELECTED IN THE SHOOTOUT.
  
  
• Substitutions shall be made with the consent of the referee prior to a throw-in in your favor, prior to a goal kick by either team, after any goal is scored, after an injury, and at half time.
  
  
• Results must be reported to your Commissioner no later than 8:00pm on the evening of the game.

The goals of ODP are:

• To identify a pool of players in each age group from which a United States National Team will be selected for international competition
• To provide high-level training to benefit and enhance the development of players at all levels.
• Through the use of carefully selected and licensed coaches, develop mechanism for the enhancement of ideas and curriculum to improve all levels of coaching.

Any soccer player who is in good standing with the WYSL is eligible for consideration in the ODP provided that he/she meets the age requirements for the established age groups. A player may try out in the state association in which he or she is eligible to be registered; a player may not try out for the ODP in more than one state association.


ODP Selection Process

Players are selected on the basis of open tryouts. These tryouts are conducted by the state association coaches who are recognized for their ability to identify and train players with superior skills. Players can also try out at the invitation of the state team coach - players can be referred to a state head coach, or can be identified through scouting.

Selection of these players is not an easy task. The state association head coach or State Coach has sole responsibility for final selections, but will, in most cases, be assisted in the selection process by several other qualified coaches from the club or league level. Players are evaluated on the four components that make up a soccer player:

1. technique
2. tactics
3. fitness and athletic ability
4. psychological component (attitude)

ODP activities occur year-round.

Initial tryouts are held in November and December, to establish age-group pools of 20 to 30 players. After your initial tryout you may be invited to the next level of tryouts and there can be many levels to go before the final team is selected for the age group. These tryouts can be up to two hours away near Albany while some are closer in Rockland County.

Winter ODP activities include indoor training and play of age-group pools, and open tryouts by scouting or referral, meeting 2 or 3 times a month through January, February and March. Again locations are different for boys and girls and by age group but can be as far as Albany.

Spring outdoor training begins in April and is usually on Monday evenings. Boys train in Rockland County and girls in New Paltz.

Identification Tournaments and Camps are scheduled through June and late July (see the Region 1 web-site at www.region1.com for more information - locations include NJ, Delaware, Rhode Island and Binghamton and others).

If selected, regional pool camps are scheduled for late July and early to mid-August and travel is nationwide and sometimes international.


ODP Commitment Level

Upon selection, a ODP player is expected to participate in all activities of their team. These activities may include exhibition matches, invitational tournaments and sub-regional and regional camps. If players are not available for a specific event, they may be replaced by another player from their player pool. Travel distances are significant (as outlined above). Carpooling is often organized between other downstate players in the same age group.

Players should be serious about their participation, and should be committed to improving their individual skills as well as improving as a team player. Players are subject to the ODP Code of Conduct upon entry into the program; among other things, the Code prohibits the use of drugs and alcohol by ODP players, and violation of the Code's provisions are reasons for immediate termination of a player's participation in ODP.


Costs of ODP Participation

Costs for ODP include registration fees, facilities fees, uniforms, and the costs of regional camps and tournaments. In general a player can expect to pay approximately $750 over the course of a full ODP season (November to July). Aid based on financial need may be available.


ODP Regional Tournaments and Camps

US YOUTH SOCCER is divided into four regions, each of which offers regional tournaments and camps for state association ODP teams in each eligible age group. These events are designed to provide high level competition and training for participating players. During this training and competition, players who are capable of performing at a high level of play are identified for possible national camp, pool or team participation. Each region varies somewhat as to the specifics and the cost of their camps. The Region 1 Tournament is typically held on the first or second weekend in June; and Region 1 Camps are typically four day events held in mid-July (see the Region 1 web-site at www.region1.com for more information).


ODP National Camp

National Camps and Inter-regional events are held throughout the year at various locations in the United States. The National Team Coach or a National Staff Coach is present at these events to observe, train and identify players for placement in the national pool or on a national team.


Benefits of ODP Participation

There are many benefits of participating in ODP:

• Development as a player via the opportunity to train and play with the best players in one's age group.
• Quality instruction from state, regional and national team nationally licensed coaches.
• Quality competition via games against other state association ODP teams.
• The opportunity to represent one's state, region or country in competition.
• Exposure to college coaches.

WYSL-registered boys and girls in the U11, U12, U13, and U14 age groups are eligible. Players must possess a current valid USYSA player pass and be listed on the roster of a team that is actively competing in the WYSL. If the player's team is currently inactive, the team must have competed in the WYSL in its most recent active season. Rostering with a team outside of WYSL excludes a player from WYSL select activities.

Players are only permitted to try out for the team that coincides with their age group, regardless of the Division or age bracket they play in with their club team. Players ARE NOT permitted to "play up" on a League Select team. NOTICES OF TRYOUTS ARE SENT DIRECTLY TO ELIGIBLE PLAYERS IN THE FALL FROM THE WYSL.


Cost for WYSL/ODP Select

The program operates on funds generated through player fees, although the WYSL is provides each team with a subsidy.

THE ANTICIPATED COST PER PLAYER FOR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND COACHING, TOURNAMENT FEES AND RELATED COSTS IS APPROXIMATELY $300. This amount DOES NOT INCLUDE hotels, meals and transportation related to tournament travel. (Partial scholarships may be made available upon request; if awarded, the player's home club will be responsible for paying half the scholarship amount.) The U11 Development Program cost is approximately $200.


Level of Commitment for WYSL/ODP Select

Because of the demanding practice and game schedule of the League Select program, a strong commitment is needed from all players and their families. This includes prompt attendance at all training sessions, as well as assigned tournaments. If a player is sick or injured, a phone call to the player's coach or designated contact before practice is required. A failure to make and meet commitments is grounds for discipline and/or removal from the program. ANY SELECT ACTIVITIES PRIOR TO THE END OF THE REGULAR SEASON WILL DEFER TO THE PLAYER'S CLUB FUNCTIONS IF CONFLICTS ARISE. The player's primary soccer obligation is to the League Select team during the interval between the end of the regular Spring season and the end of the summer League Select program.