What to expect from your Coach & Training
Does Washington Capital Utd. have a set style of play or formation that must be used?
Does Washington Capital Utd. have a set coaching curriculum?
How should coaches handle coaching conflicts due to personal matters or league scheduling issues?
What should coaches tell players about expectations for roster spots?
What are the basic expectations regarding the time commitment required for coaching a team?
Teams are “in-season”, “off”, and “training”. The Fall season is typically September 1st - Nov 15th. The Spring season is typically Mar 15 - June 15th. Off-season is typically Nov 15 - early January and June 15 - Aug 15. The training season is typically early January - Mar 15 and Aug 1 - Aug 30. These are general guidelines and not exact dates. In-season is typically more defined by the first and last game of the season - which is somewhat dependent on tournaments that are selected.
In-season: teams should be training three times per week, which is typically twice per weekday and once on the weekend. Generally, teams practice individually during the week and the age group comes together on Saturday for joint sessions. The in-season year may differ for HS ages, which Sept-Oct typically on a lower “training” schedule with “in-season being Winter and Spring.
Training season: training times typically include a lighter schedule, often with age groups combining to ensure adequate numbers. Winter training could include futsal and/or outdoor skills training (typically 8 weeks Jan-Feb). Summer training includes combined practices and pre-season fitness.
Off-season: During this time, coaches may decide to conduct limited training or pick-up games that are focused more on players getting touches in a fun or unstructured environment. Coaches should identify periods where players have off from soccer - typically from the end of Fall through December, and end of Spring season through August.
High School ages: HS aged teams may differ from schedule above as typically the Fall is a lighter season (training), whereas Winter is often “in-season” for league play.
What are the basic Coach Licensing Requirements?
WCUtd. typically hires coaches with a D license or above, and seeks coaches with a C license or above for high school ages. WCUtd. will hire coaches that have not obtained their D license, if that coach has committed to obtain that license in an expeditious fashion. Coaches should attempt to schedule courses in the off season or training season, but if a license course conflicts with coaching responsibilities, WCUtd. will make all efforts to get coaching coverage during the time of conflict. Parents might observe activities during training, such as filming of training sessions, that are required by USSF as part of the licensure process.
What are expectations for tournaments?
WCUtd. currently allocates budget funding for teams to play in three tournaments per year, or two tournaments per year plus a futsal league in the winter. Because tournaments are different prices and cater to different skill levels, the Club currently does not have a list of clubwide tournaments that teams should be attending. The Technical Director and coaches can offer advice on the quality of various tournaments. Coaches should research options, make appropriate tournament selections, and then consult with the team manager about adequate player availability and applying for the tournaments at least 11⁄2 to 2 months in advance. Planning tournaments well in advance can head off attendance problems. Coaches with teams of the same age group should attempt to stagger tournament weekends so guest players will be available - particularly during hot weather months when it is important to have a full roster.
What are the key expectations for coaches?
Quality on-field coaching: (meaning well-thought out training plans and sessions that
reflect the needs of the players and challenge them to a higher level).
Good communication: with parents, players and club officials (meaning parent
meetings, setting expectations, development and encouragement of parent participation in volunteer capacities, and feedback about team goals and individual player development).
Good planning: (meaning advance determination of tournaments, league placement, pre-season scrimmages, and practice times).
Good sportsmanship and professionalism: (leading by example at all times, both in game situations and in daily interactions with players, parents, referees and league/tournament officials).
What communication standards are expected from coaches?
Coaches should reply to emails/schedulers within 24 hours and surveys within 3 days. Club coaches should use the @wcunited.org email - which facilitates scheduling, surveys, etc.
Regarding team communication, coaches should hold a pre-season meeting to set expectations, request volunteers for activities, and address questions and concerns. A post-season meeting may be necessary if there are issues to resolve. The Director of Coaching should be consulted if there is a significant team issue that requires involvement.
Is it appropriate to combine practices in season?
WCUtd. wants to keep the coach to player ratio low and ensure that teams are given quality coaching attention in a smaller group setting. As a result, most practices will be team- centric only. However, in order to foster a “Club” mentality, and in preparation for player movement both up and down, combined practices will be implemented generally once per week. These practices may be within the same age group, or with a team one year above, or one year below. Cross-group training provides exposure to multiple coaches, to multiple players and their abilities, and provides a level of motivation and exposure to the Club offerings.
Does Washington Capital Utd. have a set style of play or formation that must be used?
No. Coaches follow general USYS guidelines for player development, which focuses on technical development at the youngest ages with a gradual increase in tactical and fitness work. The Club does not espouse particular formations, such as a 4-4-2 as opposed to a 3-5-2. That is left to the coaches to implement based on the skills and personalities of the players, and as a mechanism to instruct positional play. Similarly, the Club does not preach a mandatory style of play. In general, the ability to play possession football is consistent with the early development portion of our training, but like formation, style is a tool used to impart tactical knowledge, in recognition of the skills and abilities of the teams’ players. Neither “tiki-taka”, nor “catenacchio”, nor “gegenpress” nor any other “style” is right for a particular player. Our goal of wholistically developing each individual player, imparting ball mastery, and developing tactical and strategic awareness for each individual player negates the value of a set style Club-wide.
Coaches should be encouraging players to build out of the back, and particularly during developmental ages, should be encouraging players to connect passes and take on defenders in the attacking half or third. Coaches should be rotating player positions until at least U14, and should not be encouraging “long-ball” clearances or direct play as a primary style. Coaches should encourage distribution by hand from the goalie - rather than punting it long on a consistent basis.
Does Washington Capital Utd. encourage guest playing?
Yes. Guest playing is critical to player development and can also help the club bridge gaps for rosters that are low. Coaches that have high performing players should discuss with other coaches the opportunities that exist to guest play that player on a higher level team. Coaches should also seek to assist lower level teams with players that would benefit from playing with another group of players.
Does Washington Capital Utd. have a set coaching curriculum?
No. The Club utilizes the US Youth Soccer player development guidelines. These guidelines are designed to pair technical instruction with early childhood development metrics, such that the technical concepts introduced at any given age are ideally paired to the player’s ability to absorb and learn them.
Will coaches always continue with their existing team?
No. In general, coaches will be rotated off a team after 2-3 years.
How should coaches handle coaching conflicts due to personal matters or league scheduling issues?
If possible, report game conflicts that can be changed by the league to the WCUtd league representative during the draft phase of the league scheduling. One-time conflicts that are known or unexpected should be dealt with first by requesting assistance from other coaches (e.g., can a coach that is at the field at the same time you practice combine a practice on short notice). Coaches should try not to cancel training sessions if another coach is available to assist.
When should coaches complete player evaluations?
Coaches should be providing player evaluations within the last week of the regular season up to 3 weeks after the regular season ends. It is important that players who are underperforming and may be moved down to a lower team at mid-season are informed in advance of what areas of weakness they need to improve so they have an opportunity to correct issues prior to final decisions being made.
Who will make final decisions on player rostering?
In most cases, players will naturally fall onto the team that is the correct age group, with the coach of the higher rated team making first player selections in cases where there are multiple teams in the same group. In some situations, there may be reasons for a player to play up on a team that is not in the correct age group. The Technical Director will provide a final decision in situations when there is some debate about which team a player should be placed. Affected coaches should provide their opinions. The Technical Director will balance the needs of the player, parents, coaches and club in forming a decision. The club (not the team) will issue a set of roster offers after Spring tryouts. It is of critical importance that coaches are fully available for tryouts - which normally occur in late May. The Director of Coaching must be consulted if: a) the coach is requesting a player that is not in the correct age group; or b) there are multiple teams within the age group and there is a question about which team the player should be placed on.
What should coaches tell players about expectations for roster spots?
WCUtd. is requiring a one-year commitment for players joining for a Fall season. Players joining partially through the year are committed through the end of the Spring season. When players are assigned to a team, they should be informed that is for ONE season, and then rosters will be re-assessed over the winter and some players can be moved. The reasons to move players would be rapid progress requiring a higher level of competition, or performance issues associated with not being ready for the level of play. In rare circumstances, there may be club reasons for roster changes that are required to ensure teams have adequate numbers.
Can a player be removed from a team after they have accepted and paid dues?
This should be rare, and will require approval by the Technical Director and the Board. If issues detrimental to the team or club are occurring, players can be removed.
What leagues should teams be placed in?
It is important that teams are correctly matched to the right competition level. Generally, the lowest level teams would play in ODSL. Mid-level teams would play in NCSL. Teams advancing into the top tiers of NCSL should consider moving into EDP. Within specific age groups, coaches need to closely coordinate the leagues they are in - in order to ensure adequate guest playing opportunities.
Are teams required to play in State Cup?
More competitive teams should strongly consider State Cup - because it is a valuable recruiting tool for teams that can advance deep into the tournament. It is only a requirement for those teams rostered in a national league.
What are expectations for Winter Training - indoor, outdoor, etc...
In general, the younger teams will engage in indoor training, with a heavy emphasis on footskills and other technical training. Those teams will play in a futsal league to further develop their technical capabilities. The older teams may also play futsal, but more typically will train outdoors. Likewise, coaches will utilize the off-season to focus on technical training.
What should a coach do if they are unable to make a game or practice?
From time to time, your coach will not be able to attend a game or practice. Your coach will communicate with the TDOC and the other coaches to find a replacement. We view these moments as opportunities for parents to get exposure to other coaches in the Club.
Can coaches ask parents to step in as a coach?
Parents may NOT serve in a coaching capacity within the Club. It is the expectation that the Technical staff find a substitute coach for the training or game. Further, SafeSport policy requires certain checks to which parents will not have been subject, thereby disqualifying them from serving.
What is the club’s policy about coaches that receive red cards?
Coaches should not be receiving red cards as that reflects poorly on the club and is not a good model for players. Coaches may even be removed or suspended due to infractions that are considered by the Board to be detrimental to the club’s image, or to the development of players. Coaches receiving red cards will be subject to review by the Rules & Discipline (R&D) Committee.
What are expectations regarding attendance for practices and games?
WCUtd. expects a high-level commitment by coaches to attend scheduled practices and games. Extenuating circumstances (illness, etc.) are expected to occur, and coaches should have a plan in place in case they need to miss a scheduled event. That may include use of an assistant coach, requesting another coach to cover, contacting the Director of Coaching, or using an emergency back-up coach (parent, etc) in extenuating circumstances. If a coach is regularly absent or late for scheduled activities, the Director of Coaching will discuss the situation with affected parties and will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors in regard to correcting the problem.
Is there standard attire for games/practices?
Coaches are encouraged to wear Club-branded gear during games, tournaments and during practices when practicable.
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Likewise, players are expected to wear training kits during practice, and game kits to all games.
Does the Club provide assistant coaches?
WCUtd. does not provide an assistant coach. If a coach wants an assistant coach - they may seek a parent that has soccer experience that can assist with trainings, they may request that the TDOC seek volunteer coaches that may want to gain experience, or they may request assistance from a high school player that may be looking for community service opportunities. Assistant coaches are volunteers, but must meet all legal requirements (background checks, etc.). The TDOC should be consulted before an assistant coach is brought on board.