Frequently Asked Questions for Coaches
1. How do I sign up to coach? Typically, you sign up to coach when you register your child. If you did not do that during the registration process, you can send an email to [email protected] and we can get you signed up to coach.
2. Do I need soccer experience to coach? No, you do not need to be a former soccer player to be a coach. We have a coaching clinic before each season to help prepare the coaches along with continued support by the relevant age director during the season. We highly recommend all coaches in all age groups attend the training! *Dates and time will be sent later.
3. What is required as a coach? All coaches are required by Tennessee State Soccer and Federal laws to complete concussion training, SafeSport training, and pass a background check. All requirements must be completed before the first team practice. Your team will be unable to practice until the requirements are completed.*If you coached in the fall and completed these requirements, you will not need to do them in the spring.
4. What is expected of me as a coach? All coaches are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate way and abide by all the rules presented from WHYS and TSSA. All coaches are expected to be a practices and games. If you are unable to attend a game, please let us know as soon as possible so we can find a replacement coach.
5. Can I choose an assistant coach? Yes! We encourage all coaches to find an assistant coach. This can be someone you have coached with before or just a parent who volunteers to help with crowd control on the bench during games. Assistant coaches are also expected to complete the coaching requirements. Each team is only allowed 1 head coach and 1 assistant coach.
6. How many times a week do we practice? Our U4-U8 age groups typically practice once a week and our U10-ICL age groups typically practice twice a week.
7. Who determines practice times? Coaches get to choose their practice day and practice time subject to field availability. The WHYS Board of Directors will make every effort to honor the choice of practice day and practice time put forward by the coach.
8. How many games are played? U4-U5 plays 8 games on Saturdays, with the occasional makeup game on a weeknight. U6-ICL play 10 games, 8 will be on Saturday and 2 will be on weeknights, also with the possibility of a makeup game during the week. Some age groups may have double headers depending on the number of teams.
9. Do we get to pick our players? The only players guaranteed to be on your roster are your child and your assistant’s child if you have an assistant. Teams are chosen through a blind draft based on the player grade from the previous seasons.
10. Who makes the schedule? The WHYS board makes the schedule. We usually have teams from East Robertson and Portland that we must coordinate schedules with, so please be patient. Only the WHYS board is allowed to reschedule a game.
11. Does WHYS provide any additional support to volunteer Coaches? Yes, every head coach and every assistant coach is provided with a free coaches team jersey.
If you have any further questions about coaching, please feel free to contact a WHYS board member and we will be happy to help!