FUN! FAIR PLAY! FUNDAMENTALS!

Fun, Fair Play, and Fundamentals are the cornerstones of the Topanga Recreation @ Community Club, or TR@CC, sports program. Our program is a framework for children to have a positive experience in sports, and have Fun! Fair Play means that sportsmanship is emphasized over winning.

SPRING 2012 SOCCER Program – see information below!

We’ll work to organize teams to include similar numbers of beginner, intermediate, and advanced skill players on each, so that games are as evenly matched as possible. Coaches are encouraged to rotate players to various positions throughout each game so that their highest skill players are not on the field at all times or in scoring positions for entire games. Rotation diagrams are available to coaches who wish to use. Neither scores nor win-­‐loss records will be kept. Coaches are asked to maintain balance in scoring, as much as possible. Win or lose, we will teach children to do so gracefully!

Fundamentals of the sport are taught to help kids grasp the essential rules and techniques. Basic coaching materials are available to parents who just want to volunteer their time (most practical with younger age divisions), and workshops on coaching techniques are planned, as needed, at the beginning of each season.

We’re aim to provide our children a low pressure, supportive setting, but this is not to be mistaken for “loosely organized”, which can be counterproductive to all involved. Parents should expect to see visible leadership that is attentive to the needs of the community and that is as responsive to those needs as possible, after weighing all perspectives.

To this end, while it is not particularly expected in our canyon, the following behaviors are unwelcome and shall not be tolerated: parental tirades, yelling and screaming at children, encouraging extremely aggressive or violent behavior in youth athletes, expressing belligerence or any manner of hostility toward coaches, referees, umpires, league organizers, other parents, children (your own or others), and generally any and all other immature, reprehensible, behavior, or ill tempered manners. We lead by example.
Coaches should actually be on field with their players in the pre-­‐k division to help direct the flow of the game and aid learning. It may also be helpful if other selected parent volunteers (on the coach’s lead) wish to support this flow on field. All other parents should spread our along both sidelines to keep both ball and players on the field of play, supporting better flow of the games (you’ll see).

With ages 5-­‐8 it may also be helpful for the teams’ coaches to walk the field with children (I practice this myself). This enables coaches to gently remind players to remain close to their positions and allows for other on the spot instructions in brief. As long as on field coaches remain calm, maintain awareness of children around them on the field, and make an effort to move about the field with caution, coaching opportunities during the game in those many “teachable moments” (coachable moments) can prove invaluable. However, if coaches in this age division are more comfortable remaining on the sidelines during games they are absolutely supported in this preference as well.

Players on Field at Game Time -­‐ Given the reduced size of our fields, our plan is to field 6 players (2 forwards, 2 halfbacks, and two fullbacks) & 1 goalie per team during games. This should allow for optimal ‘touches’ or ball handling experience per child and encourage players to play in their positions. With this in mind, if each team roster carries between 8 & 10 players, everyone should play most of their games with some substitution players on the sideline. It should also allow for one or two absences at games without ‘shorting’ a team.